Baby makes a clicking sound when nursing...

[SarahS79]

Help! I've had a lot of trouble with my 1 month oldtrying to get her to breast feed. While in the hospital we were using a nipple shield because she wouldn't latch. I was pumping lots and feeding her with a spoon because she was loosing weight and I didn't want to give her a bottle ( the nurses and doctors said she would probably never nurse if she got abottle) She started to latch and then developed thrush (although it wasn't seen in her mouth?) And I developed yeast. We have both been treated and finished treatment today. I think everything has cleared up. She is still being fed with the spoon to make sure she is getting enough to eat, and she is starting to latch better, but makes a clicking noise and its really easy for me to pull her off. This makes me think she isn't latched as well as she should be. Also, it's very difficult to get her to stay latched. I am sooo frustrated! Any help would be appreciatied!

[debbie_page]

Your instincts are right- she is not latching well or deep enough. Where do you live. How old is baby and what are her weights.

[SarahS79]

I live outside of Lexington KY. Claire is was born Apirl 9th I think that makes her 6 weeks old? She was 7lbs 9 at birth, we left the hospital 6/14, two days later she was 6/13 two days after that she was 6/11 two days later 6/13, and eventually she went to 7/11 a gain of 8 oz in 7 days. She's a fussy eater, and I really want to be rid of the pump and spoon feedings.

[debbie_page]

My hunch is that she needs more to eat. I would suggest you feed her more. You need a lactation consultant who can help you with hands on to get her latched well and help you determine the cause of the shallow latch.

[SarahS79]

Also, she falls asleep when nursing and is so difficult to wake up. I am always eiter trying to get her to nurse or pumping so that I can spoon feed her and be sure she is getting enough.

[SarahS79]

ok. thanks for the help.

[SarahS79]

one more thing. sometimes when she is latched well, she gulps, so much that I can feel the swallow in her back! She'll do this for a couple of minutes, and pull off out of breath, and then return with shallow latch...any ideas?

[debbie_page]

I think she needs to be evaluated by a lactation consultant. If you go to www.ilca.org you can search for one in your area.