United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Breast-feeding Is Analgesic in Healthy Newborns

Jennifer Warner, Medical Writer

NEW YORK (MedscapeWire) Apr 04 — Breast-feeding virtually eliminated
crying and grimacing in infants who were breast-fed while undergoing a
painful procedure, according to a study published in the April issue of
Pediatrics. Researchers say several aspects of breast-feeding, such as
taste, suckling, and skin-to-skin contact, have already been shown to
relieve pain individually in animal studies. But this study is among the
first to look at the complete act of breast-feeding as a way to prevent pain
in human infants. In the study, 30 infants were held and breast-fed by their
mothers while a blood sample was taken from the child's heel (a procedure
known as heel lance) while researchers monitored the baby's reactions.
Crying and grimacing was reduced by 91% and 84%, respectively, among infants
who were breast-fed during the procedure compared with babies who had the
procedure under standard circumstances (swaddled in their bassinets). In
fact, 11 of the 15 breastfeeding babies did not cry or grimace at all during
the procedure. Researchers say this suggests that breast-feeding may
actually prevent pain from starting. "When watching these infants on
videotape, we could not tell when blood collection was either initiated or
terminated," write the authors. "We believe that this reflects pain
blockade, as opposed to suckling producing a behavior that is incompatible
with crying. "The study also showed that breast-feeding prevented the normal
rise in heart rate that accompanies pain. The researchers say these findings
show that pain relief and stress reduction should be added to the long list
of proven benefits of breast-feeding. Pediatrics. 2002;109(4):590-593
[Abstract]Reviewed by Charlotte E. Grayson, MD

When my son had his first surgery he was 2 1/2 months old and nursing. I was so scared to pick him up the first 12 hours after surgery that I leaned over the bed to nurse him. What a sight to all who walked in!:0)
Rhonda

Now that I am a stay home mom I have been thinking of TRYING to start breastfeeding again after 3-4 mos off. Especially with Aaron's surgery coming up. I hear that there are "drugs" that you can get over the internet from overseas and there is a messageboard also for support www.fourfriends.com I don't know much about it but I'm willing to try anything!
---Paula

Paula - won't getting him to latch on get the hormone production started on it's own?? It may take some time but I remember reading that if the need is there just about anyone can get started (even men!) (yes men have mammary glands, too) How about contacting a lactation support person in your area?

I'd love to know more about this if you are going to try - please post more ok?

-francine

I'm not trying to be nosy,this is a common sense question.Are you still producing any milk at all? I know it took a few months to dry up after breastfeeding for 11 months myself. If you can, contact a lactation specialist in your area. I went to a lactation class and in our book for reading it suggested taking the herb FENUGREEK which can be found at health food stores. It will double your milk supply but you have to drink lots of water with it. I thought that if you're still making some milk you could try this to see if it would help you make more. Also letting your baby breastfeed every 1 1/2 to 2 hours till you get a good milk supply going. Remember this sounds like alot but breast milk digest faster than formula so the baby needs to eat more often. I personally tried the fenugreek myself and it DEFINITELY WORKED! Michaela was in NICU and I had a hard time getting my milk supply up with the mechanical double breast pump but once it came in I used the fenugreek and never had another problem. I'm also diabetic and on a limited calorie program so couldn't eat alot of extra calories for milk production. I just ate healthy and drank LOTS of water and took the Fenugreek herb. It comes in capsules, take 2 with each meal. Hope this helps! LeeAnne

All it takes is getting him to nurse enouogh to get you to produce. If you are really serious about this then I would suggest renting a hospital grade breast pump that is a double pumper, in addition to nursing your child. It also depends on if your child wants to nurse, if not just pump it and feed it to him through bottles. This is very time consuming, I know this because I had to do this the first 2 months of my sons life. Just my sugestions, take them or leave them. Also, It wouldn't hurt to get in touch with a lactation consultant, ours was GREAT. This is how adoptive parents can breastfeed.

This is an interesting article, but I wish the folks who conducted this experiment had done the heel stick during breast feeding, during bottle feeding and while the babies were swaddled in their bassinets. They say breast feeding is an analgesic, but all I really see is that feeding is an analgesic. Am I missing something?

I agree with Tricia, they should have done the heel stick while the mother was holding the baby, and bottlefeeding. It is funny that they do research on breastfeeding, and don't include all the alternatives to this also. I do agree breastfeeding is wonderful,
but some mothers just can't supply enough breastmilk for their babies. So they have to bottle feed. They might be under stress, sick after their labor or other reasons. I think we also have to support mothers that bottlefeed also. I don't think their are many research articles on the benefits of bottlefeeding.
There are actually some benefits. So whether you bottlefeed or breastfeed, you are doing what you can for your baby.
This is a very sensitive issue with me, being after my 3 child I could not produce much milk, and was in fact
very sick in the hospital for 2 weeks. My husband's family is all for breastfeeding, and gave me a very hard time about this. My child's dr. put him on formula, and he is doing fine since.
So if you can breastfeed, great!, if you can't that is ok too.
Thanks for letting me vent!

Hi Paula,
My area of reseach is actually relactation, induced lactation.

There are drugs that you can take (if you go to ABRW you will hear about "the protocol"- there is also the 1ABSupport email list) but in your case your really should attempt to get your babe to the breast and (as other suggested) milk production will kick in. You can use a supplemental system to do this (baby gets supplement while feeding at the breast). Getting a pump is also a good idea for while you are working on getting your child breastfeeding. Fenugreek does help as does a drug called Domperidone (not available in the US but is in Canada and many other places- sorry don't know where you are).
Breastfeeding is a wonderful way to calm a distressed child. I know my son was hospitalised at 18 month and 2 years. At 18 months I had the immediate relief of breastfeeding when they tried to get a cannula in. At 2 years he had weaned. The difference in ability to comfort him was amazing. Should have kept breastfeeding!
Karleen Gribble
(Wearing a different hat- BRurSc PhD)

(especially if you want to feed an entire community with your milk supply!!) LOL LOL See pictures of chubby Maia when she was an infant??? Fenugreek!!! LOL

Actually what I drank was Traditional Medicinals "Mother's Milk" - it was a very good tasting tea - very soothing and it worked within 24 hours. It has fenugreek in it and also other things that make it taste good.

No matter what the reason - analgesic or not- it's still a nice bonding to breastfeed if it's possible. It soothes the baby because they're right there attached to your body - what could be better than that kind of a snuggle. We all feel better when a loved one takes us into their arms right?

Paula- also I didn't stop producing milk until just a few months ago - almost a year post breastfeeding. Of course it wasn't a lot but it was there and would leak every so often. So ya never know....

good luck,
francine