The effect of breast milk and vanilla odor on duration of transition from gavage to oral feeding in premature infants

Premature infants are at risk of various physical complications if they do not receive oral feeding and weight gain, which can affect their health and well-being. This study aimed to compare the effect of the smell of breast milk and vanilla extract on the duration of transition from gavage feeding to oral feeding in premature infants in the neonatal intensive care units of hospitals affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. This clinical trial was conducted on 60 premature infants who were randomly assigned to three groups: breast milk smell stimulation during gavage feeding, vanilla extract smell stimulation during gavage feeding, and control group without smell stimulation during gavage feeding. Data were collected using a demographic information form, and the variables of duration of transition from gavage feeding to oral feeding were examined. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 24 and analyzed using analysis of variance and post hoc Tukey test. The results of this study showed a significant difference in the mean duration of transition from gavage feeding to oral feeding between the groups (P < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in the mean duration of transition from gavage feeding to oral feeding between the vanilla group and the control group (P = 0.114). Aromatherapy with breast milk reduces the time required for the transition from gavage to oral feeding and also shortens the length of hospital stay. Therefore, this simple and low-cost method can be used to accelerate infants’ achievement of nutritional competence. Trial registration https//irct.behdasht.gov.ir/trial/69,014.