title: Breastfeeding is analgesic in healthy newborns.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study identifies a behavioral and nonpharmacologic means of preventing newborn pain.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether breastfeeding is analgesic in newborn infants undergoing heel lance-a routine, painful, hospital procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, randomized, controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital maternity services at Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, and Beverly Hospital, Beverly, Massachusetts.
  
  
  METHODS
  A random sample of 30 full-term, breastfed infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Infants in the intervention group were held and breastfed by their mothers during heel lance and blood collection procedures for the Newborn Screening Program Blood Test. Infants in the control group experienced the same blood test while receiving the standard hospital care of being swaddled in their bassinets.
  
  
  METHODS
  Crying, grimacing, and heart rate differences were analyzed between the breastfeeding and the control infants before, during, and after blood collection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Crying and grimacing were reduced by 91% and 84%, respectively, from control infant levels during the blood collection. Heart rate was also substantially reduced by breastfeeding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Breastfeeding is a potent analgesic intervention in newborns during a standard blood collection.
authors.affiliation: Section of Behavioral and Developmental Pediatrics, University of Chicago, Comers Children's Hospital, Chicago, Illinois 60637-1470, USA. lag@uchicago.edu
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: Lisa W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Barbara L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Philipp
authors.forename: Elliott M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Blass
mesh_terms: D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology*; D003448:Crying / Q000523:psychology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006365:Heel; D006801:Humans; D018730:Infant Behavior; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011677:Punctures / Q000009:adverse effects