The Visit Most Austin Parents Are a Little Nervous About
Booking a tongue-tie consultation for your baby can feel like a big step. You're not sure what they'll find. You're hoping someone will finally listen. You're a little worried that you'll be pushed into a procedure you're not ready for. We've sat across from hundreds of Austin parents who walked into our office with this exact mix of hope and apprehension.
Here's what to expect at your tongue-tie consultation at Latched Beginnings, from the moment you arrive to the moment you walk out with a written plan. No pressure. No rushed exams. Just a calm, thorough evaluation by a team who understands what your family is going through.
Before the Consultation
When you book your visit, our team confirms scheduling, sends you intake paperwork to complete in advance, and answers any questions before you arrive. We ask about your baby's feeding history, weight gain, any reflux or fussiness patterns, and what other providers you've worked with (pediatricians, lactation consultants, chiropractors). The more context we have, the more useful the visit will be.
Plan for a 60 to 90 minute visit. Bring whatever you usually need for a feed: nursing pillow, bottle, burp cloths, extra outfit. Most parents come with their baby, a partner or support person, and a long mental list of questions. All welcome.
When You Arrive at Our Austin Office
Our office is at 1701 Simond Ave, Suite 107A. We're easy to reach from Mueller, East Austin, North Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, Leander, and Georgetown. Parking is straightforward and the building is family-friendly.
You'll be greeted by a member of our all-mom team. The waiting area is set up for babies. Feel free to nurse, change diapers, or pace with a fussy newborn while you wait. There's no rush.
What Happens During the Evaluation
The consultation itself is divided into a few parts. Here's what each one looks like.
1. Listening
Dr. Kacie Culotta starts every consultation by listening. We talk about your feeding journey, what's been working, what hasn't, what you've already tried, and what your gut is telling you. This part isn't a quick intake. It's where the most important information often comes out.
2. Feeding Observation
When relevant, we watch you feed your baby. Whether you're nursing, bottle feeding, or both, observing a real feed tells us things we'd never see in a static exam. We look at latch quality, milk transfer, jaw movement, lip flange, signs of swallowed air, and how comfortable both you and your baby are.
3. Full Oral Exam
Dr. Culotta does a hands-on examination of your baby's mouth. She checks tongue mobility, the lingual frenulum, the upper lip and labial frenulum, and the buccal frenula inside the cheeks. We evaluate all three potential restriction sites because babies often have more than one tie.
4. Discussion of Findings
Once the exam is done, we sit down and talk through what we see. Dr. Culotta shows you what she found, explains how each finding relates to your feeding experience, and walks through the options. This is the part where most parents finally feel like someone is connecting the dots.
What You'll Leave With
Every family leaves with a written care plan tailored to their baby. Depending on what we find, that plan might include:
A recommendation for a CO2 laser tongue-tie release, with a clear explanation of why and when it would be performed.
Lactation support recommendations and adjustments to try, often with a referral to a trusted IBCLC in Austin if one isn't already on your team.
Bodywork referrals to a pediatric chiropractor or cranial-sacral therapist if body tension is contributing to feeding issues.
Continued monitoring instructions if the picture is unclear and watchful waiting is appropriate.
Reassurance, when that's the right answer. Not every visit ends with a procedure recommendation. Some families leave with the relief of hearing that nothing significant is wrong.
If a Release Is Recommended
If we recommend a CO2 laser release, the conversation continues. We explain the procedure step-by-step, walk through what recovery looks like, demonstrate the post-op oral exercises, and provide a fixed quote in writing. You take that plan home and decide on your timeline. There's no pressure to schedule the procedure during the consultation.
Many families choose to schedule the release for the same visit if a procedure slot is available and they're ready. Others go home, talk it through with their partner, and come back. Both are completely fine.
If a Release Isn't Recommended
Sometimes the answer is no release, at least not right now. About 40 to 60% of the consultations we do at Latched Beginnings don't result in a procedure. Those families leave with a different plan: lactation support, bodywork, positioning changes, or simply reassurance that feeding is on track. We follow up with most of these families a few weeks later to make sure the path forward is working.
We turn families away from releases because the right answer isn't always 'yes.' That's what conservative, evidence-based care looks like.
What Makes a Latched Beginnings Consultation Different
Most providers in Austin offer tongue-tie evaluations. What makes ours different is the depth of the visit, the dual training of the provider, and the all-mom team behind the experience.
Dr. Kacie Culotta, DDS is the only Austin dentist with both a laser certification for tongue-tie releases and a lactation counselor certification. That means she can evaluate the structural side of feeding (anatomy) and the functional side (the latch, the milk transfer) in a single visit. Most Austin families don't realize how rare this combination is until they sit through a consultation with her.
Our team is made up entirely of moms. Some have lived through the exact feeding struggles you're navigating. All of us understand what it feels like to walk into a clinic with a fussy baby and a list of questions. We're moms helping moms. That's not a slogan. It's how every consultation actually feels.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a tongue-tie consultation take?
A complete tongue-tie consultation at Latched Beginnings typically runs 60 to 90 minutes. That includes a feeding observation, hands-on exam of all three potential restriction sites, discussion of findings, and a written care plan. We never rush a visit because the listening part matters as much as the exam.
What do I need to bring to my baby's tongue-tie consultation?
Bring your baby, your usual feeding gear (nursing pillow, bottle, burp cloths, change of outfit), any previous notes or evaluations from other providers, and a list of your questions. We provide everything else, including post-op education materials if a release ends up being recommended.
Will my baby get a tongue-tie release at the first visit?
Sometimes, but not always. Many families choose to schedule the release for the same visit if a procedure slot is available and they feel ready. Others prefer to think it through and come back. Either is fine. We don't push for same-day procedures, and we provide a fixed quote so you have everything you need to decide.
Can my partner come to the tongue-tie consultation?
Yes, please. We strongly encourage partners and support people to attend. Many decisions feel easier with another adult in the room, and your partner often catches questions you'd forget to ask. Older siblings are welcome too if needed.
Do you do feeding observations during the consultation?
Yes. When relevant, Dr. Culotta watches you feed your baby during the consultation. Real-time feeding observation is one of the most important parts of a thorough evaluation. We watch for latch quality, milk transfer, swallowed air, and patterns that point toward or away from tongue-tie as the underlying issue.
What if my baby is fussy or sleeping during the visit?
Both are completely fine. We adapt to your baby's state. If your baby is asleep, we may start with the conversation and intake first. If your baby is fussy, we'll pause and let you settle them. The visit is paced around your family, not the clock.
Will you tell me if my baby doesn't need a release?
Yes, and we do it often. Around 40 to 60% of the consultations we do at Latched Beginnings don't result in a release recommendation. Conservative, evidence-based care means saying no when no is the right answer. You'll never be pushed toward a procedure that isn't clearly indicated.
Where is the Latched Beginnings office in Austin?
Latched Beginnings is located at 1701 Simond Ave, Suite 107A in Austin, Texas. We serve families from Austin proper, Mueller, East Austin, North Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, Leander, and Georgetown. Parking is free and the office is family-friendly.
Call to Action
If you've been wondering whether your baby might have a tongue-tie, you don't have to figure it out alone. Dr. Kacie Culotta and the all-mom team at Latched Beginnings are here to listen, evaluate, and walk you through what's actually going on with your baby. Schedule a 1-on-1 consultation in Austin and let's talk through it together. Trust your instincts. We'll take it from there.
