Hi
Can someone help? I need to resubscribe from the Christmas break and
don't know how to
Elaine
Barbara Glare & Chris Bright wrote:
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Shortcut to: http://www.theaustr alian.news. com.au/story/
0,20867,20905801 -2702,00. html
<http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20905801-2702,00.html>
Epidural babies can't get grip on what's breast
David King
December 11, 2006
WOMEN who give birth with the aid of pain-relieving epidurals find it
harder to breastfeed than those who give birth naturally, an
Australian study has found.
The research suggests some of the drugs used in epidurals make their
way into babies' bloodstreams, subtly affecting their brains and
development for weeks afterwards -- including making them less willing
to breastfeed. The study by University of Sydney epidemiologist
Siranda Torvaldsen adds to a growing body of knowledge that makes a
link between the use of the pain-killing drug fentanyl in epidurals
and problems with breastfeeding. During an epidural a catheter is
inserted into the spine to allow the infusion of pain-killing drugs.
These deaden the nerves that relay sensations of pain from the lower
body.
In a commentary on the research, published today in International
Breastfeeding Journal, British scientist Sue Jordan suggests the
impact of epidurals on breastfeeding should be officially classed as
an "adverse drug reaction". Dr Jordan, senior lecturer in applied
therapeutics at Swansea University, said women given the infusions
should be offered extra support to stop their infants being
"disadvantaged by this hidden, but far-reaching, adverse drug reaction".
Dr Torvaldsen and her colleagues studied 1280 women who had given
birth in the ACT, of whom 416 had an epidural. They found that 93 per
cent of the women breastfed their baby in the first week, but those
who had received epidurals generally had more difficulty in the days
immediately after birth.
By the time six months had passed, the women who had been given
epidurals were twice as likely to have stopped breast-feeding, even
after allowing for factors such as maternal age and education. The
authors suggest the most likely cause of the problem was fentanyl, an
opioid widely used as one of the components of epidurals. Such drugs
pass quickly into the bloodstream and easily cross the placenta to
reach the unborn baby.
Dr Torvaldsen said she conducted the research after speaking to
lactation consultants who had noticed that since the addition of
fentanyl in epidurals they had seen more women having problems
breastfeeding.
She said her research added to other studies in the area, particularly
a Canadian study that examined fentanyl dosages and breastfeeding
outcomes. The Canadian study of 177 mothers found they were less
likely to be breastfeeding if they had been given an epidural with
fentanyl. Joy Heads, a lactation consultant at Sydney's Royal Hospital
for Women, said similar problems had been seen when the pain-killer
pethidine had been given to mothers in late stages of labour.
She said some newborn babies had lost their "sucking co-ordination" if
the mother had an intra-muscular injection of the pethidine in the
last half hour of a normal delivery.
Additional reporting: Sunday Times
Barb Glare
Counsellor, ABA Warrnambool Group
Mum of Zac, 13, Dan, 11, Cassie, 8 and Guan 3
Director, ABA and Mothers Direct
[EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
www.mothersdirect.com.au <http://www.mothersdirect.com.au>
Have you bought your 2007 calendar yet?
--
Elaine Jefford
Senior Lecturer - Nursing
School of Health Sciences
Division of Health, Design and Science
University of Canberra ACT 2601
Phone: + 61 (0) 2 6201 5380
Fax: + 61 (0) 2 6201 5128
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Australian Government Higher Education Registered Provider (CRICOS): #00212K
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