Effects of Some Analgesic Drugs Used in Childbirth

Rectal Temperature in the Newborn After Birth Asphyxia

“…While the drug proved a very effective antidote to pethidine in the initiation of breathing (Paterson and Prescott, 1954) it did not appear to have any subsequent effect on the course of temperature. Roberts et al (1957) similarly found that the reduction of the baby's minute-volume after maternal pethidine was not influenced by this antidote.…”

Cord and Maternal Serum Meperidine Concentrations and Clinical Status of the Infant

“…Although cord compression cannot be ruled out, in the present and the previously studied infants normal fetal heart rate rapidly returned following administration of oxygen to the mother. Further, infants born with evidence of hypoxia or neonatal suppression following the administration of meperidine during labor may not represent all affected infants since infants of these mothers may demonstrate a 10-15% reduced minute volume up to several hours after birth (14), a reduced percent oxygen saturation during the first 30 min of life (19), and depressed psychophysiologic responses be tween 20 and 60 h after birth (2). Although infants with some evidence of hypoxia or neo natal suppression do well and are discharged from the hospital with their mothers, long term follow-up is required to learn if these infants will be identified later as children with learning disorders or other syndromes that might be related to 'minimal brain damage'.…”

The Use of Tacrine and Suxamethonium in Anaesthesia for Caesarean Section

“…Any drug prolonging the action of suxamethonium could therefore be dangerous to the neonate under these circumstances, but since the dose of suxamethonium when combined with tacrine is so reduced no effect is likely to be seen in the neonate. Morphine and pethidine are known to cross the placenta (Roberts et al, 1957) but the time of the peak effect on the foetus after administration to the mother is not known. It is generally held that delivery before 1 hour or after 6 hours following the giving of narcotic drugs to the mother does not appear to cause depression of the child.…”