Neonatal Analgesia: The Effect of Mother’s Milk Odour on the Perception of Procedural Pain in Preterm Neonates

Background and Aims: Neonatal pain in preterm neonates can adversely affect their development in multiple domains as nociceptive changes, altered brain development, stress system and functional abilities. We have plan research to determine whether odour of mother milk is effective to reduce the pain of preterm neonates who are not able to access their own mother’s milk for any reason. Material and Method: A prospective randomized control trial was done at postnatal ward, Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad in 100 vaginally delivered Preterm neonates (34-36 weeks) without any antenatal, intra-nata and postnatal complications; they were divided into two groups. Group A (EBM group) was given odour of own mother’s milk and Group B (sterile water group) was given odour of sterile water as an analgesic agent. Results : There was a significant decrease in PIPP score in Group A (EBM group) (8.72±1.21) as compare to Group B (sterile water group) (14.12±0.86) with a p-value 0.0365. There was significant decrease in maximum heart rate observed in Group A (EBM group) (132.22±13.28) compared to Group B (sterile water group) (136.54±25.12) during 30 sec from removal of needle (p-value -0.0448). There was a significant decrease in the fall in oxygen saturation in Group A (EBM group) (96.74±4.72) compared to Group B (sterile water group) (94.48±7.44) with a p-value of -0.00457. Conclusion: Inhalation of own mother’s milk for is effective analgesic for mild to moderate pain in preterm neonates. Inhalation of own mother milk before procedure or during procedure can be used as a non-pharmacological intervention to reduce pain in preterm neonates for whom breastfeeding is contraindicated for any reason.