• A Albani, P Addamo, A Renghi, G Voltolin, L Peano, and G Ivani.
• Ospedale Generale della Valle d'Aosta. albani@aostanet.com
• Minerva Anestesiol. 1999 Sep 1;65(9):625-30.

BackgroundTo evaluate the influence of regional techniques of anesthesia and analgesia on breastfeeding rate after cesarean section and vaginal delivery.MethodsStudy Designprospective, area-based.SettingObstetrics and Pediatrics Department at Aosta Valley Regional Hospital.Subjectsall the mothers and their newborns during a three-year period (1993-1995). Maternal wish to breastfeed was the main inclusion criterion. Data recorded: feeding modality at discharge, anesthesia and analgesia modality, maternal/neonatal socio-demographic and clinical data.Results2725 records were examined, among them 1920 vaginal deliveries and 355 cesarean sections were statistically analyzed. chi 2 analysis showed a significant greater incidence of breastfeeding after cesarean section under regional anesthesia (spinal or epidural) versus general anesthesia: 95% vs 85.5%, p = 0.002. Breastfeeding rate was not different after vaginal delivery with epidural analgesia versus delivery without analgesia: 96.5% vs 97.8%. Logistic regression confirmed the positive role of regional anesthesia and few other maternal and neonatal variables on breastfeeding rate after cesarean section.ConclusionsRegional anesthesia seems to be advantageous for breastfeeding after cesarean section, probably because of a faster neonatal-maternal bonding if compared with general anesthesia. Epidural analgesia for vaginal delivery does not adversely affects breastfeeding if compared with delivery without analgesia.

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