Epidural Analgesia During Labor: Impact on Delivery Outcome, Neonatal Well-Being, and Early Breastfeeding

Background: The effect of epidural analgesia on labor and effective breastfeeding is still being debated. The aim of this study is to define its impact on the trend of labor, the newborns' well-being, and early breastfeeding. Methods: We considered first-term physiologic pregnant women who delivered by the vaginal route. We divided them into two groups: Group A received epidural analgesia during labor, whereas Group B received no analgesia. We recorded maternal age, gestational age, modality of delivery, length of labor, and length of active labor. All newborns received skin-to-skin contact; early breastfeeding was encouraged. We recorded data on birth weight and length, Apgar score at minutes 1 and 5, type of crying, neonatal reactivity, and time between birth and exposure to the breast. Statistical significance was considered for p < 0.05. Results: Of 934 pregnant women who delivered by the vaginal route, 317 patients required labor analgesia, and 245 patients agreed to participate in our study. Only 128 patients met inclusion criteria. We randomized them in 64 women in Group A and 64 women in Group B. Data on maternal age, gestational age, type of delivery, neonatal birth weight and length, and Apgar score showed no significant differences. Total length of labor was 363.58 +/- 62.20 minutes in Group A versus 292.30 +/- 64.75 minutes in Group B (p < 0.001). The length of active labor showed no significant difference. Among neonatal parameters we found a statistically significant difference only for length of first breastfeeding, with a mean duration of <30 minutes in 62.2% in Group A versus 29.3% in Group B (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Epidural analgesia has little effect on trend of labor and duration of first breastfeed and none on neonatal outcome. A new protocol of epidural analgesia may solve these side effects.