Pain in the newborn

January 24, 2019

For years it has been the common opinion that the newborn, especially preterm , does not feel pain, due to the incomplete myelination of the nerve fibers (hence the erroneous idea of a lack of functioning of his nervous system). Other reasons were attributed to the immaturity of the sensory receptors (since it was not known that this did not affect the conduction of sensations) and to the high plasma concentrations of beta endorphins (hormones of well-being produced by the newborn when it comes into the light), as considered the rapid decrease after birth. Today we know that the newborn perceives pain, like any of us. Taken from Being Born a Mom