On Tue, 2 Jul 1996 03:58:21 -0400, Bonnie Jones wrote:
>I was interested to hear Linda Smith's post on epidurals.  "We" may be
>starting to use walking epidurals in our hospital.  They're even talking
>about hep locks instead of IVs.  I am really interested in a comparison of
>walking epidurals and standard epidurals.  I sort of figured that a walking
>epidural when a woman is a fingertip and -3 would be better than a standard
>epidural.  After all, at least she would be more free to change positions and
>hopefully assume one that would make a vaginal birth more likely.  Am I right
>or not?
>
>Does anyone have RESEARCH on suck problems and epidurals?  Is anyone planning
>on doing some?  I would like to see an emphasis on how to do research at ILCA
>and other breastfeeding seminars.  I am fully aware that "standard of
>community" and pragmatic concerns also affect practice, but some good
>research certainly wouldn't hurt.   As a former L&D nurse and childbirth
>educator, these issues really do concern me.  My observations and experiences
>agree with what you are saying 100%, but I don't have PROOF.  Bonnie

Dear Bonnie,

Righard, published a study in The Lancet in 1990.  Infants from medicated
and unmedicated births, and who were brought to breast within 1 hour or after
8 hours were compared.  Among infants who were brought to breast within
one hour after birth, 16 out of 17 from unmedicated births attached and sucked
properly, while only 8 of 21 from medicated births could suck properly, and
sucking was absent in 10 infants.  Among infants who were brought to breast
after 8 hours, 7 out of 15 from unmedicated births sucked properly, and 7 more
sucked incorrectly, while no infants from medicated births sucked properly, and
sucking was absent in 15 of the 19 cases.  (Thanks to BSC for covering this
in the breastfeeding management class.)

Jonathan


************************************************
*           L. Jonathan Kramer, P.E.           *
*      Graduate Breastfeeding Counselor       *
*         Student Lactation Consultant         *
* Only G-d knows the formula for mother's milk *
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