The Baby Friendly Initiative | Research

Breastfeeding and pain control during heel prick testing A prospective study was conducted of 180 term newborn infants who were undergoing routine heel prick testing for neonatal screening of phenylketonuria and hypothyroidism.
Impact of odour of mothers’ own breastmilk on neonatal pain A study in Japan was carried out to investigate whether the smell of a mother’s own breastmilk would impact upon neonatal pain responses when compared with breastmilk from another mother or infant formula.
Breastfeeding reduces pain scores in term infants A study has been conducted in Italy with the aim of comparing breastfeeding with orally administered sucrose solution in reducing pain response during blood sampling using the heel prick technique.
Breastfeeding and breastmilk reduce pain in neonates A Cochrane Review of 11 studies has found that breastfeeding and breastmilk are effective interventions to reduce pain in neonates.
Breastfeeding & pain relief, Carbajal 2003 A report in the British Medical Journal concludes that the analgesic properties of breastfeeding are at least as potent as the combination of sweet solutions and a dummy for healthy neonates undergoing painful minor procedures.

Pain relief in babies