Our newborns might not be able to talk with us and tell us when something hurts. They can’t say they’re feeling lonely, or they’re tired of staring at the ceiling.
However, that doesn’t mean that feelings of loneliness, boredom or pain in newborns doesn’t exist.
When weare not used to spending time with a variety of newborns, it’s common to assume they’re too underdeveloped to feel pain and emotions aswe do.
Even top experts once assumed newborns didn’t really feel pain and, if they did, they were too young to remember it in a way that would have any lasting impact.
Research now shows that to be untrue. Babies can and do feel pain. It can affect them immediately and have long lasting effects.
Babies can even become bored. They can be affected by a lack of stimulation and interaction with caregivers. What happens in the early weeks, months and years can have an impact on themthatlastsfor the rest of their lives.
The good news, however, is that with this knowledge you can help your newborn become a healthy and secure infant and toddler and, one day, a secure adult.
Your Baby Feels Pain And Has Emotions, Just Like Other People
Even though your baby can’t express them, shehas feelings, just asolder children and adults do.
It’s important to understand what emotions your baby might be feeling. It’s also important to understand how pain can affect a baby and to use that knowledge when making decisions regarding medical procedures.
Here are 7 things to know about your newborn:
Pain in Newborns#1: Your Newborn Can Communicate
Your baby might not be able to articulate exactly how she feels, but she can communicate with you.
We know that babies can communicate bycrying. Althoughit’s common, it isn’t the only form of communication newborns have.
Rubbing their eyes and yawning can be early signs of being ready for sleep.
Licking lips, opening their mouths, and putting hands in the mouth can be early signs of hunger.
Fussing, yelling or even withdrawing when put down can be signsof feeling lonely or insecure.
When a baby isexcessively lethargic or sleepy, following a medical procedure, or during illness, this could be a sign of pain and discomfort.
Taking time to watch and learn your baby’s cues can help both of you during the early months. The more you’re able to answer before your baby starts to cry, the more she willlearn about communicating beyond crying and fussing.
Pain in Newborns#2: Your Newborn Can Feel Pain
If our doctor suggested we havea complex, or even a simple, medical procedure without any local pain medication, chances are we would think twice about undergoing the procedure.
Yet, in recent decades (and perhaps even right now) it wasn’t uncommon to perform minor and major medical procedures on newborns without any pain medications.
The assumption was their systems were too underdeveloped to process pain in the same way. Babies often appear sleepy or lethargic during and right after procedures. Thiscanlead us to assumethey have tolerated the procedure just fine, when in reality they’ve essentially shut down and gone into shock, because the pain was too much to handle.
Pain in Newborns#3: Your Baby Is More Sensitive To Pain Than You Are
Being a parent comes with what seem like never ending warnings. This information isn’t meant to add to yourworries, but tohelp alleviate them, and offer someoptions.
A study published in 2015 found that babies feel pain just like adults, but they’re also more sensitive to that pain. Theseresults might bedifferent fromwhat we expected, given we’ve heard formany years thatbabies don’t feel much pain.
If we think about newborn babies’ experience, theirincreased sensitivity makes sense. They’ve just spent nine months in an environment free of hunger, cold, heat, and so on.Experiencing those sensations for the first time wouldbe overwhelming. It makes sense that they would be even more sensitive to pain.
Pain in Newborns#4: You Can Help Your Newborn Cope With Pain
Many newborns are subjected to heel pricks for blood testing, circumcision, and other procedures.The good newsisyou can help your baby cope if pain becomes an unfortunate necessity.
All medications have risks, so for minor medical things, like blood tests, the benefit of local or oral pain medication isn’t likely to outweigh the risks. Swaddling, breastfeeding, talking to your baby, cuddling, and other ‘feel good’ gestures give your baby addedsecurity, and can help hercope with pain.
This also helps your child to build trust inyou. While pain and discomfort might be an unfortunate part of life, your baby can learn that mama or daddy is always there, to bring security and comfort during the pain.
If medical procedures are necessary, take time to discuss pain relief options with your child’s doctor. There are many options. Once, there weren’tmany guidelines available, but in the light of recent research, the American Academy of Pediatrics has published a new statement regarding newborn pain relief.
Pain in Newborns#5: Your Baby Can Feel Lonely
After nine months in a safe and warm environment, where theywerenever alone, coming earth side can be quite atransition for babies. For the first time in their existence, theyexperiencephysical separation from their caregivers. After constantly hearing a heartbeat and being ‘held’, being put down for long periods of time can be quite scary and lonely.
Some infants will go down easily and seem content to be alone. However, in some situations they mighthave learned that no one will come if they fuss. Other babies make quite a bit of noise, alerting their caregivers they don’t feel secure on their own.
If your baby is content with some down time, go for it, in moderation. But be sure to answer hercries, even when you know she’s beenfed and changed. Newborns need touch and interaction as much as they need oxygen.
Pain in Newborns#6: Your Baby Can Get Bored
While babies might not seem incredibly interactive, they actually thrive on interaction and stimulation. They can beoverstimulated, of course, but they can also become bored. If your baby is fed, changed, and well rested,butstill fussy, consider a change of scene.
A toy, a colourful book, or a simple walk outside can help alleviate your baby’s boredom. You don’t need to make elaborate plans. Simply singing about what you’re doing, pointing out objects during errands, and chatting with baby during yourwalk can help keep herwell stimulated.
Pain in Newborns#7: You Can Help Your Baby’s Emotional Health And Security
Everyone (including babies) has a unique temperament, but our early environment can have a huge impact on our emotional health and security.
When your baby learns that you will answer herattempts at communication, and her cries, when she’s comforted during pain and discomfort, and when she has touch and stimulation, she’s likely to develop better emotional health and security.
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Your baby is born quite well developed, with complex feelings and the ability to feel pain.Knowing thisis important. It helps you make informed decisions about everyday care and medical procedures. If you take time to build a relationship with your baby, it willhelp herfeel loved and secure.
Recommended Reading:
- Baby Cues – How To Identify 4 Important Cues
- Baby Crying? Here Are 9 Ways To Soothe Tears
