Paternal vs Maternal Holding-Cuddling for Procedural Pain in Healthy Term Neonates

Holding is an effective non-pharmacological method for reducing procedural pain. Minor painful procedures, such as heel pricks, are easy to use, practical, non-invasive, and affordable procedures when performed when the neonate is held/cuddled by one of its parents. Neonates held/cuddled by their mothers are likely to experience less pain and cry less during heel pricks. The MHC and PHC methods help neonates experience tactile, auditory, visual, and olfactory sensory inputs that can enhance analgesic effects. These multisensory methods can alleviate the pain experienced by the infant during minor painful procedures and shorten the crying time. This type of analgesia may be mediated by multisensory stimulation associated with the mother/father-infant attachment.