The Effect of Breastfeeding and Skin to Skin Contact of Mothers and Infants on First Injection Pain of Newborn Infants

Infants are more sensitive than adults in pain staining due to disformation of descending control system. Since, non-pharmacological methods are recommended for infants’ pain control, this study aimed to determine combined effect of breastfeeding and maternal-infant skin to skin contact on pain of first injection in healthy term infants.

This clinical trial study was conducted on case and control groups in delivery room of Alavi Hospital for a period of 8 months in 1389.200 infants were randomly selected and divided in four groups; group1: Control, group2: breast-feeding, Group 3: skin to skin contact of mother and infant, and group4: breast-feeding and skin to skin contact of mother and infants. Researchers observed all the DAN scale factors and completed observation paper from the moment of injection until 45 seconds later. Data were analyzed by chi- sq square and t test using SPSS software.

Average pain severity was 5.34 for group 1, 3.70 for group 2, 4.16 for group 3, and 3.48 for group 4, based on DAN scale criteria. Statistically significant difference was observed between group 1(no intervention) and group 4 (breastfeeding with skin to skin contact) (p=0.04).

Since pain severity is decreased during breastfeeding and maternal- infants skin to skin contact, these two methods may be used to prevent mental and emotional consequences of intramuscular injection pain.