Tongue Tie and Breastfeeding: What A Mother Should Know Before Surgery

breastfeeding complications breastfeeding pain frenotomy informed consent lip tie newborn nipple pain painful nipples the thompson method tongue tie
 

Tongue Ties, Lip Ties and Breastfeeding

You've just been told your baby has a tongue tie. Maybe the words "lip tie" and "cheek tie" came up too. Maybe surgery has been booked for tomorrow, or next week, or before you've even left the hospital. And somewhere underneath the rush, a quiet voice is asking, do we really have to do this?

You're allowed to ask. You're meant to ask.

What follows is not advice about your baby. It is a steady look at what tongue tie actually is, what the evidence does and does not say, and what has been getting lost in the rush. So you can make the decision that feels right for you, with full information, not under pressure.

What a tongue tie actually is

A tongue tie is a natural variation in anatomy. Every baby is born with a frenulum, a small fold of tissue that anchors the tongue to the floor of the mouth. In some babies, that fold is shorter, thicker, or attached a little differently. The clinical name for this variation is ankyloglossia, and we mention it once so you recognise it if a health professional uses the word. But ankyloglossia is a description, not pathology. It doesn't always mean something is wrong. It is unique and genetic anatomy.

Frenula are not faults. They are part of how the mouth is built. They stabilise the tongue, they help the lips coordinate, they serve breastfeeding rather than obstruct it.

All babies naturally have frenula under the tongue (pictured below), behind the top lip and inside the cheeks.  Frenula are present in many areas of the human body, and all have a specific role.

The simple presence of a visible frenulum, even a prominent one, is not on its own a diagnosis.

 

Research suggests around 3% to 5% of babies have what could be called a tongue tie, though that number shifts depending on which assessment tool a practitioner uses.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, in its 2024 Clinical Report on Ankyloglossia, made the point even more sharply: none of the formal scoring systems currently used to diagnose tongue tie have been validated. The tools many consultants are using to decide who needs surgery were never independently proven to work.

It is also worth noting the language. Tongues are not "tethered." Tongues are not "tied." This is recent vocabulary that has crept into education and onto social media.

The frenulum is a piece of anatomy with a job. Naming it differently does not change what it is.

The numbers that should make us pause

If 3% to 5% of babies have tongue tie, and only a small fraction of those genuinely need surgery, the rate of frenotomies should be steady, or even declining as breastfeeding support improves.

It is not.

In the United States, frenotomy rates rose 866% between 1997 and 2012, and the American Academy of Pediatrics confirmed in 2024 that those rates roughly doubled again between 2012 and 2014. In Australia, 420% between 2006 and 2016. The Australian Capital Territory alone climbed 3,710 percent. In the United Kingdom, 49% between 2010 and 2017. Over the same period, breastfeeding rates have not significantly improved.

Something other than need is driving that curve.

What the highest-quality evidence found

The FROSTTIE randomised controlled trial, the largest of its kind in this field, concluded that frenotomy added to breastfeeding support did not improve breastfeeding rates for babies diagnosed with tongue tie, compared with breastfeeding support alone. Earlier work by Emond and colleagues reached the same conclusion. Early frenotomy did not produce an objective improvement in breastfeeding outcomes.

The bigger picture is, if anything, more sobering. A 2025 systematic review published in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery looked at 462 tongue tie publications and found that only 2.8 percent were randomised controlled trials. The volume of research has risen exponentially. The quality of the evidence has not. Independent assessments are reaching the same conclusion: a 2025 evidence report commissioned by the Washington State Health Care Authority stated plainly that whether the surge in procedures reflects a true rise in incidence, better diagnostics, or overdiagnosis is unclear.

And yet frenotomy rates keep climbing. A growing number of paediatric ear, nose and throat surgeons, dental surgeons and orthodontists are now calling for a return to expectant management and proper breastfeeding support. They are not anti-surgery. They are anti-overtreatment.

The four-frenula problem

Here is what has quietly happened over the last decade. The conversation has expanded from "tongue tie" to "tethered oral tissues," and with it, three additional structures are now being incised on newborn babies:

  • The lingual frenulum, under the tongue
  • The labial frenulum, behind the upper lip
  • The buccal frenula, inside the cheeks

The position of the major professional bodies on this could not be clearer. The Australian Dental Association's Policy Statement on Ankyloglossia and Oral Frena, reviewed and reaffirmed by the ADA Board in October 2025, states that there is insufficient evidence to support the surgical release of labial or buccal frena in infants to assist with breastfeeding difficulties, speech outcomes, or orthodontic issues. The same statement adds that there is insufficient evidence to conclude that tongue tie causes sleep disordered breathing, reflux, colic, or difficulty transitioning to solids. The American Academy of Pediatrics, in its 2024 Clinical Report in the journal Pediatrics, reached the same conclusion: the evidence does not support upper lip or buccal frenotomies in infants.

Babies are nonetheless having all four sites incised, sometimes more than once, in pursuit of a breastfeeding fix that may not be the right fix at all. When the lingual is cut, some babies lose tongue coordination for up to four months as the nerves recover. When the labial is cut, the lips can lose the firmness needed to seal the breast. When the buccal are cut, the natural vacuum collapses. The very mechanics that breastfeeding depends on can be undone by the procedure intended to rescue it.

What is missing from most consultations

When a baby comes off the breast in pain, when nipples bleed, when feeds feel like a battle, the question being asked is, "is something wrong with the baby?" The question that should also be asked is, "is the position right?"

Breastfeeding works on a vacuum. The lips seal the breast. The internal cheek pads activate. The nipple is drawn deep, to the length of the soft palate. The breast tissue moulds to the unique shape of the baby's mouth. And the four facial points sit in their natural relationship to the breast. This is the foundation of what Dr Robyn calls face-to-breast symmetry.

When this symmetry is missing, when a baby is held in a way that bypasses the vacuum or forced into a wide-mouthed grab at the breast, painful nipples and trauma are the predictable result. Not because of a tongue tie. Because of position.

Fine tuning is the gentle, mother-led adjustment that brings symmetry back. It does not require surgery. It does not require force. It requires someone who knows what to look for, and a few minutes of patient observation.

Dr Robyn's experience, and what it tells us

Dr Robyn Thompson has spent more than 50 years working with mothers and babies. In those five decades of practice, she has referred only two babies for consideration of tongue tie surgery.

Two. Not 200. Not 20. Two.

This is not because she missed the rest. It is because, when face-to-breast symmetry is restored through fine tuning, the breastfeeding problems most parents are told to "fix" with surgery resolve on their own. Painful nipples ease. Trauma heals. Milk flows.

Research published in the International Journal of Nursing Studies in 2023 found that women taught the Thompson Method were significantly more likely to be exclusively breastfeeding at three months. The result is not theoretical. It is documented. (See below.)

When surgery is genuinely needed

There is a small group of babies for whom frenotomy is the right answer. They exist. We do not dismiss them. What we ask, and what every mother is entitled to ask, is whether a thorough breastfeeding assessment has been done first. Whether positioning has been gently adjusted. Whether the baby's mouth has been allowed to settle instinctively with the breast.

A frenotomy is irreversible. The complications are documented in the research: oral aversion, infection, bleeding, weight loss, scarring, nerve damage, salivary duct damage, hospital admission in some cases. These are not rare findings in survey data. They are part of the conversation a fully informed mother is entitled to have before consenting.

What informed consent should actually look like

Informed consent for frenotomy should include, at a minimum:

  • A full breastfeeding history and an observed feed, not a glance at the underside of the tongue
  • A clear assessment of position and face-to-breast symmetry
  • Discussion of non-surgical alternatives, including fine tuning
  • Disclosure of complications, and the possibility that the procedure may not improve breastfeeding
  • Disclosure that maternal pain can resolve without surgical treatment
  • Time. Not minutes. Genuine time to consider.

If you are not being offered all of this, you are not being offered informed consent. You are being offered a procedure.

There is one more thing worth knowing. The Australian Dental Association, in October 2025, formally stated that no training courses exist that allow any health professional to register as a specialist in tongue tie or ankyloglossia treatment. The same policy adds that individuals must not advertise themselves as registered specialists in tongue tie management. If you are reading marketing that uses the word "specialist" for this procedure, that marketing is not consistent with the current position of the country's peak dental body.

A different way to begin

The first hours and the first days set the pattern for the weeks that follow. The three golden hours after birth, the early breastfeeds, the way a baby is brought to the breast for the very first time. All of it matters more than most mothers are told.

The work of preparing now, before your baby arrives, is the most powerful thing you can do. Not to prevent every challenge. To meet whatever arrives with knowledge, calm, and a body that already knows.

Your body already knows.

For pregnant women
Walk into the first hours with the language and knowledge that Dr Robyn spent fifty years confirming. Dr Robyn's Breastfeeding Course covers the specific moments in the first hours after birth that can shape your entire breastfeeding journey that follows.
Breastfeed with Confidence
For breastfeeding women
If you are breastfeeding now and something doesn't feel right, the Thompson Method Breastfeeding Course walks you through the specific adjustments, including Face to Breast Symmetry, Fine Tuning, and the shift from cross-cradle to cradle, that resolve most early-breastfeeding difficulties.
Explore the Breastfeeding Course
For healthcare professionals
If you are a midwife, IBCLC, or birth professional and want to bring this gentle method into your practice, the Thompson Method Academy offers the certification pathways.
Visit the Thompson Method Academy

Mothers who have walked this road, who chose patience over the scalpel and found their way through, share their stories here: Tongue and lip tie success stories →

References:

ADA. Ankyloglossia and Oral Frena Consensus Statement 2020 [Available from: https://www.ada.org.au/Dental-Professionals/Publications/Ankyloglossia-Statement/Ankyloglossia-and-Oral-Frena-Consensus-Statement_J.aspx.

Thompson R, Kildea S, Kruske S, Ao LB. Reducing painful nipple trauma and associated breastfeeding complications. Women and birth : journal of the Australian College of Midwives. 2015;28:S29-S.

Thompson RE, Kildea SV, Barclay LM, Kruske S. An account of significant events influencing Australian breastfeeding practice over the last 40 years. Women Birth. 2011;24(3):97-104.

Thompson R, Kruske S, Barclay L, Linden K, Gao Y, Kildea S. Potential predictors of nipple trauma from an in-home breastfeeding programme: A cross-sectional study. Women and Birth. 2016;29(4):336-44.

Allen J, Gao Y, Germain J, O'Connor M, Hurst C, Kildea S. Impact of the Thompson method on breastfeeding exclusivity and duration: Multi-method design. International Journal of Nursing Studies. 2023;141.

Smart S, Grant H, Tseng RJ. Beyond surgery: Pre- and post-operative care in children with ankyloglossia. International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry.n/a(n/a).

Bouza H. The impact of pain in the immature brain. The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine. 2009;22(9):722-32. 

Knight M, Ramakrishnan R, Ratushnyak S, Rivero-Arias O, Bell J, Bowler U, et al. Frenotomy with breastfeeding support versus breastfeeding support alone for infants with tongue-tie and breastfeeding difficulties: the FROSTTIE RCT. Health Technol Assess. 2023;27(11):1-73.


Facility Wide Research at the Mater Mothers' Hospital

The Thompson Method is a gentle, evidence based approach to pain-free breastfeeding, which was tested by research at the Mater Mothers' Hospital (Brisbane Australia) and challenges commonly taught, forceful techniques.

And in a recent review of this research, it was determined that facility-wide implementation of the Thompson method improves direct breastfeeding at hospital discharge and predicts breastfeeding exclusivity at 3-months.

The research project, which was undertaken at the Mater Mothers' Hospital (Australia's largest maternity hospital) a few years ago has determined that the implementation of The Thompson Method was successful in improving breastfeeding outcomes for mothers and babies.

Review the research by Dr Jyai Allen here >>
 

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The Thompson Method Pain-Free Breastfeeding Success Stories 

The Thompson Method has helped thousands of women successfully breastfeed their babies and we are confident it will work for you too. But don't just take our word for it, read real stories, from real women who were able to overcome painful breastfeeding complications or had a pain-free breastfeeding experience from the start. 

"We revised his tongue and lip tie because everyone said that’s what the issue was... (it wasn’t)"

One of the main reasons I bought the program was because my first had a lot of nursing issues (all from lack of support, knowledge, differing provider opinions, forceful techniques, etc), but we revised his tongue and lip tie becauuse everyone said that’s what the issue was (it wasn’t) and with my new baby I did not want to go that route unless absolutely necessary. Dr Robyn had a video that said she believes that with her method, a baby can use their unique mouth to nurse without revisions, and so I signed up!

My new guy has an even more prominent tie of his lip and tongue (and can’t use a paci, has a high palette, similar to my first) and with Dr Robyn’s info, this baby is FAR more efficient and knows how to latch himself and use his hands to help... all at 2 weeks! It’s also been pain free since first latch, and with two providers mentioning his tie already, I’m so glad I can confidently say that it is not a concern.

If you’re pregnant and had a previous child with ties, this program will be incredibly useful for you! ~ Shana

 


 "Feeding twins with no breastfeeding pain, after severe nipple damage from previous 9 babies!"

'9 breastfed babies, all caused severe damage. All used cross cradle hold.  My new twins, two weeks in. No damage. Used Thompson Method from the beginning as best as I knew. Continuing to do better with more advice from Dr. Robyn”  ~ Lora Leah A



"I had immense pain, cracks and bleeding.  I found the Thompson Method around 2 weeks in and reached out for help"

"We've made it to just over 6 months of breastfeeding! Phoebe is my third child. I breastfed my first daughter for 2 weeks but didn't manage to work through our issues. My second boy we got to over a year but had to overcome a load of hurdles.

This little lady didn't latch until day 2, then I had immense pain, cracks and bleeding. I found the Thompson Method around 2 weeks in and reached out for help. The support from Joanne Thompson and Dr Robyn Thompson was what I needed (and admin of course!). I gave up breastfeeding twice (the second time for a week) after multiple bouts of mastitis and being in pain, whilst juggling young children. But the encouragement and video one-to-ones gave me the boost I needed to keep trying and we have been fine since! Soooo grateful. Thank you x" ~ Blaze H



"I tried to breastfeed my other 7 babies the pain was so bad I ended up quitting within 2 months"

"I can’t thank all you women who run this page enough!! My little just turned 6 months and I’ve been exclusively breastfeeding her since birth. She is my 8th baby and although I tried to breastfeed my other 7 babies the pain was so bad I ended up quitting within 2 months. I will forever be grateful for the confidence and advice this page has brought me over the past 6 months. It’s been an amazing experience. Thank you!!" ~ Candice B


Thompson Method Breastfeeding Reviews

From breastfeeding pain to 100% pain free for over 24hrs! 

"Just wanted to give an update from yesterday’s post. Somehow, someway, something clicked last night between my two week old and I. She’s been latching deeply and I’ve been 100% pain free for over 24hrs. I don’t know what changed, but I’m so very thankful for it. Thank you to everyone to showed out to support us. It hasn’t gone unnoticed or unappreciated." ~ Payton


Thompson Method Breastfeeding Reviews

We conquered bleeding and cracked nipples, painful blebs, painful engorged breasts, clogged ducts and mastitis

"I just want to say how thankful I am for finding this group and implementing this method! My baby and I did this together. We conquered bleeding and cracked nipples, painful blebs that had to be popped with a sterile needle for 2 weeks every night. We beat painful engorged breasts, clogged ducts and mastitis with home remedies and lastly resorted to antibiotics that messed up his digestive tract where he only pooped once every 15 days or so. There were many many times where I wanted to quit but Beau wouldn’t let me.

I have felt hopeless, defeated, and cried numerous between numerous feedings. I’ve tried giving him the bottle but he would literally push it away and turned his head to be nursed. Beau is almost 6 months old and wears 12 months clothes!!! My handsome little man never gave up and he is my strength in all of this. Thanks to this method, learning how to fine tune, understanding how babies are supposed to properly latch is what made this breastfeeding journey a successful one. Happy Holidays everyone! Any moms who feel like giving up... just keep going one more day. It will get easier! 🎄💕💕
" ~ Sokkha V


Thompson Method Breastfeeding Reviews

No breastfeeding pain or nipple trauma thanks to The Thompson Method

"3weeks and four days ebf since day 6 ❤️ so grateful for this group, Doctor Robyn and the Thompson method. I was just hearing from everyone that your nipples ARE gonna hurt and bleed but that's how it is. And you ARE going to get mastitis and blocked milk ducts. Well, no I didn't. Don't have pain or trauma ❤️ My little Arrietty resting and digesting 🥰 the program is worth every penny and the support you get from the support FB group is amazing ❤️" ~ Pinja




For our first breastfeed my sons head and my boob was handled forcefully and I had breastfeeding pain before I was discharged 24 hours later

"Yesterday my first born baby turned ONE!! When I was pregnant I had my heart set on breastfeeding. I watched so many videos, read loads of articles and went to all the local breastfeeding classes .....I honestly thought I was prepared..... I found the Thompson Method just before I gave birth and it really resonated with me I didn’t purchase the program in pregnancy because I was naive and left it to chance. I thought breastfeeding would come naturally 🙄🙄🙄 WRONG!! For our first breastfeed my sons head and my boob was handled forcefully and I was in pain before I was discharged 24 hours later.

I remember thinking “wow that Dr Robyn was so right!” My son was diagnosed with a “tongue tie” and lactation consultants told me I needed to be more rough with my baby and that my ripples would tough up 😞 I purchased the program a few weeks later because I was in so much pain. Breastfeeding became unbearable and I was so overwhelmed.

I didn’t get my sons tongue clipped, I didn’t need to. I followed Dr Robyn’s education on attachment and I was pain free within a few days!!!!! Literally enjoying breastfeeding after a few gentle changes 😍 I cannot recommend Dr Robyn’s program enough. I wish I would’ve invested before my son was born so I could’ve known everything I know now. Don’t hesitate. You will not regret it! Thank you to everyone who helped along the way but especially to Dr Robyn Thompson for the amazing work she has done with women across the world 💖 💪🏼
" ~ Chelsea K


The Thompson Method Reviews

I feel so empowered that I have been able to feed my baby without any issues or breastfeeding pain. 

"If you are lucky enough to land on this page I cannot recommend the Thompson Method enough. Being a first time mum and pregnant during a global pandemic I was so nervous and not sure if I would breastfeed or not... until I found Dr Robyn!

Listening to her caring attitude and knowledgeable approach, I 100% knew I wanted to feed my baby myself and was confident I could do it without any of the breast feeding horror stories I’d heard from other mums- the videos explain everything so well and reassured me I could do this.

I was fully prepared for my birth and knew exactly what to do when my baby arrived. Thank you so much to Dr Robyn and the team, I feel so lucky to have come across your programme when I did, your help and guidance has been a huge tower of support to me throughout my pregnancy and during the pandemic when I could not attend other pre natal classes. I feel so empowered that I have been able to feed my baby without any issues or pain. Knowing you are there to lean on with questions when I have them is such a comfort. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, I feel truly blessed to have found you, you are amazing ❤️
" ~ Lindsay F 



EBF and Breastfeeding Pain-Free since birth

"My boy is now 1 month old. He’s my second but first to successfully breastfeed. I was over my due date with an ivf baby so agreed to be induced (I was also in a lot of pain since he was in the wrong position) so of course I had the drip and had an emergency c-section.

My team was aware of my birth preferences and followed them the best they could. He needed the cpap machine but thankfully didn’t need to be taken to NICU like my first. I was given skin on skin half an hour later and had our first feed a couple of hours later. We had trouble latching in the beginning so of course I was assisted I tried to say no but they weren’t understanding of what I was trying to say/do.  Any way I’ve over come nipple pain, no trauma thankfully and we now have a smooth breastfeeding journey. He’s also now a lot happier and sleeping better as well. My advice is keep going it does work out and ask for help if your struggling. Also just wanted to say thank you for having this group I love that it’s a non judgmental group, unlike the other breastfeeding pages 😏
" ~ Aleesha C


The Thompson Method Breastfeeding Reviews

Nurse left the room and I moved her to do the Thompson Method and it was pain free and she was a pro! 

"Finally had our baby girl today via c section. Elizabeth Is 8 lbs 9 oz and 20.5 inches long. She had a stressful entrance into the world... 36 hours of laboring to figure out her head was stuck in my pelvis. Made no progress from 9cm dilated. Doctor and we opted for a C Section since I was absolutely exhausted and ready to just have this baby in my arms! Success story... they have to monitor her for 4 hours because of the stress and she had meconium... They brought her to me for a while to breastfeed. The nurse had me hold her like a football due to my csection cut. Baby girl latched right on but it hurt. Nurse left the room and I moved her to do the Thompson method and it was pain free and she was a pro! Thank you sooo much for all of the information! We will continue practicing!" ~ Sarah R


The Thompson Method Reviews

EBF and Breastfeeding Pain-Free since birth

"My beautiful Hannah Maree born Friday 27th, I had an emergency c section due to her being breech and I had started contracting. I made everyone aware I wanted her straight to my chest and we had our full golden hours she latched and fed about 1 hour after birth, she has been amazing with feeding ( I call her a boobie piranha ), thank you too the breastfeeding club with fine tuning, the golden hours and the information provided I have EBF since birth pain free, she has a great latch and I’m feeling more confident with the knowledge I have gained from Dr Robyn. 🥰🥰" ~ Kelly D


The Thompson Method Reviews

I had a really tough and painful breastfeeding experience with my first baby due to the forceful breastfeeding techniques I was taught

"Today my baby turns 1 and I wanted to thank Dr Robyn for her amazing program! I had a really tough and painful experience with my first baby due to the forceful techniques I was taught. We managed to make it to 10 months but it definitely wasn’t easy. After I got pregnant with my second, I told myself that I would try to breastfeed, but if it was painful again, I would just switch to bottle feeding because I wasn’t willing to go through all that pain again. Around 7 months into pregnancy, an advert for the Breastfeeding Program popped up on my Facebook and it caught my attention.

I joined the free group and watched some of the videos but I wanted to know more! It was around the end of November and my mum had asked me to think about what we all wanted for Christmas, so I said I wanted the program and she bought it immediately. I got an early Christmas present and started watching all the videos in preparation for my baby’s arrival. It all made so much sense!! 🤯 and from then onwards I was determined to breastfeed and make it work 💪🏼 When my baby arrived, he latched on soon after birth, but I started to experience pain again. I decided to book a Breastfeeding Rescue with Dr Robyn when he was about 36 hours old, so that she could help me with some fine tuning. That consultation was worth every single penny. Thanks to the guidance from Dr Robyn and her program we have made it to my goal of 1 year exclusively breastfeeding! And no sign of stopping for now 💜 Thank you also to Joanne, Marie, and Jacki, who work endlessly so that more women can have the amazing experience I’ve had
" ~ Susanna J


Thompson Method Breastfeeding Reviews

He latched instantly and I haven’t had any pain, the nurses all claimed they never seen anything like it! 

"This Is Nicolas Angelo Rodriguez. Born January 22nd, 2021 at 2:08pm. We had to have an emergency c- section due to his heart rate rapidly decreasing. I was so scared 🥺 all I wanted to know was if my baby was okay. Instead of 3 golden hours we got 12 uninterrupted hours of time together. He latched instantly and I haven’t had any pain, the nurses all claimed they never seen anything like it! We are doing great and hoping to go home tomorrow. Thank you Thompson Method for helping me prepare for the unexpected!🏆 Update: forgot to mention he was 9lbs 5oz and 20.5 inches long!" ~ Angela R


Thompson Method Breastfeeding Reviews

"The Thompson Method completely changed my life and saved my breastfeeding journey."

Dr Thompson is a nurse with a LOT of experience. She bases her advice on evidence-based research that she conducted herself. 

Her approach is gentle and straightforward. Within 24 hours, I was breastfeeding pain-free. Simply by following the advice on her  Facebook group. 

Another few months and I had managed to wean my son from the nipple shield. I was getting more sleep, my breasts had healed and my son was healthy.

Source: Newmom.co.za


Thompson Method Breastfeeding Reviews

"I suffered with cracked/bleeding nipples, engorgement, breast refusal, low milk supply, low weight gain, tongue tie revision, using SNS system, topping up with bottles, nipple shields, expressing every two hours, you name it, I seemed to have encountered it!"

"🙌LONG APPRECIATION POST🙌 Well it doesn’t seem possible that it has been a whole year gone by where I sat and wrote about how thankful and grateful I was to Dr Robyn for myself and my little chunky monkey to reach one year breastfeeding.

Well here we are again, we just hit 2 years of breastfeeding and as well as saying thank you to Dr Robyn I would also like to say a huge thank you to all the amazing and beautiful ladies of the breastfeeding club. There have been times in the last year where the sleep deprivation kicked in that comes along with looking after 6 children, working, studying the list goes on that I nearly came close to stopping.

However I read all your amazing posts which have been and continue to be inspiring, this along with my chunky monkey asking for his “minkies” kept me going, so thank you 🙏🏻 The road at the beginning wasn’t just rough, it had been dug up to be resurfaced. I suffered with cracked/bleeding nipples, engorgement, breast refusal, low milk supply, low weight gain, tongue tie revision (where they temporarily damaged one side of his tongue) using SNS system, topping up with bottles, nipple shields, expressing every two hours, you name it, I seemed to have encountered it.

I called upon the services of 3 different lactation consultants, private midwife, and anyone else who I thought could help but unfortunately it came along with so much conflicting advice and exacerbated my challenges even further to the point I was looking at a tin of formula with tears rolling down my cheeks and a heavy heart, I was questioning my every decision and instinct.

This was because I had successfully breastfed my previous five and couldn’t understand why I was such a failure this time round 😔 Fast forward to my breastfeeding rescue with Dr Robyn, she took me under her wing, reassured me that I wasn’t a failure and one by one worked through my challenges.

Within 4 weeks my son was exclusively breastfeeding pain free, no top ups, no nipple shields and was thriving.  🤙🏻🥰 So once again... THANK YOU Dr Robyn, the full team and all you incredible ladies 🥰 A picture of my chunky monkey with all his brothers and sisters... 🥰🥰
" ~ Kelly F


Thompson Method Breastfeeding Reviews

Miserable to happy in 24 hours.

My baby is 9 weeks. So for the past 4 weeks or so my baby’s breastfeeding has gone from great to absolute rubbish. It started with a little bit of fussiness and quickly progressed to an absolute nightmare the past week, to the point where every feed was traumatic. She was crying and screaming during feeds, after feeds, in between feeds. I didn’t know if it was colic, silent reflux, gas/wind, a cold, I had no idea. I’ve sought advice from my GP, a midwife, my maternal health nurse and the breastfeeding association. I was told it’s normal, just a stage or a leap. I was feeling so deflated and I’d heard a lot about the Thompson method so decided in my pits of despair to give it a go. The difference in just 24 hours is incredible. I’m shocked! My baby has been feeding amazingly, not crying at all during feeds or after feeds and not pulling her legs in wind pain at all. She’s just happy, super chilled... It’s unbelievable. I wanted to post so that if anyone is struggling, this really (so far) has worked for me, it’s like she’s a different baby. Oh and she slept her longest stretch last night, 6 hours!! 

Source: BabyCentre

 


The Thompson Method Breastfeeding Reviews

Exclusively Breastfeeding 6 Months Thanks to The Thompson Method

"Today we are celebrating my gorgeous little Lyra turning 6 months old! Not just that, but also our beautiful breastfeeding journey and being able to exclusively breastfeed for six months (and going strongly) thanks to the wonderful program - an achievement I am incredibly proud of. Breastfeeding rates in the UK are low, in 2010 only 1% of babies were exclusively breastfed at 6 months old and I am incredibly proud to be part of that statistic. We have breastfed through jaundice at the hospital and through many worries of Lyra being on the lowest percentiles for weight (between 2nd and 3rd), all without any suggestion of formula top ups from anyone (for once the system was on our side!) and without any pain using the four points of contact. Thank you to the wonderful group that comes with the program for all of the support, in particular the fantastic Jill Duke who has spent countless hours troubleshooting problems with me and convincing me that Lyra is putting weight on just fine according to her own unique growth curve and giving me the confidence and peace of mind to believe it (eventually! 😂) ❤️" ~ Anastasia


The Thompson Method Breastfeeding Reviews

My nipples are finally healing and breastfeeding is no longer painful!

"This guy is 11 weeks old and we are FINALLY breastfeeding pain free! I’ve had nipple pain and trauma from the start. I had come to terms with breastfeeding being a painful experience and planned on just powering through and hoped to make it to 6 months. I came across the Thompson Method 3 weeks ago and after 2 weeks of implementing the Thompson method my nipples are finally healing and breastfeeding is no longer painful! I desperately wanted breastfeeding to be a successful and enjoyable experience and it’s finally looking like it will be! We just might make it a year!" ~ Samantha J


The Thompson Method Breastfeeding Reviews

I experienced the most peaceful, stressless and pain free breastfeeding first week with my baby. I'm beyond amazed.

"A week ago today I had my third Son after a 10 year gap. During my pregnancy I stumbled across a video of Dr. Thompson and was immediately drawn in to her message on Breast feeding as my two previous sons I had experienced every breast feeding issue you can have. To be honest when she spoke of little to no pain breast feeding, I didn't believe her as much as I wanted to, when it's the only way you've experienced breastfeeding and the same with every other woman around you, it is kinda hard to believe. I sat on the fence about purchasing her program and just watched as many of the videos she put out on social media. About four weeks out from Birth I stopped being a skeptical tart Lols and bought her program.

I didn't have time to watch every single video, in fact I was pissed at myself for not getting it when I first saw it as I could have got more from it over the course of my pregnancy. I prepared my birth plan and unfortunately it got thrown out the window because of an emergency c section. However, to the best of my ability under the stressful and traumatic circumstances, as soon as baby was able to be placed on me I started to follow as best I could what I could remember from the videos I watched. Apart from a few midwives trying to shove baby's head onto my nipple and me telling them to back off I experienced the most peaceful, stressless and pain free breastfeeding first week with my baby. I'm beyond amazed. It felt so easy, so right and what every mother deserves to experience. I'm so grateful I stumbled across that video six months ago. Thank you Dr Thompson.
" ~ Sariah O



Start Your Pain-Free Breastfeeding Journey with The Thompson Method

Pain-Free Breastfeeding Guide

Download 'A Gentle Guide Towards Pain-Free Breastfeeding' based on The Thompson Method: A gentle, evidence-based method for pain-free breastfeeding. Inside this guide Dr Robyn Thompson midwife of 45+ years and nipple trauma expert shares her Top 10 Breastfeeding Tips to guide you towards pain-free breastfeeding....right from the first breastfeed

Download your Pain-Free Breastfeeding Guide>> Click Here

Already have the guide? Join our Facebook Group here >

 

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The Thompson Method provides evidence-based education, gentle guidance, and 24/7 support so women can breastfeed for as long as they choose—confidence-full and pain-free.

Get to Know Us
Our Mission
The Thompson Method
3 Golden Hours
Dr Robyn Thompson
Reviews

Breastfeeding Programs
For Pregnant Women
For Breastfeeding Women
For Health Professionals
1:1 Breastfeeding Consultation
Get Certified
G
ift Vouchers

Other Resources
Breastfeeding Guide
Help Centre
Download App
Blog
Contact


Need to speak to someone? Call Joanne Thompson on +61 419 315 948 or Private Message on Facebook.


Copyright © The Thompson Method. All Rights Reserved.

Privacy Policy   |    Terms Of Use    |    Medical Disclaimer

Made with  🖤  by 4 Good  


The Thompson Method provides evidence-based education, gentle guidance, and 24/7 support so women can breastfeed for as long as they choose—confidence-full and pain-free.

Breastfeeding Programs
For Pregnant Women
For Breastfeeding Women
For Health Professionals
1:1 Breastfeeding Consultation
Get Certified
G
ift Vouchers

Get to Know Us
Our Mission
The Thompson Method
3 Golden Hours
Dr Robyn Thompson
Reviews

Other Resources
Breastfeeding Guide
Help Centre
Download App
Blog
Contact


Need to speak to someone? Call Joanne Thompson on +61 419 315 948 or Private Message on Facebook.


Copyright © The Thompson Method. All Rights Reserved.

Privacy Policy   |    Terms Of Use    |    Medical Disclaimer

Made with  🖤  by 4 Good