Fetal and Maternal Plasma Catecholamine Levels at Elective Cesarean Section under General or Epidural Anesthesia Versus Vaginal Delivery

Evaluation of the effect of natural and emotional stress of labor on lactation and breast-feeding

“…The results of the studies concerning the effect of analgesia in lactogenesis-lactation markers are conflicting [44][45][46][47][48]. In the current study, receiving epidural analgesia had positive correlation with positive feelings, lower posttraumatic stress levels and earlier first feeding after delivery.…”

Epinephrine administration at birth prevents long-term changes in dopaminergic parameters caused by Cesarean section birth in the rat

“…Plasma CAs play a particularly important role at birth in the functional adaptation of neonatal lungs, where they promote absorption of lung fluid and stimulate surfactant synthesis (Barker and Olver 2002). Humans born by C-section have reduced plasma CAs at birth, and elective C-section is associated with increased respiratory distress and transient tachypnoea during the first days after birth and occasionally with more severe respiratory morbidity (Irestedt et al 1982;Jones and Greiss 1982;Faxelius et al 1983Faxelius et al , 1984Agata et al 1995;Dani et al 1999;van den Berg et al 2001;Vogl et al 2006). After elective C-section, a significant correlation has also been reported between low plasma CA levels and poor muscle tone or lower grade of excitability in human neonates (Otamiri et al 1991).…”

“…Reduced levels of plasma CAs are observed in human neonates born by elective C-section; however, a wide variety of factors are reported to modulate levels of plasma CAs during C-section birth such as the presence or absence of labor, type of anesthetic used, and the presence or absence of complications and their type (Irestedt et al 1982;Padbury et al 1982;El-Khodor and Boksa 1997;Ronca et al 2006). If levels of plasma CAs contribute to the mechanisms by which C-section can affect CNS function, it may not be optimal to view "C-section birth" as a single category of birth complication for epidemiological studies.…”

“…Thus, rat dams were killed by decapitation to avoid the confound of effects of anesthetics in the neonate. In humans, plasma CAs at birth are highest in neonates after vaginal birth, decreased in neonates born by elective C-section with epidural anesthesia compared to vaginal birth, and reduced even further after elective Csection under general anesthesia (Irestedt et al 1982)]. …”

“…The plasma CAs, epinephrine and norepinephrine, play a crucial role at birth in adapting the neonate to extrauterine life by promoting lung maturation, increasing cardiovascular performance, mobilizing glucose, and regulating blood flow to vital organs such as brain (Faxelius et al 1983(Faxelius et al , 1984Sperling et al 1984;Habib et al 1991; Barker and Olver 2002). Several groups have demonstrated that humans born by elective C-section have markedly reduced levels of plasma CAs at birth compared to vaginally born neonates (Irestedt et al 1982;Jones and Greiss 1982;Faxelius et al 1983Faxelius et al , 1984Agata et al 1995;Vogl et al 2006). We and others have previously shown that, similar to findings in humans, plasma CAs at birth are also reduced in rats born by C-section compared to vaginal birth (El-Khodor and Boksa 1997;Ronca et al 2006).…”