Breastfeeding or breast milk for procedural pain in neonates

Retrospective study of the association between epidural analgesia during labour and complications for the newborn

“…The physiological and psychological benefits of maternal breast feeding for the newborn are well documented (Fanaro, 2002;Kramer and Kakuma, 2012;Shah et al, 2012;Belfort et al, 2013;Hörnell et al, 2013), and its duration is known to be prolonged by an early onset of lactation (Torvaldsen et al, 2006). Our finding that epidural analgesia has an adverse effect on the early onset of breast feeding is in agreement with some previous reports (Wiklund et al, 2009) but not with others (Chang and Heaman, 2005;Jonas et al, 2008;Wilson et al, 2010).…”

Analgesic effect of non-pharmacological interventions in healthy newborns: A randomised controlled study

“…Recent Cochrane systematic review has evaluated the effectiveness of breastfeeding or supplemental breast milk in reducing procedural pain in neonates and concluded that if available, breastfeeding or breast milk should be used to alleviate procedural pain in neonates undergoing a single painful procedure rather than placebo, positioning or no intervention. Administration of glucose/sucrose had similar effectiveness as breastfeeding for reducing pain 15 .…”

An Evidence-Based Approach to Minimizing Acute Procedural Pain in the Emergency Department and Beyond

“…66 A Cochrane study reviewed 20 trials, evaluating breastfeeding (n = 10) and supplemental breast milk (n = 10) for heel lances (n = 16) and venipuncture (n = 4) in neonates. 65 Overall, neonates in the breastfeeding group had statistically significant lower increase in heart rate, reduced proportion of crying time, reduced duration of first cry, and total crying time compared with positioning, holding by mother, placebo, pacifier use, no intervention or oral sucrose, or both. 65 Breastfeeding was associated with a reduction in both validated and nonvalidated pain scores.…”

“…65 It also contains higher tryptophan compared with artificial formulas, which, as a precursor to melatonin, may have a nociceptive effect secondary to increasing levels of beta-endorphins. 66 A Cochrane study reviewed 20 trials, evaluating breastfeeding (n = 10) and supplemental breast milk (n = 10) for heel lances (n = 16) and venipuncture (n = 4) in neonates.…”