The Influence of Olfactory Intervention on Non-Nutritive Sucking Skills in a Premature Infant

Abstract

This single-subject research design examined the influence of maternal breast milk odor on the frequency of high amplitude non-nutritive sucking of a preterm infant during gavage feeding. The participating infant sucked on the nipple of a suckometer connected to a computerized data collection system. Analysis of the data demonstrated that when the odor of maternal breast was present, the frequency of high amplitude non-nutritive sucking was greater than when no odor was present. During the last 3 days of the 14-day study, the preterm infant demonstrated an increase in the frequency of high amplitude non-nutritive sucking consistently during the time when the odor of the mother's breast milk was introduced for a 60-second period.

Keywords

premature infant non-nutritive sucking sensory motor integration

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