Most women who give birth in America today use some form of drugs for pain relief. In some hospitals the epidural rate is as high as 90 percent or more. When an epidural is administered, a needle filled with synthetic cocaine is inserted into the epidural space of a woman's spine. The epidural and other commonly used drugs such as stadol and morphine, which are usually given intravenously, contribute to breastfeeding failure in several ways.
Cesarean surgery inhibits women from breastfeeding for several reasons.
The pain from such major surgery prevents many mothers from getting into a comfortable position to nurse. Pain medication may make a mother drowsy and uninterested in nursing. She may also suffer loss of confidence in her body's natural abilities. Other side effects, such as drowsiness and reduced muscle tone, may lead to sucking problems or a lethargic baby and create difficult obstacles to overcome when both mother and baby need to learn to nurse. Additionally, mothers who have had an epidural for pain relief are more likely to suffer postpartum fever, which is often construed as a sign of infection.