I *know* we hash this over repeatedly here! That's because what "most of the
studies" (of which there aren't enough. or enough looking at the varied
factors involved, etc., etc.) don't support what we observe in our own
experience; i.e. that babies born after the "typical" (in US anyway)
epidural delivery do have more problems latching on & establishing good BF
behaviour.

Kathy D's points about parental expectations for labor and birth, and about
the typical progression of pitocin through epidural and other interferences,
are right on the money. And indeed, in a hospital with sufficiently
excellent pro-BFing practices, many of the potential difficulties may be
overcome, so that the interference w/"normal" can be corrected eventually.
But what a half-rearended approach!

HOW "baby friendly" can a hospital BE when epidurals are considered a
routine part of childbirth? Isn't the first step in facilitating good BFing
to have a birth that is as little messed-with as possible? I once worked at
a hospital where the OB (a slob) pretty routinely "nicked" women's bladders
when doing a C/S or hysterectomy - his pts were treated w/antibx. post-op
and eventually were just fine, but what kind of a way is that to do
business?!

Our anesthesiologists here routinely assure women that oh no, the epidural
has no negative effects on the baby. The OBs leave that stuff to anesthesia.
Neither one of them sees the mother/baby in the days & wks. afterwards to
have any idea what's going on with them re: BFing, and because there are no
studies in the journals *they* read, how would they have a clue? (Another
job for us LCs!)

Cathy Bargar RN, IBCLC Ithaca NY (really worked up because I'm now working
with YET ANOTHER lovely mom & 3-day old baby that doesn't have a clue, and
yes, she did have an intrathecal after she was assured that...) Maybe it's
the *anesthesiologists* who should employ an IBCLC in their practices, not
just the pedis & family practice guys!

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