Effect of segmental epidural analgesia on neonatal serum bilirubin concentration and incidence of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.

Neonatal serum bilirubin levels were determined at the ages of 12 hrs, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days and 5 days in 80 infants. Forty-three mothers had received segmental epidural analgesia at the height of Th 10-12 for pain relief during the first stage of labor. The analgesic agent used was 0.5% bupivacaine. The individual doses were of 4 ml. Thirty-seven mothers served as a control group. The groups were further divided into smaller groups according to whether oxytocin was used for induction or acceleration of labor--or not. The results showed no statistically significant differences in the neonatal serum bilirubin levels at different times between the epidural and the control groups, whether oxytocin was used or not. Nor did the incidence of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia cases differ between the groups.