Jonathan, you state:

"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

Jonathan, I am wondering if someone here can clarify for us all....Righard's
study was about narcotics given during labor...I do not think that it is
about epidurals.  I believe that what we are all looking for is substatial
research regarding epidurals and medication given via that route...

Can any of our experts shed light on research recently done which states
that epidurals affect breastfeeding outcomes?  point of interest: I was
talking to an anesthesiologist the other day...a woman..and she insisted
that there was no effect, and that all research done on this subject was
faulty. Of course, she also admitted that she made a substantial portion of
her salary doing them.

Kathleen

Kathleen B. Bruce, BSN, IBCLC co-owner Lactnet, LLLOL, Corgi-L
Independent Consultant
LACTNET WWW site: http://www.mcs.com/~auerbach/lactation.html
LACTNET archives http://library.ummed.edu/lsv/archives/lactnet.html