Marsha sends us this depressing article URL:

> The second is on use of epidurals and some supposedly good effect they have
> on acid/base balance in newborns.  The article concludes with this
> statement by the authors, "It is important to dispel the notion than
> epidural analgesia is in some way harmful to babies".  Here's the link,
> http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/448361?mpid=9185
>
Part of what it says:

<<Epidural analgesia was associated with a higher fetal base excess than was
systemic opioid analgesia. In contrast with the fetal pH findings, this held
true whether the analysis included data from all studies or was limited to
data from randomized studies."Expectant mothers can be reassured that,
although epidural analgesia may be associated with short-term maternal side
effects, it does not exacerbate fetal acidosis, and if anything, may
partially protect the fetus from fetal hypoxia," the authors note. "It is
important to dispel the notion than epidural analgesia is in some way harmful
to babies," they add.>>

Hey WAIT A MINUTE!  Notice that the comparison is between epidural analgesia
and systemic opid analgesia.  What happened to comparing an intervention with
NO intervention?  That is, how about looking at this acid/base balance in
babies whose mothers were brave enough to actually birth without any
interventions???

Of course, that number in our hospital would be so small that they would have
to run the study for 10 years to get enough control subjects.  And we do
3500+ deliveries per year.

Sigh.

Jan Barger, RN, MA, IBCLC, RLC
Lactation Education Consultants
www.lactationeducationconsultants.com

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