Nasal Olfactory Stimulation and Its Effect on Respiratory Drive in Preterm Infants

The study intervention is an olfactory stimulation with vanilla or strawberry aroma. The aroma will be applied to the inner surface of the nCPAP mask of preterm infants using designated scent pens every 3-4 hours over a period of 12 hours. The two aromas will be applied in blocks of 5 consecutive infants (5 infants vanilla, 5 infants strawberry, and so forth).

During the control intervention, identically looking placebo pens will be used to apply a colored carrier solution (without aroma) to the inner surface of the nCPAP mask of preterm infants in the same manner.