I have seen babies who unnaturally use a jaw motion that is up and down and 
what you describe as mashing. I consider this a disorganized suck type of 
motion. If the tongue appears to cup the breast over the gum line, it might 
be that tongue tie isn't the problem -- especially if you can't even see 
some sort of frenulum. Babies can have short tongues, too, without a tight 
frenulum. I also try to get baby to extend their tongue out past their lips. 
Normal babies can stick their tongues out.

Jaw mashing motions will cause sore nipples, too. Baby may be compensating 
for a lack of proper jaw and tongue motion needed in milk removal by 
increasing suction. I have heard of people using the dancer hand position 
with mom's hand supporting the baby's jaw to help control the mashing. Often 
these babies do the same mashing/chomping jaw motion on bottle nipples.

I don't know what really helps to correct this jaw motion to the more normal 
"rocking" type motion. Perhaps an SLP? If the baby is keeping his mouth and 
jaw tight (or tries to latch on with "fish lips") and dislikes a gentle 
facial massage, then Craniosacral therapy has worked wonders in my practice. 
The other worry is that I have seen too many moms where baby is doing this 
chomping jaw motion and the milk supply is low, low from 6 weeks onward. 
Probably due to the baby not stimulating the milk supply properly.

Best wishes, Kathy Eng, BSW, IBCLC 

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