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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBabies feel pain during circumcision.
For the first time, scientists map newborn babies brains on pain, and the results are surprising
In a first, researchers at Oxford University have watched infants as young as a day old as their brains process a light prodding of their feet. The results confirm that yes, babies do indeed feel pain, and that they process it similarly to adults. Until as recently as the 1980s, researchers assumed newborns did not have fully developed pain receptors, and believed that any responses babies had to pokes or pricks were merely muscular reactions. But new research published Tuesday morning changes that.
Taking advantage of the fact that newborns less than a week old tend to sleep through anything, Rebeccah Slater, an associate professor of pediatric neuroimaging at Oxford, and her colleagues placed 10 infants who were 1-6 days old in an fMRI machine. The researchers, who reported their findings in eLife, observed which areas of the infants brains became more active, or consumed more oxygen, as the scientists lightly poked their feet. They did the same for adults and compared the brain images.
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But the fact that they are experiencing pain in almost the same ways as adults do is very revealing. Now that theres evidence that the brains of babies do indeed process pain, that may change the way doctors treat newborns, especially those who are premature or need extra medical attention in the neonatal intensive care unit. In a recent study, scientists tallied an average of a dozen procedures including needle sticks that babies experienced every day; more than 60% of those infants did not receive any pain medication, either in the form of a topical numbing cream or other pain relief. Having these experiences may make these babies more sensitive to pain later in life, says Slater. A study of circumcised baby boys, for example, found that those who received pain relief felt less pain when getting vaccinations three months later than those who didnt receive any pain medication.
Now that we have seen for the first time what is happening in babies brains while they experience something mildly painful, says Slater, there should be a big drive to try to treat pain in these children, especially those having a high number of procedures performed in their early days.
http://time.com/3827167/this-is-a-babys-brain-on-pain/#3827167/this-is-a-babys-brain-on-pain
When will this unnecessary surgery stop?
snooper2
(30,151 posts)They needed a study to prove this?
Erich Bloodaxe BSN
(14,733 posts)'As recently as the 80s' people thought differently. We HAD to do a study to disprove something people stopped believing a generation ago.
ismnotwasm
(41,980 posts)GCP
(8,166 posts)When I was a student nurse, I'd say 'No shit, Sherlock'.
He screamed the whole way through the procedure as his foreskin was torn off.
It's barbarism, pure and simple, and no, neither of my two sons are circumcised as they were born in the UK.
Paladin
(28,257 posts)Next release from the Bureau: Ted Cruz is a supercilious asshole......
LordGlenconner
(1,348 posts)Bonobo
(29,257 posts)This is a replay of a boring old movie. I hope the popcorn is good.
kentauros
(29,414 posts)kairos12
(12,861 posts)kentauros
(29,414 posts)Round and round we go!
Dr. Strange
(25,921 posts)I can't take it any mohel.
kentauros
(29,414 posts)libdem4life
(13,877 posts)My son was not circumcised and that was 26 years ago...oh, the pressure brought to bear from every possible corner. He'd had a hard enough time making it through birth. The only reason I was given was that it was a problem when not kept clean. Another Duh. They didn't even try the "no pain" shit on me.
It's about time we stopped mutilating our boys at birth. And of course, we judge other countries for female mutilation. How hypocritical.
cali
(114,904 posts)no one pressured us. Our pediatrician was totally on board with our decision.
libdem4life
(13,877 posts)consult others more reputable than my research. The OB-Gyn/Pediatrician discouraged it, but posed no problem.
cali
(114,904 posts)bemildred
(90,061 posts)A better question is do doctors have brains?
Renew Deal
(81,859 posts)Telcontar
(660 posts)I was told they didn't. What now?
Response to Telcontar (Reply #16)
Renew Deal This message was self-deleted by its author.
woodsprite
(11,914 posts)At the average stage of the pregnancy for abortion (before 12 wks), the brain and nervous system are still in a very early stage of development. The beginnings of the brain stem, which includes a rudimentary thalamus and spinal cord, is being formed. Most brain cells are not developed. Without a cerebral cortex (gray matter covering the brain), pain impulses cannot be received or perceived. Additionally, experts find that newborns at 26-27 weeks' gestation (24-25 weeks' fetal age) who survive have significantly less response to pain than do full term newborns.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Statement on Pain of the Fetus
The cerebellum attains its final configuration in the seventh month and that mylenization (or covering) of the spinal cord and the brain begins between the 20th and 40th weeks of pregnancy. These, as well as other neurological developments, would have to be in place for the fetus to receive pain. To feel pain, a fetus needs neurotransmitted hormones. In animals, these complex chemicals develop in the last third of gestation. We know of no evidence that humans are different.