The following part of Jan's post really interested me:

 

"What about the study in July 2005 (researcher escapes me now, but it was in
the BMJ) that showed that use of Fentanyl during labor negatively impacted
breastfeeding, and there was, by discharge, a 63% increase in the use of
bottles for babies whose mothers received Fentanyl during labor.  Fentanyl
is a CNS depressant.  And yes, it does get to the baby even through the
epidural...."

Jan Barger, RN, MA, IBCLC, RLC  -- Wheaton IL

 

Jan, I have always wanted to know how the drugs get from the epidural area
to the placenta so that they can affect the baby.  We have always heard
anesthesiologists and obstetricians tell women that THE DRUGS cannot get
through to the baby, yet we see the results and those in the medical
community don't know what happens to the baby in the next month or two.

Can anyone explain this so that I can understand it?  Remember I am not a
physician nor am I a nurse, so I need the explanation in lay terms.  Thanks!

 

BTW, someone quoted a study by Riordan that was in the JHL.  Jan Riordan
spoke at a conference a few years ago and mentioned one of her studies (I'm
not sure if it is the same one).  The conclusions showed no negative effect
of epidurals on breastfeeding.  Some of us in the audience were shocked by
her statement.  During the Q&A period, we expressed our disbelief.  When she
explained her research further, we realized that none of the women in the
study had had a totally unmedicated birth; her justification for that being
that you could not find enough women who had a totally natural childbirth.
We politely disagreed.

Sooooooooooooo, we need to be very careful when we read and quote studies
about birth.It is just like some of the research about breastfeeding; it
could be that it might include babies as breastfeeding if they do it at all
(like once a day?).

Anyway, I look forward to hearing about the transfer of the epidural drugs
to the baby.

Lee Galasso, MS, IBCLC, RLC

Lactation Specialist

Westchester County in NY State

 


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