"Medications:  Stadol -total dose - 2 mg, last dose 5 hours pre delivery.
Benadry 25mg IV
(reported that fly-in doc says this will potentiate stadol and relax mom) -
4 hours pre delivery.  Intrathecal with fentanyl and marcaine 'light
dose'(benadry didn't work) 3 hours pre delivery....I have been a LD/PP nurse
for 10 years and intrathecals with Fentenyl/Marcaine have been used
repeatedly.  I have never seen such a prolonged 'depression' in the baby.  I
have also never seen a baby who did not respond to lip/tongue stimulation,
even if weakly."

Interesting timing on this question - I'm just (because of the babies I've
seen most recently) starting to get real suspicious of these intrathecals.
What are others out there in BF-land seeing?

The baby that Marley describes here could be an exact match for babies I've
seen recently. The prolonged suck depression/lack of interest in latching-on
is what I've been seeing in babies whose moms have had intrathecals. The sad
end result is often enough of a delay in establishing BFing that mom gives
up after a couple of weeks of pumping. The babies I've seen typically have a
good suck on a finger; also some have had an initial mildly-interested
attempt at nursing soon after birth (though not necessarily immediately),
but then get "worse" in their efforts at breast.

I'm very curious about this, and very interested to hear what others are
seeing. The babies I've seen have all come from the same hospital; wondering
if it's a nsg-staff related issue or an anesthesia one.

(BTW, I had Stadol myself during my last C/S, and I was totally OUT OF IT
for >48 hrs. Couldn't have cared less about seeing my babies, didn't nurse
them (now you all know the shocking secrets of an LC!), was perfectly happy
to have their father, grandparents, etc. hold them, but had no interest
myself. Was barely conscious, remember nothing from this period. So yeah, it
certainly could affect a newborn!)

Cathy Bargar,RN, IBCLC Ithaca NY

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