Effects of Having Preterm Infants Smell Amniotic Fluid, Mother's Milk, and Mother's Odor During Heel Stick Procedure on Pain, Physiological Parameters, and Crying Duration.

OBJECTIVE: The study aims to assess effects of having preterm infants smell amniotic fluid, mother's milk, and mother's odor during heel stick procedure on pain, physiological parameters, and crying duration.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was a randomized controlled experimental research. The population of the study was made up of preterm infants receiving treatment and care at a neonatal intensive care unit, where the study was conducted between January 2015 and March 2016. The study was performed with 85 preterm infants who met the selection criteria. Infants were randomized into four groups: amniotic fluid, mother's milk, mother's odor, and control group. Data obtained were analyzed by percentage distributions, means, standard deviation, chi-square test, Kruskal-Wallis, and Dunnett's test.

RESULTS: While no significant difference was found between the groups in terms of total preterm infant pain profile score before, during, and after the heel stick procedure (p > 0.05), a significant difference was found in terms of SO2 values (p < 0.05) and the difference was caused by the amniotic fluid group. Although no significant difference was found between the groups in terms of crying duration (p > 0.05), the amniotic fluid group had the lowest score, followed by the mother's milk group, the mother's odor group, and the control group.

CONCLUSIONS: Amniotic fluid, mother's milk, and mother's odor were not effective in preterm infants during painful procedures.