Does smelling scents help preterm infants breathe better or stay in the hospital shorter?
Preterm infants often cannot feed well because they are too immature. Some doctors use scents, such as breast milk or food smells, to try to wake up their appetite. While this might help them start eating sooner, studies have not found that smelling scents improves breathing or reduces the time spent in the hospital.
What the research says
A systematic review looked at many studies to see if olfactory stimulation helps preterm infants. It found that the evidence is uncertain regarding whether these scents reduce breathing problems or shorten the hospital stay 1. The review noted that while these interventions might increase appetite and speed up the move to full feeding, the benefits for reducing morbidity or development were not clearly proven 1.
One specific study tested giving preterm infants intranasal breast milk to see if it helped them breathe or stay in the hospital shorter. This trial found that while cerebral oxygenation improved, there were no significant differences between the group receiving the milk and the group receiving routine care in terms of oxygen saturation, heart rate, or length of hospital stay 5. The study also found no difference in the time it took for infants to achieve full oral feeding 5.
Other research focuses on different ways to help preterm infants breathe, such as using automated oxygen control systems. A randomized controlled trial showed that closed-loop automated oxygen control shortened the duration of mechanical ventilation and supplemental oxygen compared to manual control 3. This method also reduced the risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, a lung condition common in very premature babies 3. However, this improvement came from the technology controlling oxygen levels, not from smelling scents.
What to ask your doctor
- What specific benefits, if any, have been shown for using olfactory stimulation in my preterm infant?
- Are there any risks associated with giving scents or intranasal breast milk to my baby?
- How do we know if my infant is ready to start smelling scents or receiving intranasal breast milk?
- What other methods are available to help my infant transition to full oral feeding?
This question is drawn from common patient questions about Pediatrics and answered using cited medical research. We do not provide individualized advice.