drugs in labor
Epidurals may affect baby's abilty to breastfeed. Researchers
found that 93 percent of the women in the study breast-fed
their baby in the first week after birth. However, women
who had an epidural were significantly more likely to have
difficulty breast-feeding during the first few days after
delivery and to breast-feed less often than other women.
In an accompanying commentary, Sue Jordan, senior lecturer
in applied therapeutics at Swansea University, said that
the effect of opioids and epidurals on breast-feeding should
be regarded as an "adverse drug reaction." She called for "extra
support to be offered to the most vulnerable women, to ensure
that their infants are not disadvantaged by this hidden,
but far-reaching, adverse drug reaction."
http://www.healthfinder.gov/news/newsstory.asp?docID=536503
Epidurals may increase pain to baby during birth. Women
who receive epidurals to ease labor pains may be increasing
discomfort for their newborns, according to a study published
in Pediatrics. The study says that epidural's can cause fevers
in mothers during childbirth, which, in turn, causes doctors
to test newborns for blood and tissue infections (sepsis),
and to treat the newborns with antibiotics. Of babies born
to 1,047 women, 34 % needed an evaluation for sepsis, as
compared to less than 10 % of babies born to mothers who
had no epidural. Newborns whose mothers had received an epidural
were four times as likely to be treated with antibiotics
because doctors were concerned about the possibility of sepsis.
However, babies of women who received an epidural were not
more likely to actually have infections, which was very rare
in both groups.
Lieberman
E, Lang JM, Frigoletto F Jr, Richardson DK, Ringer SA, Cohen A, Epidural
analgesia, intrapartum fever, and neonatal sepsis evaluation., Pediatrics
1997; 99(3): 415-9 / Medline ID: 97193713
Epidurals lead to additional interventions. From the archives
of Gynecology and Obstetrics, comes this
study on epidurals. It shows that women undergoing epidural analgesia
demonstrated a prolonged second stage of labour, a higher rate of episiotomy
and an increased use of oxytocin to augment labour. These results are not
so new, they have been shown in numerous studies previously and this study
is just another confirmation of the intervening effects of using epidurals.
The conclusion of this study, however is where I become most perplexed. Because
it does not compromise integrity to the woman's woman's birth canal, it's
ok!! Will they ever get it!?
http://www.pediatriclinx.com/thearts.cfm?artid=455912&specid=6&ok=yes
The effect of epidural analgesia on the occurrence of obstetric lacerations
and on the neonatal outcome during spontaneous vaginal delivery
Women undergoing epidural analgesia demonstrated a prolonged second stage of
labour, a higher rate of episiotomy and an increased use of oxytocin to augment
labour. Some of these adverse effects might be caused by the higher rate of
primiparous women using epidural analgesia.
Archives
of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Abstract Volume 267 Issue 2 (2002) pp 81-84
DOI 10.1007/s00404-001-0280-5
Epidurals lead to greater intervention in vaginal deliveries.
Infants born to mothers after a trial of labor are twice as likely to undergo
diagnostic tests and therapeutic interventions than infants born after an elective
repeat cesarean section, but the increase occurred only in the subgroup of
infants whose mothers received epidural analgesia for pain relief during labor.
The higher rate of intervention could relate to the well-documented increase
in intrapartum fever that occurs with epidural use.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=
Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=12752164&query_hl=6&itool=pubmed_docsum
Drug-Free Childbirth Prevents Repeat C-Section
While inducing labor with medication poses dangers for all deliveries, it's
especially hazardous for women who have had previous Caesarean sections,
researchers report. The study enrolled 179 women with a history of C-section.
Of the 57 who had their labor induced, 57.9% had successful vaginal deliveries,
compared with 77.1% of those who did not use labor-inducing drugs. Among
women who went into labor spontaneously, those who used oxytocin had a 64.5%
chance of avoiding C-section, compared with 87.5% of mothers who did not
use oxytocin. For mothers who delivered via C-section in the past, inducing
labor not only ups the risk of repeat C-section but also multiplies the odds
of uterine rupture.
Sims EJ, Newman RB, Hulsey TC Vaginal
birth after cesarean: to induce or not to induce. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2001;
184(6):1122-4.
Effect of Labor Epidural Anesthesia on Breast-Feeding
from Journal of the American Board of Family
Practice
This study concluded that there was a significant relationship between epidurals
in labor and a decrease for breasfeeding success.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/449424_s
Is
there risk of pressure damage after epidural anaesthesia?
This study examines the increased risk of pressure ulcers to the mother following
epidural administartion for labor.
http://www.worldwidewounds.com/2001/september/Hughes/Obstetric-Care-and-Pressure-Damage.html#aetiology-pressure-damage
Drugs During Labor Make Future Addicts
Scientists have discovered that women who take pain medication during labor
may be upping their children's odds of future drug dependency.
The study compared 69 drug-abusing subjects with 33 of their siblings who did
not abuse drugs. Subjects whose mothers took three or more doses of opiates
or barbiturates during childbirth were 4.7 times more likely to develop drug
abuse problems than were subjects whose mothers did not rely on pain medication
during their birth.
Nyber K, Buka SL, Lipsitt LP Perinatal
medication as a potential risk factor for adult drug abuse in a North American
cohort Epidemiology 2000 (Nov);11(6):715-716
Side effects of Epidurals:
http://www.childbirth.org/articles/sideeppi.html
http://www.transitiontoparenthood.com/ttp/foreducators/ceinfo/Side%20Effects%202.htm
http://www.transitiontoparenthood.com/ttp/parented/pain/epiduralfx.htm
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0838/is_2000_March-April/ai_60072813
http://parenting.ivillage.com/pregnancy/plabor/0,,midwife_47nx,00.html
http://www.lalecheleague.org/ba/Nov99.html
Read more about the effects of drugs in labor:
The
Epidural Epidemic
Just Say No
to Drugs
Search
Midwifery Today Archives : Epidurals
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2276595.stm