title: Aromatherapy in childbirth: a pilot randomised controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to determine the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial (RCT) on the use of aromatherapy during labour as a care option that could improve maternal and neonatal outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  RCT comparing aromatherapy with standard care during labour.
  
  
  METHODS
  District general maternity unit in Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and fifty-one women randomised to aromatherapy and 262 controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants randomly assigned to administration of selected essential oils during labour by midwives specifically trained in their use and modes of application.
  
  
  METHODS
  Intrapartum outcomes were the following: operative delivery, spontaneous delivery, first- and second-stage augmentation, pharmacological pain relief, artificial rupture of membranes, vaginal examinations, episiotomy, labour length, neonatal wellbeing (Apgar scores) and transfer to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences for the following outcomes: caesarean section (relative risk [RR] 0.99, 95% CI: 0.70-1.41), ventouse (RR 1.5, 95% CI: 0.31-7.62), Kristeller manoeuvre (RR 0.97, 95% CI: 0.64-1.48), spontaneous vaginal delivery (RR 0.99, 95% CI: 0.75-1.3), first-stage augmentation (RR 1.01, 95% CI: 0.83-1.4) and second-stage augmentation (RR 1.18, 95% CI: 0.82-1.7). Significantly more babies born to control participants were transferred to NICU, 0 versus 6 (2%), P = 0.017. Pain perception was reduced in aromatherapy group for nulliparae. The study, however, was underpowered.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated that it is possible to undertake an RCT using aromatherapy as an intervention to examine a range of intrapartum outcomes, and it provides useful information for future sample size calculations.
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Social Care, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK. eburns@brookes.ac.uk
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zobbi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Panzeri
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oskrochi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Regalia
mesh_terms: D019341:Aromatherapy / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies