Comparison of the effects of aromatherapy with essential oils of damask rose and hot footbath on the first stage of labor anxiety in Nulliparous women

Nulliparous women are very anxious in childbirth that this anxiety can reduce their chances for a normal delivery. The use of complementary therapies in reducing anxiety and more satisfaction from the birth is the need for further studies. This study compared the effects of aromatherapy with inhalation and foot bath with essential oils of damask rose and warm foot bath on anxiety of the active phase of labor in Nulliparous women، was conducted. This clinical trial study were performed After informed written consent on 120 women primigravid that randomly assigned in two intervention groups (aromatherapy to inhalation and foot bath with essential oils of damask rose Group، warm foot Bath Group) and a control group. Interventions in both groups for 10 minutes were performed، once at the beginning of the active phase and the second time at the beginning of the transitional phase. Control group received routine care for delivery. Anxiety levels were measured using questionnaires eshpylberger. Data analysis was performed using the software spss version 16. Baseline anxiety levels were similar in the three groups. Postpartum anxiety levels in the inhalation and foot bath with essential oils of damask rose group significantly less than a hot water foot bath group (p<0/05) and control group (p<0/001). Based on the study result، the use of CAM practices aroma therapy is a supportive intervention، cheap، safe and practical in labor that it can be effective in reducing anxiety and pleasant delivery.