It is a matter of great concern to parents and the World Health Organization had to position itself on the reduction of pain caused by vaccination. For the first time, WHO is preparing a document on this topic that we have talked about so many times in the blog and it is clear in this regard: it is convenient to breastfeed infants during vaccination or immediately after.
In other words, tetanalgesia or the calming effect of babies being breastfed is somehow "official", a concept advocated by many pediatricians and of course by many mothers who have proven their effectiveness.
Specifically, it was the WHO Expert Group on Strategic Advice on Immunization (SAGE) who studied the possibility of adapting the guidelines for clinical practice in force in Canada to reduce the pain and fear caused by vaccination. . It is an important issue, since the fear of injections and the pain they cause during vaccination is one of the many factors that can lead to delaying or avoiding it.
In Babies and more How to relieve the stress and pain of the puncture of vaccines in babies and children, according to their ageBased on the comprehensive review conducted by SAGE, WHO has recently published the position document Pain Reduction Causing Vaccination, with the following general measures that are recommended to be included in national vaccination programs (applicable to all countries and age groups):
Vaccination personnel must be well informed and have a calm and cooperative attitude. It is preferable to use neutral expressions; for example, "now I'm going to put it" that "now I'm going to click".
It is important to take into account the patient's age to place it correctly. If it is an infant or young child, it is convenient to be supported by the person who takes care of them; For the rest of the patients, it is best to sit with a straight back.
Aspiration (pulling back on the syringe plunger) is not recommended during intramuscular injections, as pain can be increased.
When several vaccines are injected sequentially at the same visit, they should be administered from less to greater chance of causing pain.
In addition to the general measures, others are recommended specific measures for infants and young children, among which is the one that has given rise to this article:
In Babies and more If you breastfeed the baby while receiving a puncture, he will cry less (about 38 seconds less)The person who takes care of the child must always be present during and after the injection (adheres to the Bill of Rights of the Hospitalized Child, although it is not an admission but it is a medical intervention and it is also painful).
It is convenient to breastfeed infants during vaccination or immediately afterwards, provided that it is not contrary to local customs (we assume that these are some countries or cultures in which breastfeeding in public is prohibited or is taboo; which, Unfortunately, it is not as far away as it might seem.)
It is recommended to distract children under six with a toy, a video or music (you know, to bring their favorite doll or their favorite song on the mobile).
Anyway, we hope this way of make official the right of children to be breastfed to reduce pain while receiving a vaccine make more mothers and professionals accept this fact as natural and facilitate the way to carry it out. In addition, it is a way to dispel doubts and encourage more families to give vaccines, since, as we have said, the fear of pain is one of the excuses for not putting them.
In Babies and more The effect of "tetanalgesia" is also for the mother many times
