Summary: It’s hard to believe, but sick babies are suffering in pain today. It was commonly thought that the nervous system of newborn babies wasn’t developed enough at birth to experience pain. Even though medical thinking has changed, it’s frightening to realize that under treating or simply not treating pain in sick babies may lead to a life of pain. Both of our guests provide a beacon of hope that we’re making strides in controlling this problem. Pam McFadyen, a Canadian from Toronto shares an intimate portrait of having her twin boys exposed to over 100 painful procedures during almost 5 months in the neonatal intensive care unit. Bonnie Stevens, PhD Signy Hildur Eaton Chair in Pediatric Nursing Research at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, then describes how best to reduce pain in this vulnerable population.
