OK my blood is at an absolute boil, so I will wait a couple of days to
respond to this doctor. Plus, I'd like to get your input first.
Would anyone like to help me take this guy on? You can read my webpage on
epidurals at
http://sites.netscape.net/mariedavisrnclc/epidural.htm
also at
http://hometown.aol.com/davisrnclc/myhomepage/epidural.htm
If you can't get to it I can send you a copy. Let me know.
I think my web site presents the other, not so rosey, side of epidurals but I
do not believe that it is inaccurate. If it is I will gladly "repair it."
Marsha Walker, Dr. Jack, anybody?
<< From <snip>
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Epidurals
The information you present in the section on epidurals on your website is
largely biased and inaccurate. It is misinformation such as this, cloaked
under
a guise of authoritative writing, that weakens the usefulness of the internet.
I would love to see your reference the statement that “The epidural rate in
most
U.S. Hospitals is in excess of 85%.”. I have worked in a number of
non-obstetric hospitals where the epidural rate no where near approaches 60%.
You state “Once the epidural is started, the mother is confined to bed and
cannot turn or change positions easily.” Have you ever heard of “walking
epidurals”?
“Anesthesiologists may require infusion of two or more liters of I.V. fluids
before the epidural and use further I.V. fluids throughout the labor. This
leads to generalized edema in both the mother and the infant. Lactation
consultants report a type of maternal areolar edema peculiar to epidurals that
makes latch-on difficult, if not impossible.” Who are these anesthesiologists
and where do they practice? Two liters? Where are the reports in the
peer-reviewed medical literature of the maternal areolar edema which is so
closely associated with the use of epidural anesthesia? What is a “lactation
consultants”? What is their educational background? What study do they
undertake to become a lactation consultant?
“No study to date has looked at the effects of the epidural itself on the
ability breastfeed.” A true statement, I’ll agree. “Lactation consultants
and
hospital staff have noted that these babies are lethargic and have
uncoordinated
suck-swallow patterns for days after birth resulting in poor milk transfer
leading to excessive neonatal weight loss. Mothers exhibit problems secondary
to poor latch on and suckling difficulties: sore nipples, engorgement, low
milk
supply, plugged ducts and mastitis.” Wow!! Epidurals do all of this?? But
you
state that there are no studies that have looked at this. It seems you have
no
difficulty with anecdotal “proof” that epidurals lead to the above problems.
I really pity the poor uneducated sole that comes across your website and
takes
what you have written as fact. I was searching the internet for helpful
information I could use to put together a pamphlet discussing epidural
anesthesia. Yours is one of the more poorly researched and most heavily
biased
sites I have come across so far.
M<snip> F. M<snip>, M.D.
Diplomate, American Board Of Anesthesiology>>
~~~~~
I will send you he email address if you want to reply personally, but since
this is a public forem I though I should post neither his name nor email
address. (I know you all would flood him with mail)
Reply privately (as well as to the list) [log in to unmask]
Marie Davis, RN, IBCLC
http://sites.netscape.net/mariedavisrnclc/index.htm
also at
http://hometown.aol.com/davisrnclc/myhomepage/index.htm
***********************************************
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
|
