"Tetanalgesia" is a term coined to refer to the calming effect that babies have to be breastfed., a fact that seems to have been sufficiently verified by rigorous studies but that is not yet known (or allowed) in a generalized way.
The term was created by M. Merino Moína, who together with J. Bravo Acuña produced an interesting article that explains what this newly created word means. Both are Pediatricians of the El Greco Health Center in Getafe (Madrid) belonging to the Previnfad / PAPPS Group.
"Tetanalgesia" aims to express and define the effect of relief and comfort caused by breastfeeding in the newborn and the young infant when they feel pain. It is logical to think that this effect occurs, instinctively carried out from the origins of our species and other mammals.
And the fact of physically containing the baby in the maternal lap, providing heat, own smell, protection and also a sweet food, decreases the external signs of pain sensation in young children.
However, despite these evidences, the lack of cost and harmful side effects, breastfeeding to calm painful processes in babies is not included in the routines of usual analgesic procedures in many maternity centers and primary care centers.
The authors claim the "implantation" of breastfeeding as an accompaniment to certain painful procedures that are carried out in infants of short days of life (such as the heel test) and during the first months (and why not, years), such as vaccines
They call on pediatricians to allow breastfeeding in the procedures indicated and in all those that involve pain for the baby and breastfeeding is possible.
Tetanalgesia is not magic, but it helps
If this practice has not been extended, it may be because, as they point out, obviously the breastfeeding the baby does not work miracles so that the pain disappears completely, and the baby, still breastfed, will probably cry:
There is no magic: it hurts the child and it hurts. But it is clear that there are fewer people who cry and in any case the participation of the nursing mother, in itself, would justify its use and dissemination. This is an aspect to highlight, since tetanalgesia reinforces breastfeeding
Although I believe that it is quite magical that with such a simple act we will show them our love and relieve even if it is an apex their pain.
Also, posts to point out advantages of tetanalgesia, another one that could be important is indicated since it occurs in the first days of the baby's life, fundamental for a good establishment of breastfeeding, when many mothers still feel insecure.
This is the case of the heel test, which if done by allowing the mother to breastfeed the baby, offers the possibility of observing a breastfeeding to the health personnel, in which errors in the hitch or posture can be detected, and even In the case of a correct breastfeeding technique, it will always be a good time to reinforce the mother and promote breastfeeding.
Performing this test while the baby is nursing is possible, as we see in a photograph that illustrates this interesting article, which also stops to explain what would be the correct steps to perform the puncture in this situation.
We can find the document that analyzes the concept of “tetanalgesia” in FAPap (Active Training in Primary Care Pediatrics), the AEPap Continuing Education plan.
An interesting concept is that of tetanalgesia to refer to this effective and natural way to calm the baby's pain by breastfeeding, which we should vindicate mothers and facilitate health professionals.
