The Lack of Benefit of Exposing the Premature Infant to Breast Milk Smell and/or Taste before Tube Feeding: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Infants born very prematurely usually are initially feeding by orogastric or nasogastric tube. These infants lack the maternal milk smell and taste, both of which initiate the cephalic phase of nutrition. Offering the olfactory and gustatory experience of breast milk could enhance weight growth and expedite discharge, which are the primary advantageous outcomes for extremely premature infants. <b><i>Purpose:</i></b> To evaluate the potential of exposing very preterm newborns to the smell and taste of breast milk to expedite weight growth and facilitate early discharge. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> This study is a double-blind, randomized, superiority clinical trial. A study was conducted on infants born very prematurely (less than 32 weeks gestation) who were receiving tube feeding. Prior to tube feeding, the interventional group was exposed to the smell and taste of breast milk. The primary outcomes were an increase in weight and a shorter length of hospital stay. <b><i>Results:</i></b> A total of 63 children born very prematurely were randomly assigned and completed the research. The intervention and control groups did not exhibit any significant difference in terms of weight increase and time to discharge. The weight gain was 715 g (95% CI: 544 to 876 g) in the intervention group and 657 g (95% CI: 510 to 804 g) in the control group, with a <i>p</i> value of 0.60. The time to discharge was 39 days (95% CI: 30 to 48) in the intervention group and 37 days (95% CI: 28 to 54) in the control group, with a <i>p</i> value of 0.735. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> The smell and taste of breast milk right before tube feeding did not speed up weight growth or lead to early discharge in extremely premature newborns.