Newborns may experience less pain during routine medical procedures when they are soothed by the gentle notes of a classical lullaby, according to a recent study. In a clinical trial, half of the infants received a sugar solution, a common pain-reducing method, while the other half also listened to a lullaby before, during, and after a heel prick. The group that experienced the music had lower scores on a pain scale compared to the group that only received sugar. Combining music with other pain-relief tactics could be a valuable approach, say the researchers.
In the past, it was believed that newborns did not feel pain. However, studies have shown that infants do experience pain and may even be more sensitive to it than adults. Enduring painful procedures without relief can have long-term effects on infants’ neurological development, increasing their sensitivity to pain. Therefore, it’s important to address pain before procedures rather than simply trying to alleviate it afterward.
Heel pricks and shots are common procedures that newborns undergo, which can cause discomfort. Doctors and nurses typically use non-medication methods to reduce pain for minor procedures, such as skin-to-skin contact, breastfeeding, and providing a sugar solution. Adding music to this list of options could be a cost-effective and easy-to-implement solution.
In a study at a hospital, 100 infants were randomly divided into a group that listened to a classical lullaby and a group that did not. The researchers played the lullaby, “Deep Sleep” from Bedtime Mozart: Classical Lullabies for Babies, for the music group 20 minutes before the heel prick and for another five minutes afterwards. Pain was assessed using a neonatal infant pain scale, which takes into account facial expressions, crying, breathing patterns, and other signs. The group without music had an average pain score of nearly 7 during the procedure, while the lullaby group scored below 5. Both groups’ scores gradually decreased over the next five minutes, with the lullaby group consistently scoring lower.
More research is needed to fully understand neonatal pain and determine the most effective pain-relief methods, including the ideal combination of approaches. However, it is clear that proven and safe therapies for minor procedures are not being fully utilized. By investigating the effectiveness of music as a pain-relief method, the researchers hope to raise awareness about newborn pain and encourage healthcare settings to prioritize pain-relief protocols for infants.
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