The Effect of Olfactory Stimulation on Growth Parameters in Newborn Infants: A Systematic Review.

Objective: Olfactory stimulation can be used for many purposes, such as providing comfort, improving sleep, and reducing pain in newborns. However, there are only a few studies in the literature examining the effect of olfactory stimulation on newborn growth. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of olfactory stimulation on growth parameters of newborns. Method: This systematic review used the PRISMA checklist. No date limitation was applied, and all studies were considered for inclusion. Pubmed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Medline databases were used for the search. Results: A total of 367 publications were found in the search. Eight studies that met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. The olfactory stimulations applied were maternal odor, maternal milk odor, cinnamon, aniseed, vanilla, and formula milk odors. Olfactory stimulation was found to have a positive effect on the weight gain of newborns in three of the eight studies, and maternal odor and maternal milk odor were used in these studies. In two of the three studies evaluating the effect of maternal odor and maternal milk olfactory stimulation on the height of newborns, the result was found to be significant. The effect of maternal milk olfactory stimulation on head circumference was found to be significant in one of the two studies. Conclusion and Recommendation: Maternal odorand maternal milk odor may have a positive effect on newborn growth parameters. Further studies on this subject are needed.