Nikki reports:

<< "Effect
 of Labor Analgesia on Breastfeeding Success" where the authors (Halpern,
 Levine, Wilson et al.)  looked at labor medications and breastfeeding at 6-8
 weeks postpartum. Their conclusion: "In a hospital that strongly promotes
 breastfeeding, epidural labor analgesia with local anesthetics and opioids
 does not impede breastfeeding success. >>

I would still like someone to replicate the study that Jan Riordan reported
on at ILCA this summer which looked at breastfeeding initiation -- using the
IBFAT score, did epidurals affect HOW LONG it took for the baby to latch on
and begin effectively feeding?  Yes, it did.  while it was lovely for these
folks to look at bf 6-8 weeks later, the fact of the matter is, that if they
have wonderful bf policies and support in place to help these poor
moms/babies get over those first hours where it is so difficult for babies to
latch -- how many of these kiddos are getting supplemented because of the
epidurals -- how long are the epidurals in place -- etc etc etc.

There is more to all of this than just reports from 6-8 weeks.

Jan

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