Effects of the Spouse's Aromatherapy Massage on Labor Pain, Anxiety and Childbirth Satisfaction for Laboring Women

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of the spouse's aromatherapy massage on labor pain, anxiety during labor and childbirth satisfaction for laboring women. Methods: The subjects of this study were laboring women who didn't have any complication during pregnancy and who have admitted for childbirth with their spouse to E. hospital in D city. This study was carried out from June to November in 2007. The subjects were allocated into three groups: spouse's aromatherapy massage group, spouse's carrier oil massage group and control group. Aromatherapy massage and carrier oil massage was applied for ten minutes every hour after the cervix dilated 5cm. The subjects in the control group were with their spouse during labor. Results: The labor pain by VAS was significantly different among the three groups (Kruskal-Wallis x2=7.09 p=.029) in the deceleration phase. The anxiety during labor by VAS were significantly different among the three groups (Kruskal-Wallis x2=6.77 p=.034) in the deceleration phase. There was no significant difference in childbirth satisfaction among the three groups. Conclusion: The spouse's aromatherapy massage using Lavender, Clary sage, Frankincense and Neroli could be effective i