In a message dated 96-07-03 00:06:17 EDT, Jonathon writes:

>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

My word!!!  How frightening!! Now let me ask you out there who teach
Childbirth classes:  If you were "Allowed" to give this kind of information
to your classes, how many parents  do you think would opt for NO meds???
 When talking with pregnant moms who want info on BF before their baby is
born, I tell them straight up, that anyone who tells them that medications,
epidurals, etc, are safe and will do nothing to the baby are LYING!!!  These
moms NEED to know that their baby's may have BF difficulty with these meds in
their system.  One mom decided to go ahead an have her Epi, and she really
regrets it now.  Baby would NOT suck after birth.  They got so worried about
baby after 8 hrs and still no desire to BF, that they tried to bottle feed
EBM/colostrom.  No go.  This baby wouldn't do anything.  They fianlly gavaged
her to get EBM into her after 12 hours.  There was NO suck there!  It was
frightening.  The mother is furious, as is dad.  They are thinking about
getting a lawyer....We'll see on that one.  So for now, baby is a week old,
and is showing signs of sucking, but is still very disorganized.  Mom offers
breast, and baby tries, but mom knows that it may be a week or more.  This
baby has reacted VERY badly to these meds, can you tell??
This whole "Meds are safe" really pushes my buttons, you know?  That's why we
are having a home birth this time around.  This way I don't have anyone
trying to tell me that the meds are fine.  I really don't think I'll have the
energy to argue with someone about their crappy and WRONG info while in
labor!  :)
Take care all!
Jay