FEED. BREATHE. GROW.
Understanding Infant Feeding: A Comprehensive Guide to Breastfeeding Challenges, Tongue Ties, and Oral Development
A free expert resource from Margaret Stoch, MHS, CCC-SLP, helping Chicagoland families understand the root causes of feeding difficulties and when to seek professional help.
A Parent-Friendly Guide to Oral Function, Tongue Ties, and Early Development
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Is Feeding Time Filled With Frustration Instead of Joy?
You're not alone. Many parents in the Chicagoland area struggle with infant feeding challenges that leave both baby and mother exhausted, confused, and worried.
You may be experiencing:
- Severe nipple pain, cracking, or bleeding during breastfeeding
- A baby who can't seem to latch properly or stay latched
- Feeding sessions that last 1-2 hours, leaving your baby still hungry
- Poor weight gain that has your pediatrician concerned
- Excessive gas, reflux, colic, or signs of discomfort after feeding
- Feeling like your milk supply is inadequate
- Engorgement, mastitis, or other breastfeeding complications
- Being told your baby "might have a tongue tie" but not knowing what that means or what to do next
The truth is: these struggles often have identifiable causes, and with proper assessment and intervention, most feeding difficulties can be resolved.
Inside the guide
- Facial Formation & Development
- Primitive Reflexes & Feeding Mechanics
- Breastfeeding vs. Formula Feeding
- Tongue Ties & Oral Restrictions
- Professional Assessment & Treatment
- Feeding Tools & Oral Motor Development
Families trust us with this exact struggle
“ATWC and team have truly been lifesavers for us and that’s not an exaggeration. They’ve been working with our daughter since she was 4 weeks old… because we had a lot of trouble breast feeding. 100/10 would recommend!!!”
“I would highly recommend their services, especially for newborns experiencing feeding difficulties or reflux. They provided excellent recommendations, including a tongue tie release. Their service and customer care were truly exceptional.”
“My son was born 2.5 weeks early… he struggled with breastfeeding. At our first visit we learned our son had FOUR oral ties… Not only is there a HUGE difference with breastfeeding, but his overall health and well being has been positively impacted!”
Why Feeding Problems Are Often Overlooked or Misdiagnosed
Tongue ties, lip ties, and other oral restrictions are frequently missed during routine pediatric exams. Many healthcare providers lack specialized training in infant feeding mechanics and oral function assessment.
As a result, parents hear:
“Just keep trying”
“Switch to formula”
“It will get better with time”
“This is normal”
But when feeding difficulties persist, it's rarely about trying harder. It's about identifying the root cause.
Proper functional assessment by a specialist is essential. It's not just about whether a tie exists anatomically, but whether it's affecting your baby's ability to feed effectively.
Early intervention matters. The sooner feeding issues are properly assessed and addressed, the better the outcomes for both baby and mother.
About Margaret Stoch
Written by a Leading Expert in Infant Feeding & Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy
Margaret Stoch, MHS, CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist and the founder of Advanced Therapy & Wellness Center in Crest Hill, Illinois. In clinical practice since 2013, she specializes in pediatric and adult feeding and swallowing, orofacial myofunctional disorders, and airway-centered care that connects oral function with breathing, sleep, regulation, and long-term health.
Margaret is known for a whole-body, root-cause approach that blends clinical precision with practical implementation for real families. Her work frequently involves identifying patterns that are easy to miss in traditional care, including dysfunctional breathing, low tongue posture, mouth breathing, tethered oral tissues, and oral-motor inefficiencies. She partners closely with multidisciplinary providers to support coordinated care plans, ensuring therapy is not just symptom management but a path to lasting functional change.
Her credentials include:
- Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist
- Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist
- Feeding Specialist
- Dually Certified Nutritional Coach
- 7-time recipient of the ASHA Award for Continuing Education (ACE)
What You'll Learn in This Comprehensive Guide
Facial Formation & Development
- How a baby's face forms during pregnancy (weeks 8-10)
- Factors that can affect facial and oral development
- The role of proper oral structure in feeding success
Primitive Reflexes & Feeding Mechanics
- Understanding sucking, swallowing, and breathing coordination
- How these reflexes work together for safe, efficient feeding
- What happens when these mechanisms are disrupted
Breastfeeding vs. Formula Feeding
- The foundational health benefits of breastfeeding
- Nutritional considerations and immune support
- When and how to navigate formula feeding
Tongue Ties & Oral Restrictions
- What tongue ties, lip ties, and buccal ties actually are
- How they impact breastfeeding and oral function
- Why they're often overlooked or misdiagnosed
- The importance of functional assessment, not just anatomical presence
Professional Assessment & Treatment
- The role of speech-language pathologists in feeding evaluations
- What a comprehensive feeding assessment includes
- Pre- and post-operative care for tongue tie release
- The importance of a multidisciplinary team approach
Feeding Tools & Oral Motor Development
- Choosing the right bottles and pacifiers for oral development
- How feeding tools can support or hinder proper tongue function
- Therapeutic considerations for babies with feeding challenges
Why Early Intervention Matters
The Sooner You Address Feeding Issues, The Better the Outcome
Feeding difficulties usually don't just "work themselves out." When feeding is hard, the body adapts with compensation patterns. Those patterns can stick and ripple into growth, sleep, breathing, digestion, and later speech. When oral restrictions and feeding problems are left untreated, they can contribute to:
Breastfeeding breakdown and early weaning
- Painful latch, clicking, leaking milk, frequent unlatching
- Low milk transfer and constant feeds that still don't satisfy
- Reduced supply over time from inefficient milk removal
- Pump dependence, triple-feeding burnout, early weaning
Inadequate intake and growth concerns
- Slow weight gain or falling off the growth curve
- Poor endurance at the breast or bottle (fatigue, sweating, dozing off)
- Longer feeds with less volume, frequent "snacking" instead of full feeds
- Dehydration, constipation, or fewer wet diapers in more severe cases
Sleep disruption for baby and the entire household
- Short naps, frequent night waking due to hunger or discomfort
- Difficulty settling because the nervous system is stuck in "fight-or-flight"
- Mouth-breathing or noisy sleep that reduces restorative sleep quality
- Parents running on fumes, which affects bonding, mood, and milk supply
Higher risk of later speech and articulation challenges
- Persistent low tongue posture, limited tongue mobility, weak oral-motor patterns
- Compensations that can affect sound production
- Delays in transitioning textures, chewing, and oral coordination that support speech
Jaw, palate, and airway development issues
- Narrow palate, higher palate shape, or asymmetry from poor tongue-to-palate rest posture
- Poor chewing mechanics that limit jaw strength and coordination
- Open-mouth posture and mouth-breathing patterns that can influence facial growth over time
Ongoing digestive discomfort
- Excess air intake from a poor seal (gassiness, burping, hiccups)
- Reflux-like symptoms from swallowing air and tension patterns
- Colic-like fussiness, back arching, or discomfort after feeds
- Constipation or irregular stools, often from stress physiology plus feeding inefficiency
The good news? With proper assessment and intervention, most feeding challenges can be successfully addressed, allowing your baby to feed efficiently, gain weight appropriately, and thrive.
Many parents express frustration that these issues could have been resolved sooner if they'd known where to turn for help. You don't have to struggle alone. Expert help is available right here in Chicagoland.
You may be wondering…
"Maybe this is just normal and will get better on its own?"
While some initial breastfeeding challenges are common in the first few days, persistent pain, poor latch, and inadequate weight gain are signs that something needs to be addressed. Waiting often prolongs the struggle for both you and your baby.
"My pediatrician said everything looks fine."
General pediatricians may not have specialized training in functional feeding assessment. A feeding specialist can evaluate the mechanics of how your baby feeds, not just whether structures look normal at rest.
"I don't want my baby to need surgery."
Not all feeding issues require surgical intervention. A comprehensive assessment determines whether therapy alone can address the problem, or whether a tongue tie release combined with therapy is the best path forward. You'll have all the information you need to make an informed decision.
"Am I just doing something wrong?"
No. Feeding difficulties are rarely about maternal technique alone. When there are underlying oral restrictions or functional issues, even the most dedicated mother will struggle. Professional assessment identifies what's really happening.
"Will insurance cover this?"
Many insurance plans cover speech therapy services, including feeding assessments and treatment. Our team can help you understand your coverage and navigate the process.
Download Your Free Guide & Take the First Step Toward Feeding Success
Get immediate access to this comprehensive resource and discover what might be causing your baby's feeding struggles.
Here's what happens next:
Download the guide — Get instant access to the complete ebook.
Read at your own pace — Learn about oral development, tongue ties, and feeding mechanics.
Reach out when you're ready — Contact Advanced Therapy & Wellness Center to speak with our team about your specific situation.
A member of our team will respond promptly to answer your questions and help determine if a feeding evaluation is right for your baby.
Chicagoland's Trusted Resource for Infant Feeding & Myofunctional Therapy
Advanced Therapy & Wellness Center in Crest Hill, Illinois helps babies, children, and adults improve feeding, swallowing, breathing, and oral function. Our team blends speech-language pathology and occupational therapy with whole-person care so families feel heard, supported, and confident in the plan.
Our comprehensive services include:
- Infant feeding assessments and therapy (breast and bottle)
- Tongue tie, lip tie, and buccal tie evaluation (oral restrictions)
- Pre- and post-release / frenectomy support to build strength, coordination, and functional feeding skills
- Lactation-informed care paired with speech-language pathology expertise
- Reflux-like symptoms, colic, and feeding-related stress when oral function and air intake are part of the picture
- Sensory-based feeding challenges and smoother transitions to solids
- Airway and breathing support: mouth breathing, low tongue posture, and oral resting posture patterns
- Orofacial myofunctional therapy for children and adults: tongue posture, oral habits, swallowing patterns, and jaw function
- Occupational therapy support: regulation, sensory processing, body tension, positioning, and motor foundations that impact feeding and tethered oral tissue treatment
How we work
We start by listening. Then we complete a thorough evaluation, identify what's driving the struggle, and build an individualized treatment plan that fits your child and your real life. Care is collaborative, practical, and focused on changes you can actually see at home.
Our mission
Our mission is to provide highly skilled, whole-person care that creates a positive difference in the lives of a million people.
Ready to Understand What's Really Happening?
Download your free copy of "FEED. BREATHE. GROW. A Parent-Friendly Guide to Oral Function, Tongue Ties, and Early Development" today and gain the expert knowledge you need to advocate for your baby's health.
Questions first? Call 815-782-4196.