HI. I am a mother and a baby nurse ( not an LC yet) and i too "assist" in
circumcision and do blood sample collection. My manager/coordinator started
having us trial sweet ease during circumcision and other proceedures and we
also have to document a pain scale called F.L.A.C.C. scoring. I do not know
where she obtained the scoring system from, but i have met others who have
heard of it. We started using the scoring system before she had us trial the
sweet ease and even when Emla and Xylocain are used (for circumcision) there
has still been a noticeable reduction in the scores when sweet ease is used.
Of course we also bring the infant right back out to mom and show mom how to
care for the circ site and go back and check on the infant in moms  room
instead of letting them cry in a nursery full of babies.
     As for blood sampling it really depends on the nurse what our practice
is. I will do the heel stick in the room infront of mom  as long as mom is ok
with that. Some say no because they dont want to see it or hear the baby cry.
When ever possible i collect the blood in moms room and give the baby back to
mom for soothing and cuddling. I have never tried to collect the blood while
the baby is at breast because it has never occurred to me. I usually wait
because i dont want to interfere with time at breast.
Just a postpartum nurses point a view.      Maureen Haley.

"There are two ways to live your life.
 One is as though nothing is a miracle.
 The other is as though everything is a miracle."
 Albert Einstein.

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