Introduction: Epidural analgesia is the most widespread method to alleviate labor pain. Due to the significant side effects of epidural analgesia on the establishment of breastfeeding, which is a key operatives of the child's healthy physical and psychosocial development, it is important to research and improve awareness of pregnant women about these indirect effects of epidural analgesia on the child's development and the development of their interpersonal relationship. Purpose: The purpose of the thesis is to present epidural analgesia and its potential impact on breastfeeding and thereby the child's physical and psychosocial development. Methods: In the thesis, we use descriptive methodology, namely we perform a literature review, which is derived from bibliographic databases (COBISS, CINAHL, PubMed ter SAGE Journals Online) with selected keywords. Results: The literature review concludes that epidural analgesia has significant negative effects on the establishment of breastfeeding, and therefore important effects on the mother and the newborn. In women, it causes the fall of oxytocin, rises fever and increases the need for instrumental delivery, and thus complicates the establishment of the first contact between the mother and her newborn child. In the newborn epidural analgesia reduces alertness and reflex responses, resulting in the newborn harder to participate in establishing of breastfeeding. Discussion and conclusion: A key role is performed by a midwife and nurse in the case of reducing the negative effects of epidural analgesia on breastfeeding and indirectly on a child's physical and psychosocial health. They primarily must inform the mother and make her aware of all the indirect and direct effects of epidural analgesia, and then secondarily then also assist in establishing breastfeeding with emotional support and encouragement.
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