http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4785-9333
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ABSTRACT
Sleep disturbance and fatigue are frequent complaints during pregnancy and postpartum. We assessed the effectiveness of Lavender cream and footbath on sleep quality and fatigue in pregnancy and postpartum. In this trial, 141 women with sleep disturbance at 25–28 weeks gestation were recruited from public health centers in Tabriz, Iran, from May 2013 until January 2014 and randomized into one of three groups receiving: Lavender and footbath, Lavender alone, or placebo cream. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh sleep quality index at the 4th and 8th weeks after intervention and the 6th week postpartum. Fatigue was assessed with the multidimensional assessment of fatigue scale at the 6th week after intervention and the 6th week postpartum. Repeated measures ANOVA and ANCOVA were used. Compared with the placebo group, the global sleep quality score post-intervention in pregnancy and the postpartum were significantly lower in the Lavender and footbath and the Lavender cream only groups. Fatigue in both intervention groups was significantly improved only at the 6th week postpartum. No statistically significant differences were observed between the two intervention groups. Lavender cream with or without footbath may improve sleep quality in pregnancy and postpartum.
Disclosure statement
The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.
Acknowledgments
This article has been extracted from a MSc thesis in midwifery. The research project was approved scientifically and ethically by the research and the Ethics committees of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. It is appreciated from Barij Essence pharmaceutical company for manufacturing of the creams and all women who patiently participated in this trial.