Lavender Essential Oil may protect perineum during birth

CONCLUSION: The results showed that perineal massage with Lavender essence in second stage of labour decreases incidence of episiotomy and degree of laceration. Lavender essence may increase blood flow, elasticity, softness, and relaxation of the perineal tissue.

I wish I had known this before Olivia was born or I sure would have prepared a Lavender essence by taking Young Living's Lavender essential oil and diluting it by mixing 10 drops with 50 drops of Young Living's V-6 vegetable mixing oil.

53 first time mother's had NO TEAR if they had used lavender vs only 2 first time mother's in the control group.

Here are the study's details:
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Perineal trauma particularly from routine episiotomy that is associated with short and long term morbidity for women. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of perineal massage with lavender essence on episiotomy and laceration.
METHODS: This clinical trial study was performed on 176 nulliparous women who referred to Arak Talghani teaching center for normal delivery. They were randomly participating in massage with lavender essence oil (91 cases) or control group (85 cases). In lavender group when they progressed to full dilation of the cervix, the midwife inserted two fingers inside vagina and using a sweeping motion gently stretch the perineum with lavender essence oil 5 up to 10 minutes, in and between mother's pushing in second stage of labor. In control group just Ritgen Maneuver was applied. At last we compared the rate of intact perineum, episiotomy, and laceration, mean duration of second stage of labour and Apgar scores in 1st and 5th minute between two groups.

FINDINGS: In case group, intact perineum, episiotomy, and laceration were: 60.2% (53), 8% (7), and 31.8% (31) respectively. In control group, intact perineum, episiotomy, and laceration were: 2.4% (2), 80% (68) and 17.6% (15) respectively. This difference was statistcally significant (p=0.0001). In Lavender essence group, first and second degree laceration were (27.5% (27) and 4.5% (4) respecitvely. Third and fourth degree laceration were not occurred. In control group, first, second, and third degree laceration were 4.6% (4), 7.1% (6) and 5.9% (5) respectively, fourth degree laceration was not occurred. Difference was statistcially significant (p=0.0001)