Noelle recently inquired about the experience of other LC's with the
effects of ITN vs epidurals on breastfeeding. My hospital does not do
epidurals, but ITN is all the rage, and I haven't read much of anything
on the topic. What are other people seeing out there? Does it make a
difference to breastfeeding?

*  *  *  *

Now, to tell a "horror story". I just did a pump rental for a mom last
week who told me the following story about her birth: According to mom,
she was laboring well, progressing fine, and at 8 cm the anesthesiologist
came around to see if she wanted drugs. Mom says that she didn't ask for
them, but that he "sold" the ITN to her, telling her how much it would
help and that this was her last chance to avoid pain. She went for it.
The first hour was "wonderful", no pain felt, but after that she began to
have a bad reaction to the meds, vomiting and cramping, and her labor
slowed down and *cervix regressed back to 3 cm*. As mom was too sick to
labor and get this baby out, and as distress began to develop, she was
sectioned. Mom told me this story very calmly and swore she would never
accept labor drugs again. Fortunately for her, baby latched on to the
breast very nicely and nursing was a charm; I am so glad that this worked
out after all she went through!  So I can certainly vouche for "side
effects" and "induced complications" for labor; anyone got stuff on bfg
impact?

-Lisa

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Lisa Marasco, BA, LLLL, IBCLC
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