The Surprising Truth About Babies And Pain: How Medicine Changed For The Youngest Patients

The Old Belief: Babies Couldn’t Feel Pain

For much of the 20th century, doctors around the world believed that newborn babies could not feel pain. 

This idea was based on the thought that a baby’s brain and nervous system were not developed enough to experience pain like older children or adults. 

Many experts thought that when babies cried during medical procedures, it was just a reflex, not a real response to pain. 

Because of this, doctors often performed surgeries and other painful procedures on infants with little or no anesthesia.

The Reality: Babies Do Feel Pain

Over time, some doctors and nurses began to notice that babies showed clear signs of distress during medical procedures. 

Their heart rates would rise, their breathing would change, and they would cry intensely. 

These signs made some people question the old belief. Still, it was hard to convince the medical community without scientific proof.

The Turning Point: New Research Changes Minds

Everything began to change in the 1980s. In 1987, two researchers, Dr. Kanwaljeet Anand and Dr. Paul Hickey, published a groundbreaking study. 

They showed that babies not only feel pain, but that untreated pain could cause serious harm. 

Their research found that babies who did not get pain relief during surgery had more health problems afterward. In fact, some babies even died because their bodies were overwhelmed by the stress of pain.

This study was a wake-up call. It proved that babies’ nervous systems are developed enough to feel pain, even if they cannot talk about it. 

The research also showed that giving babies pain medicine and anesthesia made surgeries safer and recovery easier.

Changing Medical Practice: New Rules For Baby Care

After the study by Anand and Hickey, hospitals and doctors around the world began to change their practices. 

By the late 1980s and early 1990s, it became standard to use anesthesia and pain relief for infant surgeries. 

Medical organizations created new guidelines to make sure babies got the care they needed. Today, doctors know that even the youngest patients deserve to be protected from pain.

Why This Matters: Protecting The Most Vulnerable

Understanding that babies feel pain has made a huge difference in medicine. Now, doctors and nurses work hard to make sure infants are comfortable during medical procedures. 

This change has improved the safety and health of babies everywhere. It also reminds us that science is always learning and growing, and that listening to new evidence can lead to better care for everyone.

Looking Back, Moving Forward: Lessons From The Past

The story of how doctors learned about babies and pain teaches us an important lesson. Even experts can be wrong, and it is important to keep asking questions and looking for the truth. 

By listening to new research and caring for the most vulnerable among us, we can make the world a safer place for everyone.