 News
12th December 2006
Epidurals may affect breastfeeding
Women who have epidurals during labour and birth may have problems breastfeeding
their baby.
Researchers from the University of Sydney found that these
women had more problems breastfeeding in the first week after delivery
and tended to stop breastfeeding earlier than women who had not had an
epidural.
The researchers looked at 1,300 women who gave birth in
1997 and think that a chemical in the anaesthetic used for epidurals might
be to blame.
Alternatively, it could be that women who did not have an
epidural persevered longer with breastfeeding.
In the study group, 93 per cent breastfed their babies but
by 24 weeks while 75 per cent of mothers without analgesia were still
breastfeeding, this had dropped to 53 per cent in those who had epidurals.
The researchers, led by Dr Siranda Torvaldsen, said, "There
is a growing body of evidence that the fentanyl component of epidurals
may be associated with sleepy infants and difficult establishing breastfeeding.
"Whatever the underlying mechanism, it is important that
women who are at higher risk of breastfeeding cessation are provided with
adequate breastfeeding assistance and support, both in the initial postpartum
period and the following few months."
Pat O'Brien, a spokesman for the Royal College of Obstetricians
and Gynaecologists, said it was possible that fentanyl had an effect on
the baby but urged women not to worry.
"There are other factors which may explain this link,
including that if a woman chooses not to have an epidural, she may also
be more motivated to persevere with breastfeeding," he said.
"Also, a lot of those women who had epidurals also went
on to have Caesarean sections which - unless you have a lot of support
- make it difficult to breastfeed because it's harder for women to pick
their babies up.
"For a woman who wants an epidural, there are a wide range
of obvious benefits, and although the findings of this study are interesting
and warrant further investigation, it is so far a theoretical concern."
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