Postoperative Pain After Cesarean Birth Affects Breastfeeding and Infant Care

Pre-incisional, post-incisional and combined pre- and post-incisional local wound infiltrations with lidocaine in elective caesarean section delivery: a randomised clinical trial

The objective of this study was to compare maternal and fetal outcomes in caesarean deliveries received pre-incisional, post-incisional or combined pre- and post-incisional local wound infiltrations with lidocaine. In a randomised, double-blind clinical trial, candidates of elective caesarean section received local wound infiltration with an anaesthetic mixture including 1% lidocaine pre-incisionally (n = 94), post-incisionally (n = 92) or both (n = 95). Postoperative pain, duration of analgesia, number of postoperative rescue analgesic demands, time to ambulation, time of first breast-feeding and neonatal Apgar score were compared. Main outcome variables were comparable between the pre- and post-incisional groups. Pain scores and duration of analgesia were significantly lower in the mixed group. Time of breast-feeding and number of analgesic demand were significantly lower in 'mixed' group than those in pre- and post-incisional groups, respectively. The other variables were comparable. Combined pre- and post-incisional local wound infiltration in post-caesarean pain relief is superior to each one alone.

Olhares e saberes: vivências de puérperas e equipe de enfermagem frente à dor pós-cesariana

Trata-se de uma pesquisa exploratório-descritiva que teve por objetivo identificar a percepção, o conhecimento e ações da puérpera e da equipe de enfermagem frente à dor pós-cesariana. Os dados foram coletados através de entrevistas semiestruturadas realizadas no mês de maio de 2011 com 40 puérperas submetidas à cesariana, no Alojamento Conjunto da Maternidade de um hospital-escola de Florianópolis-SC, Brasil, e também com 22 membros da equipe de enfermagem que prestou assistência às puérperas. A análise dos dados foi realizada de acordo com a proposta do Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo. Os resultados evidenciam que a dor pós-cesariana é uma realidade vivenciada pela totalidade das puérperas a ela submetidas, apesar de não ser unanimidade entre os profissionais de enfermagem e apontam para a necessidade de investir-se na qualificação profissional no âmbito do manejo da dor, tanto em nível de formação, quanto em nível de atualização.

Postnatal unit bassinet types when rooming-in after cesarean birth: implications for breastfeeding and infant safety

BACKGROUND

Postnatal unit rooming-in promotes breastfeeding. Previous research indicates that side-cars (3-sided bassinets that lock onto the maternal bed frame) facilitate breastfeeding after vaginal birth more than stand-alone bassinets (standard rooming-in). No study has previously investigated side-car bassinet use after cesarean, despite the constraints on maternal-infant interactions that are inherent in recovery from this birth mode.

OBJECTIVE

To test the effect of the side-car bassinet on postnatal unit breastfeeding frequency and other maternal-infant behaviors compared to a stand-alone bassinet following cesarean birth.

METHODS

Participants were recruited and prenatally randomized to receive the side-car or stand-alone bassinet for their postnatal unit stay between January 2007 and March 2009 in northeastern England. Mother-infant interactions were filmed over the second postpartum night. Participants completed face-to-face interviews before and after filming. The main outcome measures were infant location, bassinet acceptability, and breastfeeding frequency. Other outcomes assessed were breastfeeding effort, maternal-infant contact, sleep states, midwife presence, and infant risk.

RESULTS

Differences in breastfeeding frequency, maternal-infant sleep overlap, and midwife presence were not statistically significant. The 20 dyads allocated to side-car bassinets breastfed a median of 0.6 bouts/ hour compared to 0.4 bouts/hour for the 15 stand-alone bassinet dyads. Participants expressed overwhelming preference for the side-car bassinets. Bed sharing was equivalent between the groups, although the motivation for this practice may have differed. Infant handling was compromised with stand-alone bassinet use, including infants positioned on pillows while bed sharing with their sleeping mothers.

CONCLUSIONS

Women preferred the side-car, but differences in breastfeeding frequency were not statistically significant. More infant risks were observed with stand-alone bassinet use.

Severe breastfeeding difficulties: Existential lostness as a mother-Women's lived experiences of initiating breastfeeding under severe difficulties

A majority of women in Sweden initiate breastfeeding but almost a quarter stop or wean the infant in the first few weeks after birth because of difficulties. In order to develop care that facilitates initiation of breastfeeding and enables mothers to realize their expectations concerning breastfeeding, it is necessary to understand what having severe breastfeeding difficulties means for women who experience them. The aim of this study is to describe the lived experiences of initiating breastfeeding under severe difficulties. A reflective lifeworld research design was used. Eight women, seven primiparous and one multipara, were interviewed within 2 months of giving birth. The essential meaning of the phenomenon is described as "Existential lostness as a mother forcing oneself into a constant fight". This pattern is further explicated through its constituents; shattered expectations, a lost time for closeness, being of no use to the infant, being forced to expose oneself, and gaining strength through sharing. The results show that mothers with severe breastfeeding difficulties feel alone and exposed because of their suffering and are lost in motherhood. Thus, adequate care for mothers should enhance the forming of a caring relationship through sharing rather than exposing.

Effects of domperidone on augmentation of lactation following cesarean delivery at full term

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of domperidone on breast milk production in women who underwent cesarean at full term.

METHODS

Women who underwent uncomplicated full-term cesarean were randomly assigned to receive domperidone or placebo for 4 consecutive days post partum. Breast milk was collected twice daily via electric breast pump. Baseline milk production was determined by measuring the volume of milk collected on the 1st postpartum day, before initiation of study medication (day 0). The daily volume of milk collected was compared between groups. Adverse treatment-related effects were recorded.

RESULTS

The study was completed by 22 women in the domperidone group and 23 in the placebo group. Compared with day 0, mean increases in milk volume per participant collected on days 1, 2, 3, and 4 were significantly higher in the domperidone (13.6 ± 23.2 mL, 68.5 ± 71.9 mL, 144.5 ± 122.3 mL, and 191.3 ± 136.1 mL) than in the placebo (2.5 ± 4.6 mL, 24.5 ± 26.5 mL, 72.1 ± 55.6 mL, and 91.4 ± 60.3 mL) group. Minor adverse effects were reported by 7 women in the domperidone group.

CONCLUSION

Postpartum treatment with domperidone can augment breast milk production after full-term cesarean, with minimal adverse effects.

In-hospital formula supplementation of breastfed babies: a population-based survey

BACKGROUND

  In-hospital formula supplementation of breastfed newborns is commonplace despite its negative association with breastfeeding duration. Although several studies have described the use of formula supplementation, few have explored the factors that may be associated with its use. The aim of this study was to explore factors associated with in-hospital formula supplementation using data from a large Australian population-based survey.

METHODS

  All women who gave birth in September and October 2007 in two Australian states were mailed questionnaires 6 months after the birth. Women were asked how they fed their baby while in hospital after the birth. Multivariable logistic regression was used to explore specified a priori factors associated with in-hospital formula supplementation.

RESULTS

  Of 4,085 women who initiated breastfeeding, 23 percent reported their babies receiving formula supplementation. Breastfed babies had greater odds of receiving formula supplementation if their mother was primiparous (adj. OR=2.16; 95% CI: 1.76-2.66); born overseas and of non-English-speaking background (adj. OR=2.03; 95% CI: 1.56-2.64); had a body mass index more than 30 (adj. OR=2.27; 95% CI: 1.76-2.95); had an emergency cesarean section (adj. OR=1.72; 95% CI: 1.3-2.28); or the baby was admitted to a special care nursery (adj. OR=2.72; 95% CI: 2.19-3.4); had a birthweight less than 2,500 g (adj. OR=2.02; 95% CI: 1.3-3.15) or was born in a hospital not accredited with Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) (adj. OR=1.53; 95% CI: 1.2-1.94).

CONCLUSIONS

  The number of factors associated with in-hospital formula supplementation suggests that this practice is complex. Some results, however, point to an opportunity for intervention, with the BFHI appearing to be an effective strategy for supporting exclusive breastfeeding.

The effect of distant reiki on pain in women after elective Caesarean section: a double-blinded randomised controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Approximately 25% of all babies in North America are delivered via Caesarean section (C-section). Though a common surgical procedure, C-section recovery can be painful. Opioids, specifically codeine, are commonly used to ease pain; however, its active metabolite, morphine, passes into breast milk, and may produce unwanted side effects in neonates; therefore, alternatives to opioids are being sought. Reiki is an ancient Japanese form of healing where practitioners transfer healing energy through light touch and positive healing intention. Although 1.2 million Americans use reiki to reduce pain or depression, there is a lack of strong evidence supporting its effectiveness. A recent systematic review showed existing studies to be of poor methodological quality, with the common limitation of lack of blinding. To overcome this issue, the authors used distant reiki to assess its effectiveness in reducing pain following an elective C-section.

METHODS

In this randomised, double-blinded study, women who underwent an elective C-section were allocated to either usual care (control, n=40) or three distant reiki sessions in addition to usual care (n=40). Pain was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS). The primary endpoint was the Area Under the VAS-Time Curve (AUC) for days 1-3. Secondary measures included: the proportion of women who required opioid medications and dose consumed, rate of healing and vital signs.

RESULTS

AUC for pain was not significantly different in the distant reiki and control groups (mean ± SD; 212.1 ± 104.7 vs 223.1 ± 117.8; p=0.96). There were no significant differences in opioid consumption or rate of healing; however, the distant reiki group had a significantly lower heart rate (74.3 ± 8.1 bpm vs 79.8 ± 7.9 bpm, p=0.003) and blood pressure (106.4 ± 9.7 mmHg vs 111.9 ± 11.0 mmHg, p=0.02) post surgery.

CONCLUSION

Distant reiki had no significant effect on pain following an elective C-section. Clinical Trial Registration Number ISRCTN79265996.

Hi-TENS combined with PCA-morphine as post caesarean pain relief

OBJECTIVES

to examine effectiveness and overall opiate consumption between high-sensory transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (Hi-TENS) combined with patient-controlled analgesia with morphine and patient-controlled analgesia with morphine alone following elective (e.g. scheduled) caesarean birth.

DESIGN

randomised, controlled study.

SETTING

a county hospital in south-west Sweden.

PARTICIPANTS

42 multiparous women.

MEASUREMENTS AND FINDINGS

participants were randomly assigned and connected to patient-controlled analgesia with morphine alone or in combination with Hi-TENS apparatus. Levels of morphine consumed were calculated every third hour during the first 24 hours post partum. Pain and sedation were assessed by visual analogue scale at one, three, six, nine, 12 and 24 hours post partum. Total consumption of morphine differed significantly between the groups: morphine with TENS was 16.2 ± 12.6 mg and morphine alone was 33.1 ± 20.9 mg (p = 0.007). Assessment of pain relief showed no significant difference. Sedation differed significantly between the groups (p = 0.045), especially between three and 12 hours post partum (p = 0.011).

KEY CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

pain relief from a combination of Hi-TENS and patient-controlled analgesia with morphine was as effective as patient-controlled analgesia with morphine alone, produced less sedation and reduced morphine use by approximately 50%. Women undergoing a caesarean section should be given the opportunity to make an informed choice about post operative pain relief before surgery. A presumed benefit of this treatment combination is that the mother is more alert and better able to interact with her newborn during the first hours after birth without drowsiness due to large doses of opiates.

Manual expression and electric breast pumping in the first 48 h after delivery

BACKGROUND

Early feeding for preterm infants via the mother's own milk is crucial for lowering morbidity and mortality. Obtaining the mother's milk in the first few days is sometimes difficult; an effective way of mediating this problem has not yet been established. The aim of the present study was therefore to investigate whether breast pumping using a hospital-grade electric pump was more effective in maximizing the available milk volume and more comfortable than manual expression in the first 48 h after birth.

METHODS

A sequential cross-over study was performed in a maternity ward, in a tertiary perinatal center, Japan. Eleven women whose infants were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit were sequentially allocated to either manual or electric breast expression (Symphony) for their first expression after 6 h following birth. The women then used the other method for the next expression, and continued to alternate between methods until seven sessions had been completed for each method. The time interval between expressions was 3 h. Main outcome measures were volume of milk expressed per session and pain assessment at each expression using the Wong and Baker face-scale.

RESULTS

Net milk yield per woman was 2 mL manually (median; range: 0-12.6 mL) and 0.6 mL (0-7.2 mL) by electric expression (P < 0.05). The frequency of women stating no pain was higher for electric pumping than manual expression (90% vs 36%, respectively; P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In the early postpartum period, the best way to obtain colostrum is by gentle manual expression. For mothers who feel pain during manual expression, use of the stimulation phase of the Symphony pump may be preferable.