The Incubator #322 – Neonatal Pain and Stress: What We See, What We Miss, and What We Can Do
In this episode, we speak with neonatal nurse scientists Dr. Marliese Nist and Dr. Kathy Dudding to explore the evolving understanding of neonatal pain and stress in the NICU. Together, we look at how outdated assumptions about infant pain still influence clinical care, and what providers can do to better recognize and respond to the signs of stress in fragile newborns.
Our guests discuss how even routine care can be a source of stress for preterm infants, and why thoughtful, individualized approaches—such as comfort touch and parental involvement—can make a meaningful difference. They also highlight the lack of standardization in pain protocols across NICUs and the limitations of existing assessment tools.
This conversation offers practical takeaways for clinicians at the bedside and makes the case for system-wide change in how we approach pain management and developmental care. The episode is part of our collaboration with the National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN), and underscores the vital role of interdisciplinary teamwork in improving neonatal outcomes.
As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.
Enjoy!