Sender: |
|
Date: |
Mon, 17 May 1999 09:58:15 -0500 |
Reply-To: |
|
Subject: |
|
MIME-Version: |
1.0 |
Content-Transfer-Encoding: |
7bit |
Content-Type: |
text/plain; charset=us-ascii |
Organization: |
Sinai Health System |
From: |
|
Parts/Attachments: |
|
|
I receive an email newsletter and this was in this week's issue. Very
interesting as related to breastfeeding.
MK Smith, CLE, IBCLC
Romeoville, IL
= = = = = =
Caine Derivatives in Epidurals
The Physician's Desk Reference (PDR) states the following about the
Caine
derivatives used in epidurals: "Local anesthetics rapidly cross the
placenta (by passive diffusion) and when used for epidural blocks,
anesthesia can cause varying degrees of maternal, fetal and neonatal
toxicity. Adverse reactions in the mother and baby involve alteration of
the central nervous system, periperal vascular tone and cardiac
function."
On average, 70 percent of women receiving an epidural during labor
experience side effects. The PDR repeatedly states that "no adequate and
well-controlled studies [exist] for use [of these drugs] in pregnant
women"
and that "it is not known whether [these drugs] can cause fetal harm
when
administered to a pregnant woman." The brain and heart of an unborn baby
during labor are vessel-rich, therefore hypoxemia (inadequate oxygen)
and
the resulting lactic acid buildup in the fetal blood during labor and
birth
can increase the uptake of drugs given to the mother by the baby's heart
and brain. -Nancy Griffin, excerpted from "The Epidural Express" in
Birthing magazine, Summer 1998
o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o
Reprinted from Midwifery Today E-News (1:20, May 14, 99: Drugs in Labor)
To subscribe to the E-News write: [log in to unmask]
For all other matters contact Midwifery Today:
PO Box 2672-940, Eugene OR 97402
541-344-7438, [log in to unmask], http://www.midwiferytoday.com
o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o
***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html
|
|
|