Prevalence of Ankyloglossia in Portuguese Newborns and Its Effect on Exclusive Breastfeeding and Maternal Nipple Pain During Postpartum Hospitalization.

Objectives: To evaluate the association between ankyloglossia and breastfeeding outcomes, particularly exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) and maternal nipple pain during the immediate postpartum period and to estimate the prevalence of ankyloglossia in a population of Portuguese newborns. Study design: This cross-sectional study assessed 501 newborns within the first 5 days of life at Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Oporto, Portugal, before hospital discharge. Ankyloglossia was diagnosed by a single examiner using the Assessment Tool for Lingual Frenulum Function protocol. Data on breastfeeding practices and maternal nipple pain were collected. Poisson regression analysis was used to evaluate associations. Results: The prevalence of ankyloglossia among newborns was 13.8%. During hospitalization, 71.0% of newborns were exclusively breastfed, and 28.4% of mothers reported nipple pain during breastfeeding. There was no statistically significant association between ankyloglossia and EBF rates during hospitalization. However, mothers of newborns diagnosed with ankyloglossia had a significantly higher probability of experiencing nipple pain during breastfeeding (prevalence ratio, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.11-2.06). Conclusions: Although ankyloglossia was not associated with lower EBF rates during the hospital stay, it was significantly linked with increased maternal nipple pain during breastfeeding. These findings suggest that, although ankyloglossia may not hinder EBF in the immediate postpartum period, it can contribute to maternal discomfort and potentially adversely affect the breastfeeding experience.