Epidurals are frequently given to women during labour to ease the pain of the birthing process. Up to a third of British women giving birth are routinely given epidurals in which 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 and legs.
Australian researchers have found that a chemical fentanyl found in the pethidine anaesthetic causes problems with lactation within the first week after childbirth.
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This could explain why 55% of the mothers are unable to breast feed, giving up within six weeks of birth. More than a third of Women give up within a week saying there babies simply refuse to breast feed.
Writing in a international breastfeeding journal, Sue Jordan, senior lecturer applied therapeutics at Swansea University says woman give the infusions should be offered extra support to stop their infants being
disadvantage by this hidden, but far-reaching adverse drug reaction.
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