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Labor Epidural Anesthesia, Obstetric Factors and Breastfeeding Cessation

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Abstract

Breastfeeding benefits both infant and maternal health. Use of epidural anesthesia during labor is increasingly common and may interfere with breastfeeding. Studies analyzing epidural anesthesia’s association with breastfeeding outcomes show mixed results; many have methodological flaws. We analyzed potential associations between epidural anesthesia and overall breast-feeding cessation within 30 days postpartum while adjusting for standard and novel covariates and uniquely accounting for labor induction. A pooled analysis using Kaplan–Meier curves and modified Cox Proportional Hazard models included 772 breastfeeding mothers from upstate New York who had vaginal term births of healthy singleton infants. Subjects were drawn from two cohort studies (recruited postpartum between 2005 and 2008) and included maternal self-report and maternal and infant medical record data. Analyses of potential associations between epidural anesthesia and overall breastfeeding cessation within 1 month included additional covariates and uniquely accounted for labor induction. After adjusting for standard demographics and intrapartum factors, epidural anesthesia significantly predicted breastfeeding cessation (hazard ratio 1.26 [95 % confidence interval 1.10, 1.44], p < 0.01) as did hospital type, maternal age, income, education, planned breastfeeding goal, and breastfeeding confidence. In post hoc analyses stratified by Baby Friendly Hospital (BFH) status, epidural anesthesia significantly predicted breastfeeding cessation (BFH: 1.19 [1.01, 1.41], p < 0.04; non-BFH: 1.65 [1.31, 2.08], p < 0.01). A relationship between epidural anesthesia and breastfeeding was found but is complex and involves institutional, clinical, maternal and infant factors. These findings have implications for clinical care and hospital policies and point to the need for prospective studies.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the outstanding assistance provided by Barbara Suter, RN, MPH who coordinated the recruitment and data collection for the TS-1388 project, along with Alice Nelson, Holly Widanka, MA and Jennie Clement who supervised detailed medical record abstraction used for these analyses, the invaluable data management work of Joseph Duckett and the essential input from Dr. Vanessa Stevens on use of the time varying analysis. Data collection funded by: ATPM Cooperative agreement with Centers for Disease Control, Baby-Friendly’s impact on duration and exclusivity; T-1267 (2004–2006); and Prenatal and Peer Breastfeeding Support: Linking Participant Exposure to Results; TS-1388 (2007–2008). Data analysis funded by: NIH PHS Grant # RO1-HD055191, Community Partnership for Breastfeeding Promotion and Support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, University of Rochester, 265 Crittenden Blvd CU 420644, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA

    Ann M. Dozier

  2. Departments of Pediatrics and Community and Preventive Medicine and Rochester General Hospital, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA

    Cynthia R. Howard

  3. Department of Neonatology, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Hartford, CT, USA

    Elizabeth A. Brownell

  4. Departments of Anesthesiology and Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA

    Richard N. Wissler

  5. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA

    J. Christopher Glantz

  6. College of Pharmacy, St. John Fisher, Pittsford, NY, USA

    Sharon R. Ternullo

  7. Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA

    Kelly N. Thevenet-Morrison

  8. Department of Psychology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA

    Cynthia K. Childs

  9. Departments of Pediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA

    Ruth A. Lawrence

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  1. Ann M. Dozier
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Correspondence to Ann M. Dozier.

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Dozier, A.M., Howard, C.R., Brownell, E.A. et al. Labor Epidural Anesthesia, Obstetric Factors and Breastfeeding Cessation. Matern Child Health J 17, 689–698 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-012-1045-4

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