Do redheads have more pain during labor in your opinion?

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

I just read some research concerning pain and redheads.

The Research Institute at the University of Loisville showed redheads had a lower pain threshold .

However, research from McGill University said redheads responded better to pain relief treatments and had the highest pain threshold than other hair colors. (It has to do with Melanin and skin color)

This interested me because I'm a redhead anxiously trying to become pregnant :) .

What do you all think?

I'm joining the "anecdotal gals" Elena and Deb and say that I don't think you can generalize using just the color of someone's hair. There are so many other things that come into play.

I was a towhead as a kid, dark blonde with reddish highlights as a teen and young adult. Started highlighting more blonde in my 30's and now I'm a redhead.

I need to change my avatar . . . . :D

steph

0 Votes

Fgr8Out . . . if you can really see Sparks . . I'm about 3 hours away. :cool:

steph

0 Votes

I work post partum. When we get a redhead, it's always mentioned in report and nurses will kind of moan. I couldn't figure out why hair color was important enough to mention in report and was told that redheads have a higher risk for hemorrhage. However, I have never seen that with any of my redheaded patients. What I want to know, is if it is true, how in the world could the two be related? :confused:

0 Votes
The Research Institute at the University of Loisville showed redheads had a lower pain threshold .

I had a redhead cause me a lot of pain once...wonder where she is now :D

0 Votes
Specializes in cardiac, diabetes, OB/GYN.

Have NOT seen that to be true in my 15 years although it does seem true that they seem to have more post partum hemorrhages...I think the pain thing is individual, for sure...

0 Votes
Specializes in ICU, psych, corrections.
I had a redhead cause me a lot of pain once...wonder where she is now

I'm over here!!!

ROFL :roll

I've been told this once or twice in my dating career....that I'm just "too much" to handle. I think it's my dramatic way of doing things that really gets to some men. Thank God my husband had a bipolar, bulemic wife before me....I'm pretty easy to deal with after that....teehee!!!! :D

0 Votes
Specializes in ICU, psych, corrections.
funny none of the redheads have anecdotal information to support these claims of increased bleeding and lower pain tolerance....

Actually, I've been told by dentists all my life that I require a lot more novacaine to get numb than any of their other patients. I didn't see why and then I read the studies a few years back. I'm not sure if this the same thing as pain tolerance (I don't think so) but apparently, they have found evidence that redheads do require more anesthesia than people with other hair colors. I don't think this is saying we don't handle pain better or worse than someone else. In fact, I'm a big baby when it comes to stupid injuries like stubbing my toe yet have no problem getting pierced in painful places, tattoos in private places, and almost killing myself on the halfpipe when snowboarding!! But I think what the studies were saying is that it takes more anesthetic to be effective in redheads than someone with brown or blonde hair.

The bleeding thing is interesting. I will have to remember that when I decide to get pregnant. I never noticed myself bleeding any more than anyone else, but that was from small injuries, cuts, piercings, etc. I do have absolutely excruciating cramps each month....to the point where my doctor has prescribed Lortab for them. I take half a pill twice a day for a day out of the month to control them. I'm going to have to find another method of dealing with the cramps though because once I'm an RN, I can't go to work after taking these. I have asked about things such as endometriosis and he doesn't think that's the problem. Turns out I have very high prostaglandin levels during that time and it causes all kinds of severe cramping. I've tried every single over the counter pain reliever there is and they don't work. I have prescription strength Motrin...doesn't work. I have gone on many different pills trying to find relief..none work. I went on Depo...that worked, but made me INSANE!!! In fact, my doctor refuses to give it to me because of the mood swings I ended up having with it. Sigh......he says that there is a good chance after I have a baby, they will subside quite a bit. I guess we'll just have to wait and see..........

0 Votes

strawberry blonde here...

I've had two ~9 lb babies naturally, no drugs, and the pain wasn't too bad at all... no problem with bleeding either...

0 Votes

I've heard docs tell redheads over and over again about the increased bleeding issue. My CNM with my first son insisted I have a saline lock for that reason. With my second child, I mentioned it to my doc, he just laughed.

I did have slightly more bleeding after 2 deliveries but nothing more than fundal massage was required. And with my third, I didn't have an IV or Pit after delivery.

I have yet to see a redhead with a PP hemorrhage.

0 Votes
Specializes in cardiac, diabetes, OB/GYN.

The doc can laugh all he wants but those of us who have been in the business awhile can tell you for certain that the liklihood of bleeding does increase with fair or red headed people....I don't care WHAT the science shows..Been there done that see it often enough to know that it's true..Sort of like "knowing" a patient is going to go fast by the feel of her cervix.....You just know..

0 Votes
+ Add a Comment