2 weeks old and a 'clicking' noise while feeding

**Indadhanu** · December 13th, 2012, 01:46 PM

DD2 is just over two weeks old and a lot of the time while feeding she makes a funny 'clicking' noise while she feeds. I've not experienced anything like it - my DD1 was fed until 2 years, 4 months and never made this clicking noise. I'm not really sure what the cause is so I haven't really been sure what to try. I kind of try repositioning but again, since I don't know what causes it I don't really know where/how to reposition her. Sometimes she also seems to be quite inundated by my let down and splutters a lot, which may or may not be related as the clicking and the spluttering sometimes does and sometimes does not happen together. Her weight gain is fine, latch seems to be perfect, although sometimes she'll get a little lazy and her cheeks tend to 'suck in' - I delatch and reattach when I see this. I initially thought that this was the cause of the noise but the clicking is becoming persistent every feed and the sucked-in cheeks doesn't seem to be all the time, just when she gets lazy, sometimes every feed but not always, so I can't really tell if it is related to the clicking either? She's also having huge issues bringing up her wind and seems to get a lot of tummy pain, not sure if this is related. I have been trying to see if it is something I am eating although there's nothing I have regualrly enough to cause persistent windiness, tummy pain etc.

Does anyone know what may be causing the clicking? It doesn't hurt but surely it's not normal?

**Ryatha** · December 13th, 2012, 01:57 PM

DD2 made a clicking noise occasionally when she bf and I think it was related to attachment. It went away after a time but I think it caused her to suck more air. I think I tried her in different positions to see which reduced it the most.

**Butterfly Dawn** · December 13th, 2012, 02:00 PM

Her tongue? her jaw maybe?
I'd ask ur carer next time baby has a check. But if her weight gain is good and she's not in pain then surely its nothing major?

**Indadhanu** · December 13th, 2012, 02:06 PM

A quick Google search makes me wonder if it is a forceful letdown... I have started to hold a bottle under my other breast when feeding because of the forceful letdown, and it will often leak 20-30mLs during the letdown period before it slows/stops. I was using a flat nappy to soak up the leakage but would end up having to keep moving the cloth around because I'd soak through parts of it. Not sure how I can stop that or help her though.

**No.5** · December 13th, 2012, 02:43 PM

DD does the same some feeds indad. I've assumed it was something to do with letdown because that's when I hear it!

No idea what can be done about it though..

**onthefly** · December 13th, 2012, 02:44 PM

Congrats on your baby!
So it's comfortable for you? And is she getting plenty of milk? If so, I wouldn't worry about it

Sometimes things aren't entirely typical, but everything is still ok.
Re foreceful letdown, it can be a bit of a challenge for them in the early weeks, but they get a handle on it once they're bigger. You might find it eases up a bit once your initial oversupply eases off as well. You can try triggering the letdown, then feeding after the worst of it, or different feeding positions - ie more upright.
If she's getting a lot of milk very quickly, that can make things a little harder on the digestive system, also. Again, it's something that would resolve itself with a bit of time.

**frog** · December 13th, 2012, 03:05 PM

My LO clicks too, she is one week old and was low birthweight, not sure if it is to do with that... Her clicking is just her swallowing sound, have seen lactation consultant who is happy with it, it's not a bad attachment sound for us. She also is a lazy feeder and gets a bit of wind, has lots of tummy aches before a dirty nappy. Lots of hiccups too...

**ladybirdflies** · December 13th, 2012, 03:12 PM

My last baby did that sound, and it was to do with minor tongue tie.

**frog** · December 13th, 2012, 03:15 PM

^^ that's interesting, my partner has minor tongue tie and we wondered whether Ava might too, but she seems to stick her tongue out.

Indadhanu it will be interesting to see what else you find out...

**Heaven** · December 13th, 2012, 03:26 PM

DD2 did the same thing: https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...lem?highlight=

I think it was forceful letdown making her do it too. She did it for ages, I think it became a habit. She eventually grew out of it luckily because it was really annoying, even though it didn't effect feeding at all.

**Indadhanu** · December 13th, 2012, 03:36 PM

There's a private LC & MCHN in the area that does a free drop-in clinic and private consults so I think I'll go see her on Monday, get DD2 weighed to make sure she's still putting on weight (last weigh-in was last Wednesday) and get her opinion.

How far out should she be able to stick her tongue out? I've never noticed her stick her tongue out but then again I've never really looked for it...

**~ Mylitta ~** · December 13th, 2012, 03:40 PM

Both my DD's did it, but DD1 to a much greater extent. My health nurse heard her doing it and said it was due to my forceful letdown and that it was DD's was of dealing with the letdown. It didn't cause her any trouble or annoy her, and didn't cause any wind so I just let her grow out of it

My DS who had a very mild tongue tie never made the noise. He dealt with the forceful letdown by coughing and spluttering milk over me hehe

**AngelPants** · December 13th, 2012, 06:01 PM

Mr Z makes a clicking noise no matter what. His attachment is fine now tho it was an issue initially.
Generally it is an attachment issue, so an LC or the ABA might be able to help.

**ladybirdflies** · December 13th, 2012, 06:05 PM

There's a private LC & MCHN in the area that does a free drop-in clinic and private consults so I think I'll go see her on Monday, get DD2 weighed to make sure she's still putting on weight (last weigh-in was last Wednesday) and get her opinion.

How far out should she be able to stick her tongue out? I've never noticed her stick her tongue out but then again I've never really looked for it...

My lactation consultant and midwife picked it up by looking at it. I would suggest am appointment with an LC if you feel like they are no feeding well or isn't settled in between feeds.

**Lisa** · December 13th, 2012, 06:32 PM

My DD2 clicked whilst feeding and she had a tongue tie. I was in a lot of pain too though.

**Hope.Positive.Love** · December 13th, 2012, 06:53 PM

Hey Indad,

Bax does the same thing and I was told by myself MW that it was due to my letdown and I tend to drown him at the beginning more little guy... He also will have trouble bringing up his wind when I notice the clicking noise... I just take it him, let my milk flow of naturally then when it has slowed down I will reattach him, he is much happier and doesnt seem to be in too much pain after the feed bringing up his wind.. Weird point I just have realised typing this, he only does it to my left breast, not the right... Hmm interesting...

I hadnt thought about tongue tied though, might talk to GP at his 6 week check up if its still happening...

**MantaRay** · December 21st, 2012, 05:23 AM

How is it going now hon? One of my DS's clicked too, and it was after his tongue-tie was snipped so it wasn't that. I have since found out that it is related to fast letdown - it's baby's way of coping, they reduce the flow they are getting by breaking the seal and that makes a clicking sound. Clever little tikes they are to work that out!

It's good to hear that you have got feeding going so well already and by now your flow might have settled too.

Congratulations on your new little bundle

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