Researchers have studied the ways that babies show they are stressed or feeling pain. They found that facial expressions and other cues will help you know if your baby is in pain or discomfort. The information below will help you learn how to recognize pain and discomfort.
Four common facial expressions of pain in babies include:
Eye squeeze (eyes tightly closed)
Brow bulge (furrowed, wrinkly, or bulging eye brow)
Wide open mouth (lips may be tight, mouth may be stretched wide and square shaped, tongue may be cupped in shape)
Nasolabial furrow (a deep crease or fold in the skin that goes from your baby’s nose down to the corners of the mouth)
Other cues include:
+ Crying
Crying is often one of the last resorts a baby uses to communicate. There are many body movements and other cues a baby use first to communicate with you. (1,2)
Your baby may cry to communicate they are hungy, have a wet diaper, or that they are feeling tired. The volume and sound depending on what they are trying to tell you. If your baby is experiencing pain, their cry may be usually high-pitched, tense, sharp, loud, and may come in short bursts. (1,2)
+ Movement
Your baby may react to pain with more movement of their arms or legs than usual. Your baby may wiggle their body, make a fist, or spread their fingers wide. If the pain they are feeling is intense, you may notice your baby’s body and limbs become stiff.
+ Disrupted sleep or feeding patterns
If your baby is feeling overwhelmed or stressed, they may wake up more often or have a hard time settling into a deep sleep. They may also be too upset to feed, but still want to suck.
You can comfort your baby like no one else
While in hospital, if you think your baby is stressed or in pain, let a member of your healthcare team know. They may be able to partner with you to adjust your baby’s care to make it less stressful, or explain why it’s needed, and if their reaction is normal. Remember, you know your baby best!
Next, let’s learn how to actually comfort your baby!
+ References
Perry, M., Tan, Z., Chen, J., Weidig, T., Xu, W., & Cong, X. S. (2018). Neonatal pain: Perceptions and current practice. Critical Care Nursing Clinics of North America, 30(4), 549–561. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cnc.2018.07.013
Relland, L. M., Gehred, A., & Maitre, N. L. (2019). Behavioral and physiological signs for pain assessment in preterm and term neonates during a nociception-specific response: A systematic review. Pediatric Neurology, 90, 13–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2018.10.001