DD's weird nursing habit is driving me crazy!

[mamaofprincesses]

Help!

DD3, my fourth baby, does this strange thing where it feels like she is flicking my nipple with her tongue. It's driving me nuts. It makes nursing her very unpleasant, though it doesn't hurt exactly.

She seems to do it less when she's really hungry, more when she's tired/gets lazy with her latch.

We've had thrush, and I think it is lingering in my right breast. She does it more on that breast, though that is probably a coincidence?

She's five weeks old on Saturday. Do I need to teach her not to do this, to make the relationship work for both of us, or will she outgrow it?

[NewBeginnings1]

Sounds like she's not getting the nipple deep enough into her mouth. Make sure you make her open her mouth wide and that she has a wide latch on your areola. Because its not the most efficient sucking method, it might make her have to nurse longer as well.

I think all babies try this at some point. The best thing you can do it relatch her to show her the right way. As she gets more experienced, she could outgrow it...but bad habits die hard, so break it early!

A lactation consultant gave me this demonstration. Try sucking your pointer finger with your teeth/lips centered between your fingernail and 1st knuckle. If you try to suck hard like a baby would, you'll find its awkward and you might find that she "flicks" your finger (ie nipple). Now slide you lips to your larger knuckle and try sucking. Its simpler and it just works. 

Best of luck. See a consultant if you need to!