milk flows too easily? bad latched and cracked nipples

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My five week old has gone from a good latch early on to bad.
My letdown is very fast and even after that the milk seems to flow too easily so it's as if she's worked out she doesn't need to suck or do any work for the milk she can just slurp it!
Her bottom lip just doesn't come out far enough and there is a clicking noise.
My nipples are now very badly cracked and not sure what to do - nipple shields help in short term, but don't want to use them too much.
Can anybody offer any help or ideas?

Try this website for help -

www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/index.html

Get some Lansinoh from chemist to help with cracking you dont have to remove before baby feeds :-)

My dd is 18weeks and when younger suddenly started the clicking noise for few weeks then just stopped!

Hi

I would second the Lansinoh for the cracking. Lather it on.

I would suggest your latch isn't quite right for you to have been cracked which I guess is what you were thinking.

I found www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk to be brilliant for me. They can advise on position over the phone and they have local groups you can go to where they can watch you feed. We also have groups run by HVs - are there any near you?

The top tip I got from the BFN is start off with your baby's head inbetween your boobs. Move her over slowly to the side you are feeding on so that her nose is in line with your nipple. She should (in theory!) tip her head back a bit, open her mouth wide and take your nipple in the correct position. I hope that makes sense.

They do say that a clicking noise is a sign of a not quite right latch, but my DS2 clicked for a while and his was fine. I would think that because you are cracked maybe it is a sign for you but like Hannah says this can come and go without it being a sign of anything.

Your milk will start to slow down during a feed - is she sucking a bit more as the feed progresses? It's great you have such a strong letdown. It shows you are doing something right so don't be disheartened.