>Heather cites my posts on how everyone expects to BF here, and epidurals are
>not considered a major hindrance.
>But our rates are not high, although they are rising dramatically and there
>is a rapid spread of the so-called ambulatory epidural, with fentanyl and
>bupivacaine.  The majority of women don't have them, but I think it is not
>an overwhelming majority.


Thanks for putting me right, Rachel - I must have misremembered.

Our rates in the UK vary greatly; in some units the majority of women
- upwards of 80 per cent - have them, and in others (especially in
the few units run by midwives) the rate may approach nil - if a
mother needs an epidural she may be transferred to consultant care.
>
>Another factor is the length of time women have an epidural before the baby
>is born.  Here it is very unusual to have one sited more than a couple of
>hours before birth.  I understand that in the USA, at least, it is not
>unheard of for women to have epidurals sited almost before we would consider
>labor to have begun, and they and their babies are exposed for a much longer
>time, sometimes 24 hours or more.  That would not happen here


Nor here.

>
>Epidurals are a blessing to have when you need one.  Otherwise, they are a
>nuisance and an obstacle to normal birth.


True.

>  Our more challenging job is to see to it that those experiencing
>complications FOR WHATEVER REASON, iatrogenic or organic, also can
>breastfeed successfully.

True again : )

Moreover, it would be sad if women who end up having/choose to have
an epidural become fatalistic about its effect on bf.....they then
think they 'can't do it' .  We definitely need some decent research
about cause and effect, I agree, but its presentation would need to
be carefully handled.

Heather Welford Nei;
NCT bfc Newcastle upon Tyne UK

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