Epidurals do not encourage Breastfeeding

In a study published today in the International Breastfeeding Journal suggests that mothers who had epidurals during child-birth are likely to have babies who are sleepy and less willing to breastfeed.

Epidurals have been very popular in childbirth during the last ten years. In the United Kingdom, about 40 out of 100 women are given epidurals to relieve child-birth associated pains. Using drugs injected through a catheter in the spine, epidurals remove all sensation from the lower part of the body.

Researchers at the Sydney University, headed by Siranda Torvaldsen, studied 1,280 women who gave birth; among them are 416 who used epidurals. The results showed that 93 percent of the women breastfed their babies in the first week but those who had epidurals experienced some difficulties. After six months, only 53 percent of the women who had epidurals are breastfeeding compared to 72 percent of those who had given birth naturally.

The research is pinpointing the epidural drug component fentanyl. The drug supposedly crosses over to the babies through the placenta. If this is confirmed, experts believe that the impact of epidurals on breast-feeding should be officially classed as an "adverse drug reaction".

Sue Jordan, senior lecturer in applied therapeutics at Swansea University, said "A lot more work needs to be done, but we think that drugs can pass into the baby and make it less coordinated, in the jaw and other areas. This means that it cannot latch on to the mother properly as she tries to initiate breast-feeding. Many mothers get frustrated and simply give up because they think bottle-feeding is easier."

The research encourages mothers to have extra support to overcome breastfeeding frustrations. They should also be warned of the "adverse drug effect" involved when they choose to give birth with epidurals.