Anesthesia, Epidural, Breast Feeding
Conditions
Brief summary
Currently, no clear consensus exists regarding the effect of epidural anesthesia upon breast-feeding. In theory, epidurals may increase breast-feeding failure via inadequate maternal milk production, deficiencies in neonatal neurobehavior, or both, but most studies have failed to separate these potential mechanisms. The present study examines whether epidural duration correlates with 1) likelihood of breast-feeding at hospital discharge and 2) neonatal neurobehavioral deficits in feeding, as measured by the L&A components of the standardized, validated LATCH scoring system.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
RETROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Inclusion criteria
* Vaginal delivery * Delivery of a single live neonate
Exclusion criteria
* NICU admission following delivery * Pitocin augmentation
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Breast-Feeding at Hospital Discharge | Baseline | This outcome variable is binary. If a woman is breast-feeding with bottle supplementation at the time of hospital discharge, then she is recorded as Yes. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| L&A Components of LATCH Score | Baseline | The L component of the score measures neonatal ability to latch at the breast and the A component measures the presence of audible swallows, which are variables that reflect neonatal neurobehavioral capacity with respect to feeding. |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed