Labor Medications

MEDICATION EFFECT ON THE NURSING INFANT

Demerol Respiratory depression. Altered behavioral responses for several days or weeks Visual disturbances. Sleepy baby. Poor suckling. Cord levels up to 130% of mother's level. FDA requires warning label that Demerol may have adverse effects on infant (Lawers 177).

Morphine Respiratory depression. Altered behavioral responses for several days or weeks Visual disturbances. Sleepy baby. Poor suckling.

Stadol Respiratory depression. Altered behavioral responses for several days or weeks Visual disturbances. Sleepy baby. Poor suckling

Barbiturates Accumulation in infant's tissues. Respiratory depression. Sleepy baby. Poor suckling.

Vistaril Changes in heart rate. Poor muscle tone. Sleepy baby or restless baby. Increased jaundice.

Valium Poor suckling. Cord blood levels up to 200% of mother's level.

Compazine Changes in heart rate. Low body temperature. Poor muscle tone. Sleepy baby or restless baby. Increased jaundice.

Phenergan Changes in heart rate. Low body temperature. Poor muscle tone. Sleepy baby or restless baby. Increased jaundice.

Pitocin Changes in heart rate. Increased incidence of neonatal jaundice. Increased force of contractions against the infant's head resulting in poor suckling
sleepy baby.

Epidurals *A general request has been made of all interested health care providers for further information and observations (case histories) from health care practitioners. Anecdotal information suggests epidurals appear to interfere with the latch on process (Lee 63). It is not known whether it is the medication or the changes in how labor progresses. (see: The concern over epidurals.)

Lawers, Judith and Candice Woessner. Counseling the Nursing Mother. 2nd ed. Avery Publishing Group, New York 1989: 176-181.
Lee, Nikki. Effect on Infants of Maternal Epidural Anesthesia. J Human Lact 8 (2) 1992: 63.
1 To participate in the preliminary study contact Women's International Public Health Network, 7100 Oak Forrest Lane, Bethesda, MD 20817.

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[index]

Demerol	Respiratory depression. Altered behavioral responses for several days or weeks Visual disturbances. Sleepy baby. Poor suckling. Cord levels up to 130% of mother's level. FDA requires warning label that Demerol may have adverse effects on infant (Lawers 177).

Morphine	Respiratory depression. Altered behavioral responses for several days or weeks Visual disturbances. Sleepy baby. Poor suckling.

Stadol	Respiratory depression. Altered behavioral responses for several days or weeks Visual disturbances. Sleepy baby. Poor suckling

Barbiturates	Accumulation in infant's tissues. Respiratory depression. Sleepy baby. Poor suckling.

Vistaril	Changes in heart rate. Poor muscle tone. Sleepy baby or restless baby. Increased jaundice.

Valium	Poor suckling. Cord blood levels up to 200% of mother's level.

Compazine	Changes in heart rate. Low body temperature. Poor muscle tone. Sleepy baby or restless baby. Increased jaundice.

Phenergan	Changes in heart rate. Low body temperature. Poor muscle tone. Sleepy baby or restless baby. Increased jaundice.

Pitocin	Changes in heart rate. Increased incidence of neonatal jaundice. Increased force of contractions against the infant's head resulting in poor suckling sleepy baby.

Epidurals	*A general request has been made of all interested health care providers for further information and observations (case histories) from health care practitioners. Anecdotal information suggests epidurals appear to interfere with the latch on process (Lee 63). It is not known whether it is the medication or the changes in how labor progresses. (see: The concern over epidurals.)