BIOLOGICALLY BASED COMPLEMENTARY METHODS USED IN THE CONTROL OF LABOR PAIN: AROMATHERAPY AND PHYTOTHERAPY

Abstract

Although pregnancy and childbirth are physiological events, the pain that occurs due to uterine contractions during labor is defined as one of the strongest pains and is among the important factors that cause many women to fear labor. Therefore, control of labor pain is one of the main goals of care for women who have given birth. The aim of the methods used to relieve pain in childbirth is to reduce or regulate labor pain directly without causing any negative effects on the mother and the baby. For this reason, biological-based complementary methods such as aromatherapy and phytotherapy used in the control of labor pain are used. The use of biologically-based complementary modalities such as aromatherapy in pregnancy and childbirth can reduce anxiety, facilitate relaxation, alleviate labor pain, and have a positive effect on fatigue, delivery time, delivery outcomes, and maternal satisfaction. In addition, since the use of non-drug methods such as aromatherapy in childbirth contributes to the easy management of labor and to reduce cesarean/interventional deliveries, it is recommended that midwives/nurses be competent to use these methods