Clicking and fast let-down

Hiya!

My 6 week old DD has always made a 'clicking' noise through most of a feed (BF). I've been told by some nurses / midwives that it's bad, and by some that its not a problem as long as she is attaching correctly. DD is bang on track with weight gain, and is happy, alert and sleeping OK.

We were referred to an Infant Feeding Clinic, which was a wonderful one-on-one day stay, and the nurse tried all day to get more areola in DDs mouth, but still the clicking continues.

I've been told that I have a fast let-down, and DD certainly seems to gulp and sputter sometimes. One theory was that she is clicking in an attempt to slow the flow.

My nipples are not really sore, so I am thinking that the attachment is OK. They are not 100% painless, but its more that they are sensitive, rather than painful.

My question to all you BF champions is: Has anyone had a long term 'clicking' feeder? Should I be expecting her to click for the next twelve months, or will my nipples not be able to handle it for that long??

Any advice greatly appreciated!

I have had attachment issues with my DD since she was a couple of days old. It got gradually worse until she was making massive sucking noises and continually coming off. i called the lactation consultants I went for a feed to see if we could rectify the problem, but to no avail. Two weeks later we woke for a night feed and she was barely attaching so I called the lactation consultants again and I went in again and they still couldn't figure her out. We tried shield and different attachment methods, but nothing worked. I had to feed her EBM which she took fine.
The next day she was attaching better and no need for EBM. Now a weeks later she is still making really loud sucking noises and gets a bit of wind, but I have resigned myself to the fact that this is the best it gets. She is happy healthy, gaining weight and sleeping well. Also my nipples are fine (each of my babies I have had sore nipples for a week or so after birth, but not this time).

So like my lactation consultants said to me some babies make a little bit of noise no matter how you try to resole it... it sounds like our babies are two of those babies :)

As for the fast let down... take her off and put a washer over your BB, hold her over your shoulder until it passes :)

Good Luck
Tanya

Hi,
I guess the first thing to work out is "is it broke" (before deciding if it's worth fixing!) what you are describing doesn't sound like it's "broke". Clicking can be indicitive of a problem, especially when associated with other problems - typically sore nipples, low weight gains and an unsettled baby. If your baby seems to be doing well and thriving, then the clicking, by itself is not a problem. Often with time and development it will go away. Occasionally baby will continue to click when breastfeed for it's whole breastfeeding life (usually a long one)
As babies grow they learn to cope with an abundant milk supply, whilst on the other side of the ledger an over abundant milk supply will calm down to match the baby's needs. Often when these things happen the clicking will resolve.
So....I'm coming down on the side of those who say if she is growing, sleeping, alert and happy and your nipples are not tooo sore.....it's find. Relax and enjoy

Warm Regards
Barb