Analgesic effects of maternal breast milk and sucrose in early, full, and late-term neonates

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the study was to compare the analgesic effect of sucrose and breastfeeding newborns during heel lancing at the "Dr. José Eleuterio González" University Hospital. Materials and methods: A prospective randomized study was performed, in which pain intensity was compared through the premature infant pain profile (PIPP) scale during heel lancing as part of routine medical care screening. Newborns were divided into two groups: sucrose and breastfed. In addition, the population of each group was subdivided into early-term infants (37.0-38.6 weeks of gestation [WOG]), full-term infants (39.0-39.6 WOG), and late-term infants (40.0-41.6 WOG). Results: It was found that before a pain stimulus, the breastfeeding group had a more significant percentage of newborns who were asleep/active with eyes closed and facial movements (p = 0.001). After the heel lancing, the pain intensity evaluated by the PIPP was moderated for both groups, and no difference was found. When comparing each group according to gestational age, there was no significant difference in pain intensity. Conclusion: Breastfeeding and sucrose are equally effective as non-pharmacological analgesics during metabolic screening in early-, full-, and late-term neonates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]