Effectiveness of Lavender Aromatherapy and Classical Music as Complementary Therapy for Emesis Gravidarum in First-Trimester Pregnancy

Backgorund: Emesis gravidarum is a frequent pregnancy complication affecting approximately 70% of women during the first trimester. If inadequately managed, it can result in dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, malnutrition, organ damage, and even preterm labor. Methods: This study evaluated and compared the effectiveness of two non-pharmacological interventions—lavender essential oil aromatherapy and classical music therapy—in reducing the severity of emesis gravidarum among first-trimester pregnant women. A quasi-experimental design was applied using a two-group comparison pretest–posttest model with a time-series approach. Fifty respondents were recruited through purposive sampling and evenly assigned to either lavender aromatherapy or classical music therapy. The research was conducted at Jogonalan II and Kebonarum Community Health Centers in Klaten Regency. Emesis frequency was recorded before and after the interventions and analyzed using paired-sample t-tests. Results: Both interventions produced significant reductions in emesis frequency: the lavender aromatherapy group demonstrated a mean reduction of 4.42 (p < 0.001), while the classical music group showed a mean reduction of 2.03 (p < 0.001). Although the between-group difference was not statistically significant, lavender aromatherapy yielded a more consistent and clinically meaningful improvement. This comparative design provides novel evidence by directly evaluating two sensory-based approaches within the same clinical context, addressing a critical gap in maternal health research. Conclusion: The findings highlight lavender aromatherapy as a practical first-line non-pharmacological option for rapid symptom relief and support the integration of evidence-based complementary therapies into routine antenatal care. Future multi-center studies with larger, more diverse samples and detailed sociodemographic data are recommended to validate these results and guide national prenatal care guidelines toward a more holistic model.