Aromatherapy Effect on Pain and Anxiety After C-section

Effect of Aromatherapy Using Lavender Essential Oil on Pain and Anxiety After C-section: a Randomized Controlled Trial

A prospective randomized triple blinded study conducted in the obstetrics gynecology department of Ben Arous hospital over a period of four months and 10 days between April 2023 and August 2023.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of lavender aromatherapy on postoperative pain and anxiety after cesarean section under spinal anesthesia in Tunisian women.

Inclusion Criteria:

• All women who gave birth by cesarean section under spinal anesthesia in the obstetrics and gynecology department at the Ben Arous regional hospital who met the following criteria were included in this study:

  • Age between 18 and 45 years old
  • Term of pregnancy at the time of delivery ≥ 37 weeks of Gestation.
  • A minimum level of primary education as a prerequisite to answer the questions (in particular the STAI items).
  • Classified ASA 1 or 2 of the American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) classification.
  • Having no history of cancer or chronic pain.
  • Free from any psychiatric pathology.
  • And having not presented any intra- or post-operative complications.

Exclusion Criteria:

The investigators excluded patients in our study:

• Having given birth to a stillborn or a suffering newborn requiring transfer to neonatal intensive care.
• Having received painkillers in the post-operative period.
• Having olfactory disorders.
• Having a substance abuse problem.
• Having a known allergy to lavender or other aromatic plants.
• who did not agree to participate in the study or who did not continue all stages of the trial.