I held off on this one - breast refusal can be really scary, and so complex - and then Pat Gima just touched on the idea of a "tight neck" on one side.  While  torticollis (wry nick) is probably not *the* issue with the poor little breast-refuser in the current discussion, it is always worth checking out, if only for purposes of elimination, espec. in these complex cases.
   Breast refusal from torticollis is going to be on *one* side, because of sheer discomfort trying to get attached on that side.  The baby being discussed is refusing altogether, and the probable underlying causes have been raised already in this discussion.
   It is always feasable that refusal on one side could lead to overall refusal in some circumstances. Refusal is so complex!
   To return to the subject of torticollis: When you can't see the baby, but suspect wry neck, a useful question is: "When you lay your baby on her/his back, tell me about how s/he lies?"  You can then follow through with other open-ended questions, in response to what the mother says. If suspicious, ask, too, if the baby has had an appointment made to see the paed. since discharge, and suggest the mother asked for this be checked at that visit.  Most times, it won't be wry neck which is uncommon, but at least you'll have ruled that out.
      Regards,
                Virginia
                 Virginia Thorley, OAM, IBCLC
             Brisbane, Australia

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