I don't have time to write about this because I will be late to work,
but here are a few articles from my collection on the effect of
epidurals on neonates.
Later I will tell you about my first impression upon returning to work
in a hospital practice having been out of that realm for ten years.  The
hospital I worked in from 1985-88 was semi private and then you had to
pay for the epidural.  Where I work now the epidural rate is about 90%.

But first articles:
Labor affects cytokine production in newborns.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?uid=9458931&form=6&db=m&Dopt=b

   this discusses the effects of various kinds of labor analgesics on
the immune system of the neonate.

The effects of maternal epidural anesthesia on neonatal
behavior during the first month.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?uid=1451936&form=6&db=m&Dopt=b

The influence of maternal analgesia on neonatal behaviour:
II. Epidural bupivacaine.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?uid=7225300&form=6&db=m&Dopt=b



The effect of lumbar epidural analgesia on the
neurobehavioural responses of newborn infants.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?uid=2718709&form=6&db=m&Dopt=b

Esther Grunis, IBCLC
Lis Maternity Hospital
Tel Aviv, Israel
mailto:[log in to unmask]

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