Aromatherapy is described as the therapeutic practice where essential oils from flowers, herbs, and other plants are used. Aromatherapy has proven to be an effective method of reducing labor pains and lengths.
Labor causes psychological and physiological challenges to women. Childbirth is a painful experience that women go through during their lives. Pain is triggered by uterine contractions, vaginal pelvic stretching, and cervical dilatation to accommodate a baby. The psychological problems that are evident include anxiety, fear, and tension which are the factors that contribute towards the perception of women in pain and could affect their labor and conceiving experience. Women have embraced complementary therapies that are meant to control over the labor experience. Nowadays people have noted the importance of using of complementary therapies such aromatherapy during childbirth.
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Identification of the Problem
Indisputably delivery is a painful and traumatic experience for women except for a few of them. Psychological and physiological factors cause the painful experience of labor. Abnormal marriages, lack of knowledge and bitter experiences previously can intensify labor pain in a normal pregnancy. Pain is one of the phenomena that has not been quite understood. Individuals’ experiences vary significantly, but only the women can be able to explain their experiences ( Carvalho & Cohen, 2013) Most of the women fear pain, and it is one of the reasons some opt for the caesarean section. Pain causes tension, and a way of resolving it is by using therapeutic interventions. Adequate and proper therapeutic procedures are appropriate to reduce labor pains.
Relevance of Labor Pains to Nurses
Working with women who are in pain is difficult, and the nurses may feel obliged to relieve pain. Nonetheless, pain is expected during labor, and in most cases, there’s nothing to be done to reduce pain. Assisting women to conceive is a critical obligation of the nurses. Inexperienced nurses who have never conceived may feel incapable of caring for laboring women. Nurses who have given birth might feel anxious because of their experiences during childbirth. Birth follows an unpredictable schedule and some nurses might find intrapartum care as troubling while others may view it as exciting.
Impact of Labor Pains to the Patient/Community Health
Labor pain presents traumatic experiences to a patient. Most of the women express their agony by stating that they will never give birth again. Some even suggest that they will go through the caesarean section to avoid feeling pain. Labor pains are accompanied by different emotional states that could be adverse to the patient. Family support during this trying time is important because they help in decreasing the pain ( Størksen et.al, 2013) . Regarding the community, different religious and cultural individuals coexist. These people have different beliefs that could affect child delivery. For instance, some communities cannot agree on a woman taking pain relief techniques to reduce labor pain.
Synthesis of Evidence
The study was conducted through interviews with 14 assistance seekers hospitalized in various hospital wards. Nine of these participants were having their first delivery, and four were having their second delivery whereas one of the participants was having her third delivery. After extracting and analysis significant codes the interviews were classified into four major concepts
The nature of labor pain
Related influences in labor pain
Outcomes of labor pain
Perceptions of the participants
Nature of Labor Pain
In this category, two sub-concepts “ type and severity of labor pain ” and “ feelings that are accompanied with labor pain ” were evident. The participants narrated their experience on the “type and severity of pain” by describing it as a delivery pain that’s hard to endure. They further explained that this pain is not similar to other pain. One of the participants expressed that labor pain is the most severe pain that she has ever tolerated ( Carvalho & Cohen, 2013) . Another one said that labor pain is unbearable and one cannot describe it. One of the distinct features of labor pain is that it is a physiological process that is painful and hard. According to the participant's labor pain, this experience is complemented with special feelings. One of the participants stated that labor pain is sweet and she loves it so much even though it is very hard to endure. Another participant said that labor pain is a scary experience.
Related Influences in Labor Pain
Two concepts are evident in this category. The first concept is based on “ factors which intensify pain ” while the other one is “ factors that can decrease pain to make it tolerable.” One of the mothers said that the pain would increase as every moment passed by and the pressure of the baby’s head coming out was the worst pain. Loneliness is another factor that contributed to increased labor pain ( Størksen et.al, 2013) . Another participant narrated that she went through labor and delivery with no one by her side. Frequent examination done by nurses is another reason that increases pain, one of the participant retorted. Based on the partakers' description there are various ways of decreasing the pain such as adequate support from the health personnel. Caring personnel enables the mothers to tolerate the pain. Religious beliefs were also referred as factors that decrease labor pain.
Outcomes of Labor Pain
The results about labor pain were examined based on the participant's reactions. Numerous authors have written about the significant of social-cultural factors that are related to pain and their reactions ( Steel et.al 2014) . Most of the participant agreed that although it was a painful experience they tolerated because they knew it would be over nevertheless one participant explained that she would suggest caesarean section to other women because it is a horrifying and traumatic experience.
Perceptions of Participants
Participants had various perceptions about natural delivery. Their perceptions are based on their experiences in health care, consulting, training, family support and treatment expenses. Some of the participants complained that the delivery room personnel have bad behavior. One described that the delivery personnel did not respond while she was crying due to the labor pains ( Carvalho & Cohen, 2013) . Treatment expenses such as painkillers are expensive and hence many women have to tolerate the pain. Wealthy patients go to good hospitals where they are treated with care and respect. One of the participants said that caesarean is the best option as one cannot feel the pain.
Usage of Aromatherapy
Having observed the effects of labor pains on patients, I would suggest utilization of aromatherapy to reduce pain during labor pains. Aromatherapy has gained attention in the recent years as a way to relieve stress during labor. Some women have turned to this therapy as it assists them with coping with emotional issues. Pain relief is not directly involved, but the mother can find aromatherapy as a better way of reducing stress and allowing one to tolerate pain ( Zahra & Leila, 2013) . Some people have even suggested that aromatherapy also enhances stress reduction on the health personnel’s and the family members creating a suitable environment. Essential oils such as lavender, rose, clary sage, neroli and others are put in baths, massage oils, face cloths or directly to the skin of the laboring mother ( Zahra & Leila, 2013) . Many opt to use different oils to use in various stages of labor.
Some of the suggestions are the use of the calming oil during the first stage of labor. In this case, the baby has not yet descended. In the second stage oils such as peppermint are used. The second stage begins with the baby descending and the delivering process. Evidence provided shows that most women experience traumatic experience while giving birth. Due to this using aromatherapy during labor would be an effective method of assisting women to cope with pain.
Aromatherapy Effectiveness in Reducing Labor Pains
Although aromatherapy has been in existence for a long time, the practice is not prevalent. Nevertheless, it is an effective method or reducing fear, pain, and anxiety during labor. Aromatherapy also reduces nausea and enhances the wellbeing of the women as well as improving contractions. Meticulous records are kept about the oils used and the reasons for the usage ( Zahra & Leila, 2013 . Mothers and midwives who have gone through this procedure report that the oils are effective in attaining their purposes. Among 61% of women who have received aromatherapy, 51% found it helpful whereas 13% described it as unhelpful. The majority of the users have expressed the effectiveness of aromatherapy in reducing anxiety and pain. It is slowly regaining popularity among women as its benefits have been realized.
Ways of Promoting Aromatherapy Usage
Having noted that aromatherapy is an effective method of reducing labor pain and lengths, I will use this information to create awareness about the benefits of this approach. As a nurse, I have observed the pain that women go through and it will be of great importance to sensitize about aromatherapy.
Even though aromatherapy is not expensive, many women are not aware of this practice. Sensitization is the first step to enlighten individuals about aromatherapy ( Luo et.al, 2014) . Distribution of pamphlets and talking heart to heart with different mothers who are waiting for delivery will be of great importance. Pregnant women go for regular checkups, and this is an excellent opportunity to talk to them about the benefits of aromatherapy.
Project Effectiveness Evaluation
To analyze whether my project will be successful, I will look at national statistics on aromatherapy usage. Health reports on pregnancy and childbirths provide statistical data on various methods that women use to reduce pain and the percentage of individuals using them. Furthermore checking clinical data of how patients delivered their children is another way of evaluating its effectiveness ( Kaviani et.al, 2014) . Medical data always record how children were delivered either through a caesarian section or normal delivery. Patients who will use aromatherapy during labor and delivery are also recorded. These records will enable me to examine the effectiveness of my project.
Painful experiences during labor are influenced by physiological and psychological aspects, and the intensity varies considerably. A majority of the women in labor wards need pain relief. During early labor, most women do not require pain relief until the first stage of labor. Non-drug techniques are essential, and they should be learned in antenatal care. Aromatherapy is a non-drug technique that uses different essential oils to reduce pain and anxiety during labor. Research has shown that women who receive adequate support during labor express joy. The intensity of the labor pains varies from one woman to another and supports from the delivery room personnel and family is paramount. Sensitization on the benefits of aromatherapy is crucial to enlighten people especially women on how to relax during childbirth.
References
Carvalho, B., Cohen, S. E. (2013). Measuring the labor pain experience: delivery still far off: International journal of obstetric anesthesia , 22 (1), 6-9
Kaviani, M., Azima, S., Alavi, N., & Tabaei, M. H. (2014). The effect of lavender aromatherapy on pain perception and intrapartum outcome in primiparous women: British Journal of Midwifery , 22 (2)
Luo, T., Huang, M., Xia, H., & Zeng, Y. (2014). Aromatherapy for Laboring Women: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Open Journal of Nursing , 2014 .
Steel, A. Adams, J., Sibbritt, D., Broom, A., Frawley, J., & Gallois, C. (2014). The influence of complementary and alternative medicine use in pregnancy on labor pain management choices: results from a nationally representative sample of 1,835 women. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine , 20 (2), 87-97.
Størksen, H. T., Garthus‐Niegel, S., Vangen, S., & Eberhard‐Gran, M. (2013). The impact of previous birth experiences on maternal fear of childbirth. Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica , 92 (3), 318-324.
Zahra, A., & Leila, M. S. (2013). Lavender aromatherapy massages in reducing labor pain and duration of labor: A randomized controlled trial: African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology , 7 (8), 456-430.
