Premature babies are put in incubators and have to undergo various medical procedures to keep them alive, but cannot always be given painkillers.
Keystone / Attila Balazs
If a mother speaks to her premature baby during a medical intervention, signs of the baby’s expression of pain decrease, research has found.
The baby’s level of oxytocin – the hormone involved in attachment and also linked to stress – also rose significantly, says a press release on Friday from the University of Geneva (UNIGE).
The research, conducted by a UNIGE team in collaboration with Italy’s Parini Hospital and the University of Valle d’Aosta, demonstrates the importance of parental presence with premature babies, who are subjected to intense stress from birth, according to the press release.
Babies born prematurely (before 37 weeks of gestation) are separated from their parents and placed in an incubator, often in intensive care. They are subjected to various medical interventions such as intubation, insertion of a feeding tube and blood sampling, but it is not always possible to give them pharmaceutical painkillers because of potential impacts on their neurological development.
Other ways to try and relieve the baby include putting them in bags and wraps to keep them warm, sugar solutions or non-nutritive sucking with a teat. But for several years now, studies have shown that the presence of a mother or father has a real calming effect on the child, particularly through the emotional modulations of the voice, says the press release.
For this latest research, the scientists followed 20 premature babies at the Parini Hospital in Italy and asked the mother to be present during the daily blood test, which is done by extracting a few drops of blood from the heel. The study was conducted in three phases over three days, allowing for comparison: a first injection was taken without the mother being present, a second with the mother talking to the baby and a third with the mother singing to the baby.
Living longer: What do you think about the longevity trend?
The longevity market is booming thanks in part to advances in the science of ageing. What do you think of the idea of significantly extending human lifespan?
This content was published on
On Saturday the Lake Geneva, Valais and Basel regions are expected to record the first tropical day of the year, with temperatures exceeding 30°C.
This content was published on
The Swiss economy saw the clouds that had gathered over its prospects lift somewhat in May. However, the KOF economic barometer is still below its long-term average.
Direct operations too dangerous in Swiss landslide valley
This content was published on
By Friday morning 365 people had been forced to leave their homes because of Wednesday's landslide in the Swiss village of Blatten.
Franco-Swiss raclette war set to be settled on Sunday
This content was published on
The battle for the world's largest raclette will be transformed on Sunday in Saint-Gingolph, canton Valais, into a raclette of friendship served at the border.
Flood risk threatens Swiss valley after ‘millennium event’ glacier collapse
This content was published on
Two days after a gigantic avalanche of ice, mud and debris buried much of the village of Blatten in canton Valais, the danger is not over.
Situation in Swiss landslide valley remains unstable
This content was published on
Authorities in Valais said on Thursday that it was still too dangerous to begin clear-up activities around the village of Blatten.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Swiss study links excessive crying in infants to odour sensitivity
This content was published on
Swiss researchers have found that sensitivity to odours may explain up to half of the excessive and inconsolable crying in some infants.
In Switzerland, having a child is becoming a luxury
This content was published on
Women in Switzerland are having fewer children, and they are having them later. Our series on parenting in Switzerland explores why.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.