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The heel prick: how efficient is common practice?

The heel prick is a common procedure, mainly carried out by midwives. This paper argues that midwifery practice is often based on tradition and habit rather than evidence. Firstly, the evidence on which midwives choose a site for heel prick is examined, and it is argued that practice is based on old...

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Published in:RCM Midwives Vol. 8; no. 3; pp. 112 - 115
Main Author: Naughten F
Format: pictorial questionnaire/scale tables/charts Journal Article
Published: Redactive Publishing Ltd. Mar2005
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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        atl: The heel prick: how efficient is common practice?
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        au: Naughten F
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        subj:
          Blood Specimen Collection In Infancy and Childhood
          Heel In Infancy and Childhood
          Blood Specimen Collection Adverse Effects
          Calcaneus In Infancy and Childhood
          Clinical Assessment Tools
          Heel Anatomy and Histology
          Infant, Newborn
          Pain Measurement In Infancy and Childhood
          Treatment Related Pain Prevention and Control
          Infant, Newborn: birth-1 month
      ab: The heel prick is a common procedure, mainly carried out by midwives. This paper argues that midwifery practice is often based on tradition and habit rather than evidence. Firstly, the evidence on which midwives choose a site for heel prick is examined, and it is argued that practice is based on old evidence and that more recent research must be built on to ensure the best care for babies. It is argued that preparation of the heel is unnecessary, and that midwives should consider alternatives to squeezing the heel. Finally, it is argued that encouraging women to breastfeed their babies or otherwise maintain skin-to-skin contact throughout the procedure may be the most appropriate form of analgesia.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        pictorial
        questionnaire/scale
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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