(Regarding #2 and #5- Sucrose solution via nasogastric feeding is not effective to reduce pain. Glucose solution is as effective as sucrose)

 

According to the 2016 American Academy of Pediatric policy statement Prevention and Management of Procedural Pain in the Neonate: An Update research indicates that experiencing pain as an infant can increase the infant’s sensitivity to future pain. I have observed that the 9 month and 12 month old infants in my office who are up-to-date with immunizations express much more fear and anxiety during their well-child exams as compared to those infants who have never been immunized.

After reading this protocol, I realize that we could be more proactive in my office in reducing pain from immunizations, heel sticks, and venous draws for infants and children. Perhaps this is because the procedures are relatively quick, we assume that young infants won’t remember pain, and parents accept that infants will experience pain in the office. In addition, I have had several mothers fear nursing their infants during a procedure, concerned that this may set up an association between breastfeeding and pain. The good news is that we can reassure parents that breastfeeding during a procedure appears to be the most effective strategy to reduce infant pain. This could also be added to the list of reasons why families ought to decide to breastfeed!