Background: The effect of labor analgesia on breastfeeding success is not w
ell defined Some authors have hypothesized that labor analgesia may affect
lactation success. The purpose of this observational study was to determine
if intrapartum analgesia influenced breastfeeding success at 6 weeks postp
artum in a setting that strongly supported breastfeeding. Methods: Healthy
women with uncomplicated term pregnancies who planned to breastfeed consent
ed to a telephone interview. We recorded demographic data, labor induction
status, delivery mode, and analgesic medications. Ar between 6 and 8 weeks
postpartum, patients were asked to describe breastfeeding use, problems enc
ountered, solutions derived, sources of support and information, and satisf
action. We created a logistic regression model using intrapartum analgesia
information and controlling for demographic factors previously correlated w
ith lactation success. Results: We enrolled 189 women, contacted 177 women
postpartum, and obtained complete data on 171 women. Of these, 59 percent r
eceived epidural analgesia, 72 percent breastfed fully, and 20 percent brea
stfed partially (> 50% of infant nutrition) at 6 weeks postpartum. After co
ntrolling for demographics and labor outcome, we could not demonstrate a co
rrelation between breastfeeding success at 6 to 8 weeks and labor analgesia
. Conclusions: In a hospital that strongly promotes breastfeeding, epidural
labor analgesia with local anesthetics and opioids does nor impede breastf
eeding success. We recommend that hospitals that find decreased lactation s
uccess in parturients receiving epidural analgesia reexamine their postdeli
very care policies.