Northside Hospital - Special Beginnings

PAIN It can be difficult to tell if a baby is having pain. Sometimes babies, especially preterm babies, cannot let us know when they are having pain. We realize that your baby may have some painful experiences while in our unit. We are continually trying to make everything less painful. This is very important to us, and we are sure, important to you. Please be assured we are doing all we can to keep your baby comfortable.

Signs that your baby might be in pain: • Crying, a worried face or frown. • Tightly fisted hands and feet. • A higher than normal heart rate and blood pressure. • The baby’s oxygen levels may change when touched or handled.

Of course a hungry baby will cry, tense up, and have a high heart rate, but this stops when he is fed or given a pacifier. We are using a method of assessing your baby’s pain called the Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP). Questions or concerns can be discussed with your nurse and doctor. Medications used to prevent and treat pain Some of the things that cause pain are procedures such as heel sticks , IV or chest tube placement. Infants placed on a ventilator can be uncomfortable and may need medication. Treatments and procedures known to cause pain can be treated with narcotics given through an IV. The medication can be given in very small amounts continuously by IV or when the infant shows signs of needing comfort. Some babies require short term use of narcotics. Babies who are on a low-dose continuous narcotic drip will be slowly weaned to prevent symptoms of withdrawal. However, this does not mean that your baby is addicted to the medicine, his body has gotten used to them.

Non-medical ways to prevent or treat pain Sucrose is a sugar used to provide short term pain prevention and management for procedures like heel stick, feeding tube placement, vein sticks, and shots. A few drops of sucrose on the baby’s tongue using a dropper or with a pacifier before, during and after the procedure can provide effective pain control. In addition, swaddling, nesting, hand hugs and verbal reassurance can calm the infant who has discomfort or is fussy. Ways you can help Your presence at the bedside can be very comforting to your baby. Your baby’s nurse will help you decide what works best for your baby. Keeping the area quiet and lowering the lights can be helpful. Some babies like to be held, talked to, massaged, or given a pacifier. Some babies like to be wrapped snugly or nested between your hands. Some babies like to be left alone.

Special Beginnings in the Special Care Nurseries

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