Considering an epidural? Here is what you MUST know!

Establishing a proper breastfeeding ritual is a challenge in itself and now epidural also stands to be one of the reasons.

By: Debjani Arora | | Updated: December 14, 2015 7:36 pm

These days many mothers prefer to breastfeed their children exclusively for at least the first six months complying with the WHO guidelines. Though breastfeeding might happen naturally to many women, at times, there are a lot of hurdles new mothers face. Here are 10 things you should never do while breastfeeding. Also Read - Pregnancy week-by-week guide -- what to expect during the entire 40 weeks

Also Read - Yoga during pregnancy: How is it beneficial?

While most experts believe that a vaginal delivery can help a mother cope better with stress and strain of labour, the inclusion of assisted support such as an epidural and pain medication can have a negative impact. Here are 12 ways to induce labour naturally. Also Read - Everything you need to know about epidural explained by an expert

According to Effath Yasmin, internationally certified lactation expert and the founder of Nourish & Nurture lactation care and parenting education, The birthing experience of both the mother and baby has an effect on the breastfeeding experience as well. This is why it is necessary to plan for a birth without obstetric violence. Too much noise, harsh lights, medical interventions such as and epidural, suction, pain medication all of these have an impact on the baby, which isn t very soothing. The transition from the womb to the world needs to be gentle. Here are tips for a new mother to bond with her child.

A study done on 6,410 new mothers from 59 countries found that women who took an epidural during labour had faced some problems during breastfeeding. It was also seen that postpartum depression increased in such women due to lack of enough skin-to-skin contact with the baby which is established through breastfeeding. During the study, other factors that could lead to postpartum depression were taken into consideration such as a history of depression and sexual assault; income and education level; and the other birth interventions (apart from epidural). The study concluded that when all these factors were ruled out or controlled, mothers who took epidural faced breastfeeding issues such as low milk supply, problems with latching etc., which in turn aggravated postpartum depression. Here are six ways to fight baby blues post childbirth.

Ideally, you should plan for a gentle birth well in advance and if you need to take an epidural speak to your doctor about its pros and cons.

If you have breastfeeding issues after taking an epidural here are few things you should do:

In case you have problems regarding breastfeeding try and contact a lactation expert for help.

Don t give up on breastfeeding too early, continuous efforts can help your milk glands to work better and secrete more milk for your child.

Ask your lactation expert for help and learn the ways in which you can stimulate milk production like using a breast pump for suction or trying a different position. The lactation consultant will be able to help.

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Published : December 14, 2015 1:49 pm | Updated:December 14, 2015 7:36 pm

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