Effect of massage Aromatherapy with lavandula on the duration of first and second stage of labor in nulliparous women

Introduction: Duration of labor and pain severity are main factors to fray pregnant women of vaginal delivery and acceptance for elective section. Hence, the purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of massage aromatherapy with lavandula in decreasing the duration of first and second stage of labor in nulliparous women. Methods: The present study is a clinical trial which performed in 2008 with 90 nulliparous pregnant woman. The women were randomly assigned into 3 groups. First group took only massage. Second group took massage with Almond oil, and the third group took massage aromatherapy with Lavender oil. Each group received back effleurage massage for 20 minutes at 3 dilatation. Then duration of first of stage of active phase and second stage of labor, pain severity and satisfaction in there groups were evaluated. Results: Duration of first of stage of active phase has been in massage cases 321±2.52 minutes and in massage with Almond oil cases 349±2.81 minutes and in aromatherapy cases 245±1.95 minutes. Duration of second stage of labor has been in massage cases 42.36±13.86 minutes and in massage with Almond oil cases 42.03±12.22 minutes and in aromatherapy cases 29±10.46 minutes. Also, mean labor pain intensity has decreased before intervention from 6.56±1.63 to 4.78±1.50 after intervention (P=0.0001). Aromatherapy has decreased pain intensity of active phase of labor after intervention (P=0.001) and has caused patient satisfaction from delivery (P=0.014). Conclusion: Massage aromatherapy with lavandula can be used as a non-drug method without side effects on mother and fetus to reduce the duration of the first and second stage of labor and pain intensity of active phase of labor