Abstract
Objective: To identify the likely implications of lingual frenulum alteration in exclusive breastfeeding. Methods: This is a qualitative, exploratory and descriptive research, carried out in a public hospital in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Data collection took place in the second half of 2020 through semi-structured interviews via telephone contact. Data were subjected to inductive thematic analysis. Results: The study involved ten mothers with children diagnosed with lingual frenulum alteration, and six babies had a score of 7 in the Lingual Frenulum Assessment Screening protocol, and three had a score of 5/6. About prenatal care from the first trimester of pregnancy, nine mothers reported having performed. Intercurrences such as systemic arterial hypertension, pre-eclampsia, urinary tract infection, gestational diabetes and restricted intrauterine growth have been reported. In the data analysis, two themes emerged: Implications of the alteration of the lingual frenulum in exclusive breastfeeding and guidelines for re-evaluation of the lingual frenulum. Conclusion: Of the 10 babies who presented ankyloglossia, seven did not need to undergo frenotomy when reassessed when returning from the medical appointment, but difficulties during breastfeeding were observed, which may be related to interference of the lingual frenulum during the baby's suckling.