Speaker: Cindy Farley, Katie Booan and Chastity Burchuk
Facilitator: Caroline Maringa (Nyambura)
Ankyloglossia, commonly known as tongue-tie, is an unusually short, thickened, or tight band of tissue tethering the tongue and restricting its movement. It is estimated to affect 4-10% of newborns. In the newborn period, it can be associated with breastfeeding difficulties, often diagnosed when nipple pain develops during nursing. Longer term consequences can include eating and speech problems. Other oral structures can be affected by tight tissues, such as cheeks and lips, contributing to limited oral range of motion.
Ankyloglossia occurs on a continuum from mild to severe, and therefore, management options vary. Tincture of time and instruction on latch and positioning during breastfeeding can be all that is needed for the mildest cases. Other options can include physical therapy and massage to the oral structures of the infant. Frenulectomy is the surgical release of the tight tissue and is accomplished with a small incision. There has been an increase in the diagnosis of ankyloglossia and frenulectomy, raising concerns regarding overdiagnosis and unnecessary surgery.
Midwives are intimately involved in the initiation and maintenance of breastfeeding and the promotion of maternal and infant health, particularly in the early weeks after birth. This presentation will review diagnostic criteria and the latest evidence regarding ankyloglossia and will equip the midwife with assessment skills and management options to offer the parents of the infant with ankyloglossia. This is the 10th Annual Georgetown Student Cafe presented by midwife students at Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States.
Speaker: Judith Mercer
Facilitator: Ally Anderson
This presentation will explain how sustained umbilical cord circulation from placental transfusion after birth facilitates a large auto-transfusion from the placenta to the infant that holds potential for saving babies lives. This transfer of blood provides an innate force within the newborn’s body enhancing blood flow and perfusion, essential for normal growth, development, and regeneration. High progesterone levels, prime the body to receive blood at this time. Enhanced blood volume causes high pulmonary artery pressure for approximately the first 10 post-birth hours likely driving maximum perfusion throughout the whole body. The enhanced blood volume floods the newborn’s brainstem and other organs, prevents hypovolemia as well as subtle or overt ischemia, and helps the newborn regain homeostasis after the stress of birth.
This presentation provides evidence for each facet, explains how they work together to ensure newborn health, and will discuss the high cost of immediate (ICC) or early cord clamping (ECC).
