Analgesia in newborns: A case-control study of the efficacy of nutritive and non-nutritive sucking stimuli

Abstract

Purpose: To verify the nutritive and non-nutritive stimuli efficacy in the newborn's response to pain during venipuncture. Methods: The main sample was composed of 64 newborns that were randomly divided into three groups. The first group (n=20) received nutritive sucking stimulus that was performed through maternal breastfeeding. The second group (n=21) received non-nutritive sucking stimulus that was performed through the introduction of the researcher little finger in the newborn's oral cavity. The third group or control group (n=23) did not receive any analgesia stimulus. The newborns were evaluated using the Neonatal Infant Pain Scale, and the responses to painful stimuli were compared. Results: The nutritive as well as non-nutritive suction methods provided a comforting effect, resulting in lower pain response scores (p < 0.05). There was no difference between the analgesia provided by both methods (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The nutritive and the nonnutritive sucking stimuli proved to be efficacious tools in relieving pain among newborns.