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.
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.
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.
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.
The E-book content emphasizes that 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
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 that can show up as feeding challenges in infants, speech concerns in children, and sleep or performance issues in adolescents and adults. 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.
As a myofunctional therapist, feeding specialist, and certified nutrition coach, Margaret integrates foundational health strategies with therapy to support the nervous system, airway function, growth, and resilience across the lifespan. She leads and mentors a team of clinicians who share a commitment to compassionate, accountable care and measurable outcomes. Through her clinical work, education, and leadership, Margaret’s mission is to elevate whole body wellness and root cause care in a way that improves quality of life today and impacts generations to come.
Her credentials include:
Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist
Feeding Specialist
Certified Wolfe Non-Surgical Master Practitioner
Certified Nutritional & Emotional 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 (depending on the child)
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 + 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 E-book
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 tongue-tie 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 as an essential part of outcomes: 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.
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.
Get In Touch
Assistance Hours
Mon – Thu 8:00am – 7:00pm
Friday 8:00am - 1:00pm
Sunday – CLOSED
Phone Number:
815-782-4196
Office: 16009 Executive Dr.
Crest Hill, IL 60403
Call 815 782-4196
