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: 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