Use of Aromatherapy in the Perinatal Period

The entire process of pregnancy, birth and postpartum falls within the perinatal period. The perinatal period is a process that must be closely monitored in order to protect and ensure the continuity of the health of the woman and her baby. Many physiological, anatomical and emotional changes occur in the woman during pregnancy and birth. These changes can negatively affect the woman's health and reduce her quality of life. In order to cope with these changes and increase her quality of life, women may prefer non-pharmacological applications instead of pharmacological applications due to the thought of harming their baby and themselves. One of the non-pharmacological methods that can be used in the perinatal process is aromatherapy. Aromatherapy reduces the woman's fatigue and stress levels, allows her to relax and have a more positive experience. The purpose of this review is to examine the use of aromatherapy in the perinatal period and present it in line with the literature.