Doctors Using New Methods To Ease Pain For Premature Babies
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork)-- It used to be thought that the brains of newborns, especially preemies, were not developed enough to feel pain, but that concept is changing.
The discovery has led some hospitals to look for safe ways to ease preemie pain, CBS2's Dr. Max Gomez reported.
Tiny babies born way too soon are often poked and prodded during intensive medical care. And despite what some doctors say, moms are pretty sure their babies feel it.
"I want to cry. And I don't want my babies to hurt," mother Angelica Juarez told CBS2.
"I think we all are very much are cognizant of the fact that even a 24-week old baby does experience pain," Dr. William MacKendrick, medical director at Evanston Hospital's Infant Special Care Unit, said.
Studies suggest that pain from treatments meant to help babies survive could potentially cause harm. Repeated early bouts of pain may affect brain development which could also lead to anxiety or mood and behavior troubles later on.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recently updated guidance saying doctors need to do a better job of measuring, managing, and minimizing infants' pain.
"We want to see if we can minimize the pain response that the babies experience while they're going through eye exams," nurse Deb Skopec said.
Preemies show pain by grimacing, with changes in heart rate and blood pressure, or flexing tiny arms and legs.
Strong medicines can be used for preemie pain relief, but they can have negative side effects. Hopsitals frequently try other methods first, like pacifiers and tight swaddling, to calm babies in distress.
Nurses use a standard pain scale to check whether methods are working. Sometimes, it just takes a little skin-to-skin contact with mom.
"I hope for them to grow and be strong and do well, and, just, prosper," Juarez said.
While there's still a difference of opinion on whether preemies are actually feeling pain, it's clear that relatively simple methods seem to help and certainly can't hurt.
