A popping sound while sucking could be the result of soft palate
problems.  Occult clefts are one possibility - the muscle is
disconnected under the mucous membrane, making it look fine when it is
relaxed, but when it tries to seal off the nasopharynx, it bunches and
spreads instead, leaving a hole that milk can pass through. If this is
the case, there will be a pale or clear looking area on the junction of
the hard and soft palate, called a zona pellucida (latin for
"transparent area").
  Also the innervation can be affected, leading to velopalatal
insufficiency, which has similar results.
Other symptoms are milk coming out of the baby's nose, and poor milk
transfer.
--
Catherine Watson Genna, IBCLC  New York City  mailto:[log in to unmask]

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