analysis showed that massage is effective in the first
stage of labor pain. In confirmation of this, Chang et al.
(2002) in their study also showed that the massage
therapy is effective on pain and fear during labor. The
results also showed that mean pain intensity in the first
stage of labor before and after massage aromatherapy
with lavender has reduced. In confirmation of this study,
Burns et al. (2000) also stated that the aromatherapy is
used for relief pain, nausea and vomiting and to
strengthen uterine contractions in labor.
The mean pain intensity after massage in the first stage
of labor was compared in two groups (Table 3). Overall
increasing labor pain intensity in two groups after
intervention was decreased. This drop in massage group
with lavender was more dramatic than massage only
group (from 8.16 to 6.16). This was probably due to the
sedating effects of linalool acetate in lavender as a
narcotic. In a study on 635 patients who complained of
perineal pain after childbirth, six drops of pure Lavandula
in comparison to lavender synthetic oil as daily bathroom
for 10 days resulted in most patients expressing a
satisfaction with lavender essence (Dale et al., 1994). In
a systematic review by Smith et al. (2011) on 535 women
in comparing aromatherapy with placebo for pain
management of labor, there was no difference between
groups for the pain intensity and the length of labor. The
authors, however, concluded that further research is
needed before final recommendations