Just sucking on nipple

[Veronique]

My almost 4 week old daughter has been breastfeeding since the beginning. But, lately after doing some research, I don't think she is doing it 'right'. She doesn't open her mouth wide enough, and it seems as though she is only sucking on the nipple. I can hear this clicking sound when she is drinking and it sounds like it's her tongue clicking on the roof of her mouth.
She is drinking milk coz I can see it in her mouth and also she has frequent BM and full diapers.
Is this normal for her to be doing, or what can I do to get her to open her mouth more?

[Emilie]

Full diapers are a good sign!
Are you experiencing pain when she is nursing? Some or even alot of pain is NORMAL but also can indicate she is latching wrong.
If your breasts are anything like mine- they are prob still larger than your dear dd's head! I would try to flatten out the areola a bit and ease more into her mouth.
The clicking sound is most likely her swallowing and a good sign. Oh- I forgot about the clicking sound....
As she gets bigger she will nurse different.
Em

[BakerALM]

you could just have an oversupply which is getting her fed even though she is not actually latched on correctly. If she was not drawing a huge suction on your nipple since the milk was just flowing in she may not be causing you nipple pain or trama. (This story is my case, my DD is gaining great lots of wet/poopy diapers but still a bad latch that did not cause me pain. Also she clicks a lot and breaks suction.)

It really could be she just has a small mouth and you have a large areola so it looks like she is just on your nipple or you could actually have a problem with the latch. Hard to tell without more info.

[sandybemt]

Originally Posted by Veronique

My almost 4 week old daughter has been breastfeeding since the beginning. But, lately after doing some research, I don't think she is doing it 'right'. She doesn't open her mouth wide enough, and it seems as though she is only sucking on the nipple. I can hear this clicking sound when she is drinking and it sounds like it's her tongue clicking on the roof of her mouth.
She is drinking milk coz I can see it in her mouth and also she has frequent BM and full diapers.
Is this normal for her to be doing, or what can I do to get her to open her mouth more?

the clicking sound can mean a latch problem..Make sure the babys lips arent tucked in..My LO used to do that all the time and I would have to pull his chin down to get him on right..He learned quick though..Make sure she is oepning nice and wide and latching on completely..Keep up the good work!

[SpiderMum]

The clicking might mean there's a problem...

However, I felt like my DD wasn't taking in enough either...but it just turns out I have huge areolas and she has a tiny newborn mouth. It's not humanly possibly for someone with that size mouth to take in the whole thing!

[tjjazzy]

can you have a professional come over for a visit to help you find out if the latch is correct? here (ontario, canada), health nurses will visit after mommy and baby are home (as long as mom wants them to) and it is a really big help. my little guy was gaining weight and doing very well but he was nursing quite often and for lengthy periods of time. the nurse had me BF while she was visiting and the problem was our latch wasn't right. we're still working on it but doing much better now (although i have a clogged duct now. ugh.)