Comparing the Effects of Lavender Aromatherapy and Epidural Analgesia on Fear of Childbirth Experienced During Labor and Postpartum: A Randomized Controlled Trial Publisher



Zakavi Z ; Parnian M ; Mirghafourvand M ; Mohammad Alizadeh Charandabi S
Source: Journal of Midwifery and Reproductive Health Published:2025

Abstract

Background & aim: While epidural analgesia is regarded as the gold standard for managing labor pain, some studies suggest that it may be linked to increased fear of childbirth (FOC). We aimed to compare the effects of lavender aromatherapy and epidural analgesia on FOC during labor and postpartum. Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 56 women with full-term singleton pregnancies, admitted for vaginal delivery at one teaching hospital in Qom, Iran between October 2021 and June 2022. Participants were randomly allocated to either the aromatherapy group (receiving essential oil of lavender) or epidural analgesia with ropivacaine group at the onset of active labor. Outcomes were assessed using the Delivery Fear Scale, the Wijma Delivery Expectancy Questionnaire, and the visual analog scale. Univariate general linear models were employed to compare the groups. Results: There was no significant difference in mean scores of FOC between the two groups one hour post-intervention (P = 0.629). Postpartum FOC mean scores were significantly lower in the aromatherapy group compared to the epidural group at both two hours (47.0 vs. 63.8, P<0.001) and five weeks (40.0 vs. 66.1, P<0.001) postpartum. The mean labor pain intensity was higher and the duration of the active phase was shorter in the aromatherapy group (Ps < 0.001). Conclusion: Although lavender aromatherapy is not as effective as epidural analgesia in alleviating labor pain intensity, it appears to reduce postpartum childbirth fear and may also shorten the first stage of labor. Larger trials with longer follow-ups are recommended to provide high certainty evidence in this area. Copyright © 2023 Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial 4.0 International License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/