Conditioning and Hyperalgesia in Newborns Exposed to Repeated Heel Lances

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Abstract
Ten percent to 15% of newborns require hospitalization after delivery for medical reasons including prematurity, congenital anomalies, sepsis, jaundice, and feeding difficulties.1 Hospitalized newborns are subjected to many invasive procedures as part of their medical care. There are anecdotal reports of infants learning to anticipate pain and exhibiting altered pain responses as a consequence of their cumulative exposures to pain.2