The effect of aromatherapy with narcissus flower essence on labor pain in primiparous women: a randomized clinical trial

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 M.Sc. Student of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ahvaz Jondishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Midwifery, Reproductive Health Promotion Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.

3 Instructor of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.

4 Assistant Professor, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Health, Ahvaz Jondishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: The pain and long duration of childbirth cause many worries and complications for the mother. Therefore, this study was conducted with aim to determine the effect of aromatherapy with narcissus essential oil on labor pain.
Methods: This single-blind clinical trial study was performed in 2020 on 80 primiparous pregnant women in experimental and control groups referred to Farideh Behbahani Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Behbahan city, for natural delivery. The data collection tool was the demographic and obstetric information questionnaire and the visual pain scale. In the experimental group, in the active phase of labor, aromatherapy with narcissus flower essence and in the control group, distilled water was used. Pain was measured before the intervention (4 cm dilatation) and after the intervention (6, 8 and 10 cm dilatation) and the second stage of labor. Data analysis was done using SPSS software (version 20) and inferential statistical tests and descriptive statistics. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The mean pain intensity in the intervention group in the first stage of labor (dilations 4, 6, 8 and 10 cm) were 8.77 ± 0.71, 7.42 ± 0.79, 8 ± 0.77 and 8.43 ± 0.90, respectively and in the second stage of labor was 8.53 ± 1.59. In the control group, the mean pain intensity in the first stage of labor was 7.80 ± 1.18, 8.50 ± 0.83, 9.58 ± 0.60, and 9.13 ± 1.42, respectively and in the second stage of labor was 9.49 ± 0.61. Aromatherapy with narcissus flower essence caused a significant decrease in the pain intensity score of the first stage of labor in the intervention group compared to the control group in 4, 6, 8 and 10 cm dilatations of cervix (P<0.001). In the second stage of labor, the mean intensity of pain felt in the intervention group was significantly lower than the control group (P<0.001).
Conclusion: Aromatherapy with narcissus flower essence can reduce the intensity of labor pain due to the presence of linalool compounds. Therefore, the essence of medicinal plants such as narcissus flower can be used to make the childbirth process pleasant and reduce the pain of mothers.

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