Efficacy of Expressed Breast Milk in Reducing Pain During ROP Screening--a Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE To assess the effectiveness of expressed breast milk (EBM) on neonatal pain during screening for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). METHODS Neonates who were on oral feeds undergoing ROP screening were included. Babies were randomized into intervention group (EBM + Standard practice) and control group. The standard practice is proparacaine, nesting and swaddling. Pain was assessed by PIPP scale, during and at 1 and 5 min after the procedure by the principal investigator who was blinded. RESULTS The groups were similar in baseline characteristics. The group receiving EBM had significantly lower PIPP scores during the procedure 12.7 ± 1.69 compared to the control group 15.5 ± 1.78 (p < 0.05). The beneficial effect persisted at 1 min and 5 min after the procedure 6.20 ± 1.9 vs. 12.4 ± 2.54 (p ≤ 0.05) at 1 min; 3.2 ± 1.5 and 6.85 ± 2.4 (p < 0.05) at 5 min. CONCLUSION Oral EBM significantly reduces pain during and after ROP screening.