Having worked for years with the after-effects on the
breastfeeding couple of medicated and surgical birth, I don't
think this is off topic.

American Baby magazine, Oct. '98,  "Anesthesia Myth Knocked Out"
cites a study published in the journal Anesthesia and Analgesia.
To quote:

"The study did find a strong relationship between epidurals and
c-sections--but *not* one of cause and effect.  The women who
chose epidurals had *eight times* as  many c-sections as those
who didn't." (emphases mine)

The conclusion?..." 'But what that tells us is that women whose
labor will ultimately fail are more likely to experience a level
of pain that will prompt them to call for an epidural, not that
the epidural itself causes labor failure,' says Steven Fogel, MD,
the study's lead author."

I know enough of statistics to know that even a high positive
correlation does not prove cause and effect...but *eight* times
as many c-sections for those who requested epidurals??

Comments, please.  If this seems off topic, email me privately.
My concern is two-fold.  In a one week period I've had occasion
to hear of eight births (only one was a counseling call.)  All
eight were c-sections.  Also, I'm presenting a session on rousing
the sleepy newborn at a LLLL workshop Saturday.  A search of the
archives led me to believe that other studies show little, it any
relationship between epidurals and surgical birth.

TIA

Anne Cook,  MS  LLLL