Podcast Summary
Exploring the Importance of Touch and Pain: Apple Card offers daily cashback and high savings yield, State Farm Small Business Insurance caters to small businesses, Naomi Rendina shares her story on touch and childbirth, and the elusive sense of touch and its connection to pain were discussed.
Our senses, including touch and pain, play a crucial role in our daily lives and experiences. Apple Card offers daily cashback and a high annual percentage yield on savings, while State Farm Small Business Insurance caters to small business owners with personalized policies. Naomi Rendina's story illustrates the importance of touch in the context of childbirth and the potential dangers that can arise during pregnancy. The elusive sense of touch and its connection to pain were explored in this episode of Making Sense. Additionally, the discussion touched upon the role of our senses in providing nourishment to our souls and the unique perspectives of researchers like Naomi Rendina.
Challenges of recognizing and managing pain in premature infants: Effective pain recognition and management in premature infants is crucial, despite their inability to verbally communicate. Progress in neonatal care and ongoing research are helping to address this issue.
Recognizing and managing pain in premature infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is a significant challenge due to their inability to communicate their experiences. Pain is a complex experience that starts in the skin and muscles, with various receptors acting as doorways to the nervous system. It is subjective and can be influenced by factors such as anxiety, distraction, and overall brain development. While significant progress has been made in neonatal care in the last century, pain has often been overlooked. The central dilemma is how to effectively recognize and manage pain in these infants, who cannot verbally express their experiences. Dr. Terry Ender, the chair of pediatric newborn medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, emphasizes the importance of addressing this issue. Despite the challenges, ongoing research and advancements in pain assessment and management techniques are helping to improve the lives of premature infants in the NICU.
Preterm infants feel pain during medical procedures despite common belief otherwise: Preterm infants undergo multiple painful procedures daily, and their pain can be more widespread and difficult to treat, emphasizing the need for effective pain management
Despite doctors believing that preterm infants didn't feel pain due to underdeveloped brains, they in fact do experience pain during medical procedures. This misconception led to surgeries and procedures being performed without anesthesia or pain relief. However, observations of increased heart rates and stress hormones during these procedures proved that preterm infants do feel pain. Furthermore, the pain they experience can be more widespread and difficult to treat compared to adults, making it a significant challenge for their fragile health. The average premature baby endures at least 10 to 12 painful experiences every day for the first month of life, including IV placements, blood tests, and uncomfortable positions. The pain they experience is not only unpleasant but can also be harmful with potential risks for kidneys, livers, and other organs. This highlights the importance of proper pain management for preterm infants.
Painful Procedures in NICU Can Impact Brain Development: Preterm infants in the NICU undergo numerous painful procedures, which can negatively affect their brain development, leading to lower IQ, poor language skills, emotional dysregulation, and increased likelihood of anxiety.
Preterm infants in the NICU undergo a significant volume of painful procedures, which can have detrimental effects on their brain development. These experiences of pain, even if not severe in any single instance, can lead to changes in the hippocampus, amygdala, cerebellum, and other critical areas for later childhood and adult brain functioning. Studies have shown that these changes can result in lower IQ, poor language skills, and emotional dysregulation, making these infants more likely to struggle with attention and emotional control, and to experience anxiety. While there are limitations to treating preterm infants with pain-relieving drugs, there are various nondrug methods that can help reduce pain and protect their developing brains. Ultimately, the evidence suggests that repeated painful experiences in the NICU can result in lasting psychological injuries. However, there is hope for improving the NICU experience and reducing the impact of pain on these infants.
Swedish NICU researchers focus on better pain management for premature babies: Swedish researchers advocate for parental touch and continuous presence for effective pain management in premature babies, using sugar as a pain reliever but acknowledging its risks.
NICU researchers in Sweden are focusing on better pain management for premature babies to prevent future consequences. Mats Erickson, a former NICU nurse and current research group leader, shares his experience from the 1980s when they discovered that preterm babies do feel pain despite earlier beliefs. Instead of being discouraged, Erickson and his team started exploring simple solutions like using sugar as a pain reliever. However, they found that while effective, it's not without risks. Emma Olson, a nurse and researcher, advocates for managing pain through parental touch, such as skin-to-skin contact, which can significantly reduce infants' reactions to painful procedures. This approach, also known as kangaroo care, is more effective when parents are present 24/7 in the NICU. While these practices are not new, the Swedish researchers' approach is more intensive, emphasizing the importance of parents' presence for effective pain management.
Sweden's approach to parental support during NICU stays: Sweden's system prioritizes family involvement and paid leave for parents during infant's NICU stay, potentially reducing infant distress and long-term brain development effects.
Sweden's approach to supporting parents during their infant's NICU stay, which includes paid leave for both parents, is significantly different from the US system. This difference can have a significant impact on the wellbeing of infants, particularly those who are preterm. Research suggests that skin-to-skin contact between parents and infants can reduce infant distress and potentially minimize long-term brain development effects. However, the exact mechanisms behind this are not yet fully understood. Despite this, the simple explanation is that human touch provides comfort and can help alleviate pain. In the US, where parental leave and insurance coverage can be limited, especially for women of color and low-income families, infants may not receive the same level of care and touch during their NICU stays. This disparity can have negative consequences for their development. Ultimately, the Swedish approach highlights the importance of prioritizing family involvement and supporting parents during their infant's NICU stay.
The Power of Touch for Premature Infants: Touch provides comfort and a sense of safety for premature infants in the NICU, contributing to their development and recovery. Despite challenges, their resilience offers hope for pain management.
The power of touch, particularly for premature infants in the NICU, is a crucial aspect of their development and recovery. This touch provides comfort and a sense of being back in the womb. Despite challenges in pain management, there are reasons for optimism as these infants demonstrate remarkable resilience. Naomi's story serves as a reminder of this, as her daughter, now a teen, has turned her NICU scars into symbols of her strength and capability. In the realm of science, researchers continue to explore the mysteries of the senses, including the potential for advanced technology to replicate or surpass the abilities of animals like dogs in detecting diseases through smell. Stay tuned for more sense mysteries in the upcoming episodes of "Making Scents" series.
