Epidurals and subsequent breastfeeding probs

**Tam-I-Am** · 11-12-2006 13:23

I came across this article in the Australian....Very interesting stuff. I'm now beginning to understand why it is that I had soooo much trouble breastfeeding my baby - and I'm disgusted that I was told the the drugs used in the epidural don't cross the placenta.

OM · 11-12-2006 13:28

Originally Posted by Tam-I-Am

and I'm disgusted that I was told the the drugs used in the epidural don't cross the placenta.

I too was told that the epidural would not cross the placenta and only discovered the truth once my little man was born and was completely drugged out - I was not impressed at all

**Shanaynay** · 11-12-2006 13:41

Wow - I was also under the impression that Epidurals had no effect on the baby...

**draught** · 11-12-2006 15:02

I didn't know that but my own experience was that with my first two births I had epidurals and my milk didn't come in until day 4/5 - with DS I had no epidural and my milk was in by day 3 - and the only thing I could work out that was different was the epidural - so my experience certainly holds it true!

**nats** · 11-12-2006 15:15

OMG!
This rings so true. DS wouldn't suck well at all at first also I was unwilling to feed him at length because I had a stinking Post Dural Puncture Headache so I couldn't stay upright for long.
Also DS would sleep for 6 hours feed a bit then sleep again. Untill I started waking him to feed every 2 hours.
(made up for it now though! H'es 10wks old and 6.75 kg

**WeloveHarriet** · 11-12-2006 15:15

I must have been lucky because even with epi I was fine - milk came in on day 3. I was more worried about the pethidine because had been explained that this crosses over to the baby.

OM · 11-12-2006 15:19

Originally Posted by WeloveHarriet

I was more worried about the pethidine because had been explained that this crosses over to the baby.

I too was very worried about Pethidine which is why I refused the pethidine and then went to the epidural thinking it was better for my baby.

**Sarie** · 11-12-2006 15:23

Originally Posted by Oscar's mum

I too was very worried about Pethidine which is why I refused the pethidine and then went to the epidural thinking it was better for my baby.

I don't have to worry about epis as they don't work on me anyway, but I had peth with DS1 and I would never have it again. DS1 and I both had a severe reaction to it, we were both put on oxygen and our heart rates droped dramatically.
I hardly used any gas last time, so I'd be really chuffed if I didn't need it at all this time.

OM · 11-12-2006 15:26

What is the normal time frame for your milk to come in after the birth anyway?

**stellarella** · 11-12-2006 17:43

I was well aware that ALL drugs cross the placenta, hence my very strong ANTI-drug stance...well! that was until I had been in labour for 32 hours!!!

Im surprised some mothers are told it doesnt cross the placenta!!

Shame on the care providers who gave incorrect information on this important topic.

I luckily had no BFing problems at all. The BC I gave birth in were very supportive of BFing with most middies being LC's aswell!! I put DS to the breast straight away and he was fine from then on. My milk came in on day 3.

It may have had something to with the amount of time I had my epi....about 1 hr before it was turned off for pushing.

Pethidine is worse for bub, so you are doing something positive for bub if you have an epi rather than peth, however as we have discovered, none is always better than some.

Although I had a good experience with BF after an epi, I will always try to avoid an epi in subsequent births, Even to the point of planning home births next time.