BACKGROUND: Effective management of neonatal pain and stress is crucial, with non-pharmacological approaches like maternal odor showing promise. However, mixed evidence exists on its efficacy. This study aims to comprehensively assess the effects of breast milk odor on pain and stress (primary outcomes) and on oxygen saturation (SpO2) and heart rate (secondary outcomes) in neonates. METHODS: A thorough search was conducted on PubMed, Cochrane, SID, Embase, and Google Scholar until January 14, 2025, without time restrictions. A meta-analysis was performed to compare outcomes between intervention and control groups, assessing heterogeneity using the I RESULTS: The systematic review included seven studies (RCT and quasi-experimental) revealing that breast milk odor significantly reduces pain responses in neonates (SMD: -1.60, 95% CI: -2.48, -0.72
I CONCLUSION: The review underscores the potential of breast milk odor as a non-pharmacological intervention for managing pain in neonates. However, the low to very low certainty of evidence calls for further research to validate these findings and improve neonatal care protocols.