The Effect Of Baby Smell On The Amount Of Breast Milk, Salivary Cortisol Level And Mother Baby Attachment

The Effect Of Baby Smell On The Amount Of Breast Milk, Salivary Cortisol Level And Mother Baby Attachment: A Randomized Controlled Study

The goal of this [type of study: randomized controlled clinical trial] is to [determine the effect of applying the scent of premature newborns who cannot be breastfed to the mother on the mother's milk amount, salivary cortisol level and mother-infant attachment.] in [mothers of premature babies]. The main question[s] it aims to answer are:

• [Hypothesis 1: There is a difference in the amount of milk of the mother.]
• [Hypothesis 2: There is a difference in the level of cortisol in the mother's saliva.]
• [Hypothesis 3: There is a difference in terms of mother-baby attachment level.] Participants will [Participants will express milk and record the amount of milk.].

If there is a comparison group: Researchers will compare [control and experimental groups] to see if [difference in amount of milk, cortisol level, baby attachment].

The study was planned as a randomized controlled study to determine the effect of applying the scent of non-breastfeedable premature newborns to the mother on the mother's milk quantity, salivary cortisol level and mother-baby bonding. The study is planned to be conducted with the mothers of premature infants whose babies are hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Bursa City Hospital. There will be two groups in the study: study and control group. For each group, 30 mothers will be included in the study. The study will continue for four days. The mothers in the experimental group will be given the gowns that their babies wear for 12 hours and they will be asked to smell these gowns during the milking process. On the 1st day, mothers in both groups will be trained on expressing and storing breast milk (frequency of expressing milk, appropriate speed of the pump, milk storage bags, room temperature, storage times in the refrigerator and freezer). All mothers will be ensured to express their milk with the same milk pumps. Mothers will be provided with a syringe to measure their milk. The mothers will be asked to express their milk at three-hour intervals and record the amount measured. Mothers in the experimental group will be asked to smell their babies' scented clothes during the milking process. A sample will be taken from the mothers to look at the cortisol level in saliva. Data collection forms will be filled in. On the 2nd and 3rd day, mothers will be asked to express their milk at three-hour intervals and record the amount they measured on the mother follow-up form. The mothers in the experimental group will be asked to smell their babies' smelly clothes during the milking process. On the 4th day, mothers will be asked to express their milk at three-hour intervals and record the amount they measured on the mother follow-up form. The mothers in the experimental group will be asked to smell their babies' scented clothes during the milking process. The mothers will be sampled again to check the cortisol level in saliva. Mother-infant attachment scale will be applied.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Mother's acceptance of the application
• Ability to communicate with the mother (being literate, speaking Turkish, etc.)
• Gestational week being 34 weeks or less
• The newborn is in the NICU

Exclusion Criteria:

• The newborn's gestational age is over 34 weeks
• The mother is breastfeeding her baby
• Being a smoker (Ahmed et al. 2019)
• The mother is unable to express milk due to a serious chronic disease or pregnancy complication.
• The mother has a breast problem that may affect milk expression (cracked, mastitis, collapse, etc.).
• If the mother uses milk-boosting drinks or food