Intrapartum Epidural Fentanyl and Breast-feeding in the Immediate Postpartum Period: a Prospective Cohort Study

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Intrapartum epidural analgesia has been associated with adverse breastfeeding outcomes. One potential mechanism involves transfer of epidural fentanyl across the placenta and neonatal blood-brain barrier, where it can subsequently attenuate neonatal exhibition of feeding behaviors, such as latching and swallowing, during the immediate postpartum period. Vigorous feeding behavior during the first days of life is a significant predictor of long-term breastfeeding success at 3 and 6 months. In a randomized, controlled, double-blinded study, neonatal Neurologic and Adaptive Capacity Scores (NACS) were significantly lower when mothers received >150 mcg epidural fentanyl versus bupivacaine-only analgesia, and mean umbilical cord fentanyl concentration was significantly higher in the >150 mcg versus <150 mcg group. The investigators hypothesize that epidural fentanyl-bupivacaine analgesia is significantly associated with decreased breastfeeding rates at hospital discharge and with neonatal deficits in latching onto the breast and swallowing during the first three hours of life, and that a significant dose-response relationship exists with respect to total micrograms fentanyl infused. The investigators will perform a prospective cohort study of all parturients age 18+ at UHCMC over a three-month period, excluding those with multiples gestation, Cesarean section, or neonatal intensive care unit admission. From patient charts, the investigators will record the following variables: number of neonates delivered; type of delivery (spontaneous vaginal / operative vaginal / Cesarean section); whether the neonate was admitted to the intensive care unit; the mother's age, height, weight, gravity, parity, intention to breast-feed at the time of hospital admission, number of children previously breast-fed, and ethnicity; gestational age at the time of delivery; administration of oxytocin for labor augmentation and in what quantity; duration of active labor; antibiotic administration; neonatal APGAR scores at 1 and 5 minutes postpartum; and whether opioids or antibiotics were administered before and/or after the delivery and at what exact time. We will also record whether each patient received an epidural during labor and, if so, the duration of this epidural infusion and the total micrograms fentanyl delivered; neonatal feeding behavior as quantified by the LATCH scores assigned to each breast-feeding interaction that occurs on the postpartum care floor; whether the mother is breast-feeding her baby at the time of discharge from the hospital, and if not, then her primary reason for not doing so (as communicated during the standard postpartum lactation consultation); and how long mother and baby stayed in the hospital post-delivery.

Official Title
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Intrapartum Epidural Fentanyl and Breast-feeding in the Immediate Postpartum Period: a Prospective Cohort Study

Conditions
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Maternal Anaesthesia and Analgesia Affecting Fetus or Newborn, Breast Feeding, Fentanyl, Bupivacaine, Nalbuphine

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: age 18 or over Exclusion Criteria: multiples gestation Cesarean section neonatal intensive care unit admission

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Recipients of intrapartum epidural analgesia<br> | |
| Non-recipients of intrapartum epidural analgesia<br> | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Neonatal deficiency in latching on to the breast and/or audibly swallowing during feeding | Measured by the standardized LATCH scoring system | First 5 hours postpartum | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Likelihood of breast-feeding at the time of hospital discharge, either exclusively or with bottle supplementation |  | Time of discharge from hospital (on average, 2 days) | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Fentanyl, Bupivacaine, Nalbuphine