I have opened dialogue with an wonderful, warm anesthesiologist at my
hospital.  I shared with him my
concerns surrounding the article "Placental Transfer and Neonatal
Effects of Epidural Sufentanil and
Fentanyl Administered with Bupivacaine during Labor".  His response
was warm and sincere.  He was
not aware of any effect on the suck patterns of the neonate, and he
thought all babies had to bottle-
feed before they breastfed.  My notes to him related my concern that
babies will display poor breast-
feeding behavior, but will bottle feed "successfully" since they
don't have to be very organized or really work at the task.  I
explained that for many years, LC's have been recognizing a perceived
link
to epidural anesthesia.  "hmm said he", Don't babies who are born
with no anesthesia, sometimes display disorganized behavior"?  I
answered in the affirmative, as, I have seen such outcomes.
Nonetheless, he demonstrated concern to me, esp as it related to my
comments: "When breastfeeding terminates and drugs used in anesthesia
are suspect of changing newborn behaviors, why then is this feeding
problem not addressed in their studies"?  "I know it is a
longstanding concern.  Failure to
accomplish breastfeeding, then becomes an 'adverse longterm effect'".


The doctor left me a message to page him the following day.  He has
offered to do a double-blind study at our hospital.  I have contacted
Kathy Auerbach to review the article in question, and today she
shares with me her concerns about the outcomes as well as methodology.
  She will put her thoughts in writing for me, and I will go forward
again for his comments.  This is so exciting!

I'm off to teach my BF class at the hospital, have been away more
than I have been lurking-so I feel
like I'm probably missing something.....isn't this a cool
anesthesiologist!...Yup!