Hello, Heather.
       It's a little difficult to guess without actually hearing the noise.
But it could be tracheal or esophageal malasia.  In either case, it is
sometimes helpful for feedings, once baby is latched, to move her bottom a bit
farther from your body, to help keep the neck more open.  This can sometimes help
babies who have a tendency to do a lot of swallows and then throw their head
back and do a lot of breaths, and then re-latch and continue that cycle, to stay
on longer before having to release to breathe.  (These babies often *hate*
riding in the car, or if they don't mind it, you always see them with their head
turned to one side or the other and chin lifted.  They can't keep the airway
open when they are looking straight ahead.)
       I have also worked with two very noisy babies who ended up being
diagnosed with partially paralyzed vocal cords.  What helped get the doctor to
order the appropriate tests was for the mothers to insist that the doctor wait in
the examining room while mom actually nursed, so he could hear the sounds.
       Also, I have also seen babies who are constantly congested, or who
become congested within one minute of starting a feeding who clear up again
before the next feed, only to have it start all over again, who are making too much
mucous in response to a food allergy to something mom is consuming (usually
dairy).  The congestion can lead to noisy breathing.
       And one baby did indeed have a missed heart problem, though since your
baby is not having trouble gaining, I doubt this is the problem.  But a
milder problem could lead to "merely" blue fingernails, rather than "turning blue".
 So look at her nails while she is eating, and be sure to immediately get her
to the doctor if you notice a color change.
       Good luck digging up a diagnosis here, and I hope it turns out to be
nothing serious.
       Dee

Dee Kassing, BS, MLS, IBCLC
Collinsville, Illinois, in central USA

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