ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:
Self-regulation is the ability to control mental functions, satisfying physical, social and emotional needs. The objective of this study was to compare self-regulatory actions in newborns submitted to kangaroo position or 25% sucrose for analgesia during two heel punctures in the first hours of life, and to describe the comfort actions offered by mothers to their infants in kangaroo position.
METHODS:
Randomized equivalence clinical trial with newborns submitted to two heel punctures and their mothers. The kangaroo position group remained in contact with the mother for three minutes before, during and three minutes after the punctures. The sucrose group received 25% sucrose orally two minutes before the punctures and remained in a common crib, without manipulation. The self-regulation actions and maternal comfort were microanalytically analyzed in the two punctures (18 data collection phases). The percentages of self-regulation/comfort actions duration were compared between intragroup and between groups.
RESULTS:
The sample consisted of 80 newborns (40 per group) and 40 mothers (kangaroo position group). Sucking fingers/fist/tongue was the only self-regulation action that statistically differed in the two punctures (p<0.001), being higher in the sucrose group. In the kangaroo position group, mothers offered comfort actions to the child at all stages of collection, especially rocking and caressing.
CONCLUSION:
Self-regulation actions of the newborns were observed in all phases of collection in both groups, such as sucking and taking hand to mouth. In the kangaroo position group, there were maternal comfort actions, especially hugging and caressing.
Keywords:
Emotional regulation; Kangaroo-mother; Neonatal pain; Pain Management
HIGHLIGHTS
Neonatal autoregulation for acute pain in the first hours of life.
Maternal comfort for newborns in acute pain.
Microlith analysis of the images, enabling detailed comprehension of the observed phenomena.
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