Week of Frenotomy Tips
☆ Typical pattern for this week: peak fussiness and discomfort for about 24 hours after the procedure, notably improving by around 3-4 days post-procedure but some inflammation and swelling is likely for up to 8 days. It’s common to notice your baby feeding or using their tongue differently the day of procedure but for that to quickly backslide. This is normal and permanent progress is generally a bit slower, unfortunately.
☆ Top priorities for healing post-frenotomy (in this order!):
Feed the baby: Breast or bottle, do what you gotta do in these early days post-procedure. Understand that improvements to feeding patterns may not reveal themselves for a few weeks with more healing and re-training.
Comfort: Many parents find Tylenol to be extremely useful for the first few days and it can be really helpful to time the wound care stretches until 15-30 minutes after giving Tylenol. Generally though, prepare for lots of extra snuggles and more frequent feedings/desire to suck (paci, comfort nursing). See other options for comfort below.
Wound Care Stretches ("Aftercare"): Follow your frenotomy provider's recommendation for frequency. These stretches are a top priority from day 1.
Suck training: Many parents find that between feeding the baby, managing the discomfort and getting into the routine of doing the wound stretches, that suck training falls off the plate in the first couple days. Do not beat yourself up — suck training is really important to have a good outcome but it's also essential to not overwhelm your baby and yourself. Follow your baby's cues. Be sure to be using a bottle and/or pacifier type that will help promote suck training as well.
☆ Aftercare: Though you should always first being following the instructions of your provider, you can may find my Wound Management page helpful
☆ Pain Relief & Comfort Options for Young Infants:
Acetaminophen - ask your pediatrician if your baby is an appropriate age for it and if so what dose they will need. Ibuprofen may be another option but ask your provider, as infants generally should not get ibuprofen until 6 months of age.
Sucking: nursing, paci, finger
Skin-to-skin
Baby wearing & contact naps
Breastmilk ice chips- use an ice tray to make small breast milk ice cubes that you can rub under the tongue or lips
Arnica