When a baby’s mouth is improperly latched, he or she may make a clicking sound. The Clicking Sound while breastfeeding might be due to a wide variety of factors. Common reasons include improper feeding posture, insufficient milk supply, and flat nipples. It’s not serious, and it shouldn’t lead to any major issues, but he may be taking in too much air along with the milk.
Why Do I Hear Clicking Sound While Breastfeeding?
Full Breasts
Overproduction of milk and other bodily fluids may lead to engorgement. It occurs most often during the first few weeks of breastfeeding, when you are still getting used to your body’s new milk production and feeding rhythm. You may notice that your breasts feel full and tight when they are engorged, which may make it difficult for your baby to latch on properly since he or she may have trouble maintaining suction.
Ear Infection
Your baby’s suction may be temporarily turned “off.”
While sucking, a little amount of pressure develops in the baby’s ear. Then there’s the tension, which isn’t fun when your ears hurt. If the infant is in discomfort, it may attempt to comfort itself by not making a good breast seal.
Teething
Teething is the most common reason for temporary clicking. Perhaps the infant is trying to relieve the discomfort caused by teething. To achieve this, your infant must repeatedly let go of the suction (thus the clicking). Since he isn’t accustomed to the feeling of teeth in his mouth when nursing, your kid may be doing the same thing.
If the infant retracts or curls up the tongue while nursing, this might indicate a problem with positioning or latch. Incorrect positioning might make it difficult for the infant to get a proper latch on the breast. It might make a clicking noise if used as a break suction.
Constant Sucking Failure and Clicking
Breastfeeding might be routinely disrupted by clicking sounds caused by inadequate suction. The newborn may have difficulty latching on and maintaining a good suction during feedings. On the other hand, the infant may take extensive pauses and sleep for large stretches of time throughout most feedings. It’s possible that nursing will always seem like a competition.
Tongue-Tying and Clicking
A newborn that is having difficulty latching because of lip or tongue tie may make that clicking sound. When things are at their worst, the frenulum that connects the tongue to the lower lip becomes very noticeable. When two frenulum unite, the elastic force exerted on them returns the linked tissues to their original positions. There are a lot of structural changes happening in your baby’s mouth that are getting in the way of his or her ability to feed well.
Getting your infant into a comfortable nursing position will take more work than usual. Your infant may experience a sensation similar to that of having the “reset” button pressed on his lips. Any time your infant tries a new breastfeeding position.
Thrush
One of the most bothersome causes of clicking noises during nursing is thrush. Yeast infection, probably candida. Fungus may be seen as a white, rash-like patch in your infant’s mouth. If it isn’t enough of a red flag, a puffy, red lips should be. When your youngster puts something near his or her lips, it appears broken. The quick progression of the sickness caused by the bacterial imbalance within the body allows it to be transmitted from mother to child. Inappropriate use of antibiotics is the primary contributor.
Symptoms of a Clicking Sound While Breastfeeding
There may be a problem if you hear clicking, and it frequently occurs in conjunction with other symptoms. When nursing, it’s important to keep an eye out for these warning signs.
Dimpled Cheeks
Distinguishing a clicking sound from a normal sucking sound might be challenging. Check your baby’s cheeks for dimples to see whether they coincide with the clicking sound.
Facial Ache
During the first few weeks of nursing after giving birth, tightness is common. However, nursing shouldn’t be difficult or result in uncomfortable nips. If your infant is crying or acting distressed when nursing, it means they are experiencing difficulty.
Abnormally Shaped Nipples
Let’s say you see that your nipple is wrinkled after you’ve fed. This clicking may be an indication that your infant has a tongue tie. Nipple soreness or skin cracking are possible side effects.
Pain in the Mouth
Look in your baby’s mouth for any problems or infections. You may have trouble recognizing a tongue-tie on your own. The next logical step would be a trip to the doctor to confirm the problem.
Eliminating the Clicking Noise During the Time That You Are Breastfeeding
Some mothers have found success by experimenting with various nursing positions. This may help regulate your baby’s letdown and strengthen the latch. You may discover whether people are more likely to click in certain spots by trying them out.
If you suspect that your baby is clicking due to an excessive letdown caused by an oversupply, try reducing the amount of liquids you’re giving them. In order to get some breast milk out before you try to latch your baby on, you may use a manual pump. When possible, breastfeeding should precede latching.
An ear infection or teething might be to blame for your infant’s recent erratic behavior. Common infant diseases include the ones listed above. Look around to see if you can see anything out of the ordinary. And if so, you should see a doctor soon.
Final Thoughts
If your hand slips when you’re closing the latch, you can end up with a bad fit and some annoying clicking. If you hear a clicking sound during nursing, you shouldn’t panic. However, if it occurs often when you are nursing and you are concerned that it may be contributing to your child’s weight problems, you should seek more information. We have discussed the various reasons for the clicking sound while breastfeeding to help you understand the reasons.
However, don’t try to make a self-diagnosis. No matter how innocuous something may look, it’s always advisable to seek the advice of a lactation consultant. You may ask for help from them if you or your child is in discomfort.
