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Intrapartum Epidural Analgesia and Onset of Lactation: A Prospective Study in an Italian Birth Centre

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Abstract

The Objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between epidural analgesia (EDA) in labor and the onset of lactation in healthy women after birth. In a Regional Perinatal Center in northern Italy, women who had had a vaginal delivery were recruited by convenience sampling. Analyses were carried out on the data of 366 women. 209 women received EDA and 157 women did not receive EDA or any other pharmacological analgesia. A structured follow-up was carried out interviewing women by telephone after 5 days and, a second time, 20 days after delivery. The primary outcome was the time (in hours) of the onset of lactation. Timing of the onset of lactation in the EDA and non-EDA groups did not statistically differ (p = 0.15), although the non-EDA group was more likely to initiate breastfeeding. On the basis of the results of this study, we concluded that intrapartum EDA does not have an effect on delays in the onset of lactation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Manfredo Fanti, 6, 20122, Milan, MI, Italy

    Paola Agnese Mauri

  2. The Barrat Maternity Home, Northampton General Hospital, NHS Trust, Cliftonville, Northampton, NN1 5BD, UK

    Norma Nilde Guerrini Contini

  3. Unit of Mother, Child and Newborn Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via della Commenda, 12, 20122, Milan, Italy

    Simona Giliberti, Mariangela Negri & Irene Di Benedetto

  4. Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via S. Barnaba, 8, 20122, Milan, Italy

    Francesco Barretta

  5. Unit of Mother, Child and Newborn Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via S. Barnaba, 8, 20122, Milan, Italy

    Dario Consonni

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  1. Paola Agnese Mauri
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  2. Norma Nilde Guerrini Contini
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Correspondence to Paola Agnese Mauri.

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Mauri, P.A., Contini, N.N.G., Giliberti, S. et al. Intrapartum Epidural Analgesia and Onset of Lactation: A Prospective Study in an Italian Birth Centre. Matern Child Health J 19, 511–518 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-014-1532-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-014-1532-x

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