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Study Shows Heel Prick DOES Hurt Baby
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Tags: baby pain, heel prick pain, newborn pain, Newborn Procedures, newborn tests, routine newborn
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© 2008 Natural Childbirth. 
The information we present is not intended to replace a relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems,disease, or illness without consulting with your own physician or qualified medical professional.
I feel that the post on heel prick misrepresents the reason for studies on the amount of pain felt by neonates when such procedures are performed.
Heel prick has been found to be the most effective and least painful and least invasive way of obtaining a sample of blood in order to determine the medical requirements of the neaonate.
Blood is drawn to:
* determine sugar levels - on order to see whether the child needs additional sugar or insulin, thus preventing organ damage and death
* determine bilirubin levels (degree of jaundice) in order to provide phototherapy or blood transfusions to neonates with very high bilirubin levels, which will lead to brain damage if not treated.
* check the cause of fever and the type of bacteria - which enables prescription of the correct antibiotic at an early stage of infection. Many babies acquire infections from the birth canal or at a very early stage,from their new environment. Prompt treatment may prevent death from septicemia (blood poisoning) or pneumonia; or prevent brain damage from lack of oxygen due to high fever.
* genetic disorders may be promptly diagnosed in order to provide optimum treatment and best possible outcome at an early stage.
As for “ripping off a newborns [sic] foreskin without anesthesia”, male circumcision does not involve “ripping off”. The foreskin is sliced quickly with a scalpel and if the procedure is done correctly, it takes one second to sever the foreskin. Sometimes local anaesthetic is used, sometimes other forms of pain relief are available. The penis is then wrapped in order to numb pain and prevent further bleeding. If done by a medical professional or a trained religious circumcision practitioner, the pain is minimal and the baby usually settles with feeding within 30 seconds.
It is very important that parents are given the correct information rather than posting outrageous statements which may cause undue concern.
Parents should be assured that medical and nursing professionals do their utmost to provide a maximum of feasible pain relief and a minimum if trauma and handling to all neonates.