Breastfeeding for pain relief during vaccination in infants up to six months of age: Implementation experience at a public maternity hospital.

Introduction. Vaccination is an effective public health intervention, although it can be painful. Breastfeeding during vaccination reduces infants' pain perception, but vaccination services do not systematically incorporate this practice. Objective. To describe the development, application, and results of a protocol for the implementation of nonpharmacological analgesia through breastfeeding during vaccination of infants up to six months of age in a public hospital. Population and methods. We conducted an implementation study with a before-and-after evaluation based on the model developed by Grol and Wensing, carried out in both inpatient and vaccination settings. It included a diagnostic phase with surveys of mothers and interviews with vaccinators; planning and designation of a point person; awareness-raising activities; and active implementation with follow-up. Evaluations were conducted at one month and six months using surveys and interviews. Implementation indicators were analyzed. Results. The project ran from April 2024 to November 2025. The diagnostic phase included 199 surveys, and 71 were included in each subsequent evaluation. The proportion of infants who were breastfed during vaccination was 15% at baseline, 78% at one month, and 68% at six months. Mothers and healthcare workers accepted the strategy well, and it became an institutional practice. Conclusion. Using breastfeeding as a pain-relief strategy during vaccination proved to be a simple, feasible, and widely accepted intervention for both families and the healthcare team.