AT just seven weeks old, Joshua Birtwistle became the first baby in the North West to undergo a pioneering procedure to tackle breastfeeding problems.

He was born with a tongue tied' condition which leaves babies struggling to breastfeed properly due to their frenulum - the tissue attaching the tongue to the floor of the mouth - being too tight or attached to the tip of their tongue.

Joshua's mum, Jane, who lives in Walshaw, explained: "I was determined to breastfeed Joshua. Since breastfeeding is natural, I thought it would be easy. However, from the very first feed I found it painful and difficult to feed Joshua.

"I continually asked for help from the midwives but by the third day my nipples were sore and bleeding. The pain was becoming unbearable but I was determined not to resort to giving Joshua formula milk.

"After numerous consultations with my local GP I was still at a loss as to why breastfeeding was so painful, but a National Child Trust breastfeeding counsellor said that Joshua might have tongue tie. At first I was shocked and worried, as I had never heard the term before, but after researching it I was convinced that this was the problem."

Joshua was referred to the Royal Oldham Hospital where he became the first in the region to have a frenulotomy. Midwife Val Finigan, who works for the Pennine Acute Trust which runs Fairfield General and the Royal Oldham hospitals, is the first midwife in the region qualified to carry out the procedure where the frenulum is cut, freeing the tongue to move and helping the baby feed properly.

Val said: "It is only carried out on babies up to four months old, because of their stage of development. There is very little, if any, blood loss or pain felt from the procedure. It takes very little time with the baby being away from its parents for no more than four minutes while the procedure takes place."

Joshua soon got the hang of feeding and life is now much easier for Jane and her three-month-old son.

Jane added: "Joshua is now thriving and is much more contented, with no crying in between feeds. Without the procedure it would have been a choice between painful feeding or resorting to giving Joshua formula milk."

With the service fully up and running, Val is asking for more health professionals to refer babies with tongue tie to the service.

She said: "This is something new for the whole North West and we need to let people know it's available. The procedure helps babies breastfeed and that's the best possible start in life with benefits for both babies and the mothers."