Wow Cathy, What a post and...I couldn't agree more! I appreciate the
shouting about hospitals needing to fix the breastfeeding situation BEFORE
concluding that epidurals are "safe." Truth is...there are just too many
variables for anyone to go around making statements about the non-effects
of epidurals. There are many kinds of epidurals and I wonder...in this
study...was that addressed?

I am genuinely concerned about the babies that I see go home after two days
of "trying to breastfeed" and I try to do follow-up calls on all of them
and get them back in to see me if the problem persists...but, you are
right...there is really not a good way for hospitals to document ongoing
success.

By the time I try to do 6 month follow-ups....many of my patients have
moved and I can't find them, or they'ev gone back to work, and just don't
answer my messages..... Statistics for ongoing follow-up are extremely
stilted. Of course, the population I am most likely to reach is....stay at
home moms in a stable household...and of course, they are also most likely
to be still feeding at breast!

Oh, the plight of "proving" our (LC's) effectiveness. Interesting how
anesthesia has such an easy time of it!

Susan Keith-Hergert RN, MS, CPN, IBCLC
Mercy Health Partners
Cincinnati, Ohio

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