Subject: Breast-feeding Is Analgesic in Healthy Newborns


> MedscapeWire
> Breast-feeding Is Analgesic in Healthy Newborns
>
>
> Jennifer Warner, Medical Writer
> MedscapeWire 2002. © 2002 Medscape Portals, Inc
>
> Introduction
> NEW YORK (MedscapeWire) Apr 04 - Breast-feeding virtually eliminated
crying
> and grimacing in infants who were breast-fed while undergoing a painful
> procedure, according to a study published in the April issue of
Pediatrics.
> Researchers say several aspects of breast-feeding, such as taste,
suckling,
> and skin-to-skin contact, have already been shown to relieve pain
> individually in animal studies. But this study is among the first to look
at
> the complete act of breast-feeding as a way to prevent pain in human
> infants.
>
> In the study, 30 infants were held and breast-fed by their mothers while a
> blood sample was taken from the child's heel (a procedure known as heel
> lance) while researchers monitored the baby's reactions.
>
> Crying and grimacing was reduced by 91% and 84%, respectively, among
infants
> who were breast-fed during the procedure compared with babies who had the
> procedure under standard circumstances (swaddled in their bassinets). In
> fact, 11 of the 15 breastfeeding babies did not cry or grimace at all
during
> the procedure. Researchers say this suggests that breast-feeding may
> actually prevent pain from starting.
>
> "When watching these infants on videotape, we could not tell when blood
> collection was either initiated or terminated," write the authors. "We
> believe that this reflects pain blockade, as opposed to suckling producing
a
> behavior that is incompatible with crying."
>
> The study also showed that breast-feeding prevented the normal rise in
heart
> rate that accompanies pain.
>
> The researchers say these findings show that pain relief and stress
> reduction should be added to the long list of proven benefits of
> breast-feeding.
>
> Pediatrics. 2002;109(4):590-593 [Abstract]
>
> Reviewed by Charlotte E. Grayson, MD
>
>
> Perinatal List Archives at:
[log in to unmask]" target="_blank">http:[log in to unmask]
> To unsub send email to [log in to unmask] with the message
unsub pnatalrn
>
>

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html