Bleeding After Tongue Tie Division
The following guidance is based on advice produced by the Association of Tongue-Tie Practitioners (ATP). It explains what to do in the very unlikely event of bleeding after your baby’s tongue-tie division.
​
Most bleeding after a tongue-tie division is light and settles quickly with simple measures - this guidance outlines what to do if bleeding occurs later at home.
Association of Tongue-Tie Practitioners Guidance
There have been reported cases of bleeding which has occurred sometime after tongue-tie division, usually on the same day, when the babies have returned home.
If this occurs the bleeding is usually very light and is triggered by strenuous crying (resulting in the tongue lifting and disturbing the wound) or when the wound is disturbed during feeding, particularly if the wound is caught by a bottle teat or tip of a nipple shield.
​
​
1. If you notice any blood in your baby’s mouth then offer the baby the breast or bottle and feed them. This will usually stop the bleeding within a few minutes just as it did immediately after the procedure.
If the baby refuses to feed then sucking on a dummy/pacifier or your clean finger will have a similar effect.
​
2. If the bleeding is very heavy or does not reduce with feeding and stop within 15 minutes, then apply pressure to the wound under the tongue with one finger using a clean piece of gauze or muslin for 10 minutes.
Do not apply pressure under the baby’s chin as this can affect breathing.
​
3. If bleeding continues after this time continue to apply pressure to the wound and take your baby to hospital (call an ambulance if you live more than a very short distance from the Accident and Emergency Department).
If you need to take your baby to the hospital
Please inform staff that your baby has had a tongue-tie division.
Direct them to the Association of Tongue-Tie Practitioners’ bleeding guidelines at www.tongue-tie.org.uk/bleeding-guidelines.
This provides clinical guidance for healthcare professionals managing post-frenulotomy bleeding.