Effects of Aromatherapy on Childbirth
Effects of Aromatherapy on Childbirth
Aromatherapy is a form of complementary medicine that uses scented materials known as
 essential oils for the purpose of affecting a person's health or mood. Although aromatherapy
 has been used in childbirth for centuries, there are no high-quality studies examining
 whether the treatment works.

 Methodology

 We would like to see if aromatherapy affects a woman's experience of childbirth by lowering
 associated anxiety and pain. Consenting participants will be randomly allocated to one of
 these groups:

 1. Aromatherapy oils (e.g. clary sage, peppermint, lavender, frankincense)

 2. Non-essential oil (baby oil)

 3. Standard maternity care

 We will gather primary data, e.g. if she's been in labour before and her awareness of
 complementary medicine. We will also conduct the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory
 with her, and provide her with the oil and swab if she is in groups 1 or 2 with instructions
 to keep the swab with the oil on it near to her. She can also put more oil on the swab as she
 requires.

 Postnatally, data will be collected from her notes regarding pain relief used, duration of
 labour, augmentation of labour, and any other medical interventions of note. We will also
 complete the anxiety scale with her once more. Before her discharge we ask the mother for any
 comments regarding her experience of the labour. The results from all three cohorts will then
 be compared. There will also be opportunity for the midwife to make any comments regarding
 his/her perception of the participant's labour. Finally we will hold a focus group with
 midwives regarding the practicalities for implementation of aromatherapy in maternity care
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  women in labour and expecting a normal delivery,

 -  aged > 16 who are able to make informed consent;

 -  singleton pregnancy;

 -  spontaneous or induced labour onset;

 -  prior to elective or emergency caesarean section.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  preterm labour;

 -  pool births;

 -  scheduled caesarean section.