community

all boards


birth clubs



my blog

Sort:
01-03-2013 at 1:13 PM
gulickr
Not Ranked
Joined on 11-10-2008
20,420 Points
gulickr is not online. Last active: 05-25-2013, 6:09 PMBronze

Redheads/Bleeding?

I had a regular appt today, and my midwife kind of casually mentioned, "Oh, you're a redhead, you'll need to have an IV!" Apparently, they're concerned that redheads are more likely to hemorrhage, and so make sure they have an IV at the ready.

Any BTDT redheaded moms experience this (either the bleeding or the caution)? Were you able to get a hep lock instead of an IV to retain more movement? 

I've now had a chance to google around a little, and it'll definitely be on my list of questions for my next appointment, but I wanted to see whether anyone else had had a similar experience.

Thanks!


 BabyFruit Ticker 
01-03-2013 at 1:33 PM
jesselayne...
Not Ranked
Joined on 11-06-2008
the real south
32,857 Points
jesselayne8 is not online. Last active: 05-25-2013, 7:38 PMGold

Have an IV ready = heplock.   

 



TTC#1 for 19 months with PCOS and MFI
IUI#3 + injectables = BFP!!!!
Beta#1-134(13dpiui) Beta #2-392(15dpiui)
It's a GIRL!!!!!!!!
Lilypie Second Birthday tickers
S/PAIF always welcome:)
TTC#2 - Shocked to get a BFP first postpartum cycle
Beta #1 -51@10dpo Beta#2 -1353 @16dpo
AlternaTickers - Cool, free Web tickers 
01-03-2013 at 1:41 PM
gulickr
Not Ranked
Joined on 11-10-2008
20,420 Points
gulickr is not online. Last active: 05-25-2013, 6:09 PMBronze
jesselayne8:

Have an IV ready = heplock.   

 

Ah, something about the way she said it made me think "have an IV ready" = hook you up immediately to a bag. That makes me much more comfortable, movement-wise.


 BabyFruit Ticker 
01-03-2013 at 2:27 PM
redaero
Not Ranked
Joined on 08-23-2010
Anchorage, AK
14,480 Points
redaero is not online. Last active: 05-25-2013, 8:21 PMBronze

I'm a redhead too, and definitely giving this the side-eye. It's an idiotic myth, if you ask me, it would make me wonder what other weirdo things the midwife believes. Having red hair does not mean that your clotting factors are somehow screwed up. It also does not mean that your uterus is floppy or won't stay contracted after delivering the placenta (which is why people generally hemorrhage). Having red hair usually only means that you're pale, so bruises show a bit more than they do on other people, which (apparently) leads some people to conclude that you're part hemophiliac, or something.

FWIW, I had my first LO at a birthing center with no IV fluids, no heplock either, and no hemorrhaging. I also work at a hospital maternity center and none of the L&D nurses I know believe in the myth, either.


 Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
Lilypie Pregnancy tickers
Our little Tiger Lily, expected July 7, 2013. 
01-03-2013 at 2:37 PM
JCRSMD17
Not Ranked
Joined on 06-21-2009
8,191 Points
JCRSMD17 is not online. Last active: 05-25-2013, 6:42 PMNewbie

I can't say anything regarding the issue of being redheaded and increased risk of bleeding - there is nothing in the medical literature to support this idea.

But I did think it worth commenting on the issue of having an IV during childbirth. Every mother is entitled to make her own decision about whether to have an IV, so I preface that this is solely my opinion ...

 I don't understand why you wouldn't have an IV during childbirth. It is a risk versus reward situation. The risk of needing the IV is relatively low, however IF you do need the IV (due to hemorrhage, need for medications, etc) the rewards can literally be life saving. IVs aren't uncomfortable (and significantly less so than labor/childbirth I'm guessing). The IV can be hep-locked if you want to move around during labor. If you are dying of massive hemorrhage do you want the medical staff wasting precious minutes trying to get an IV started? So I personally will be having an IV in each arm during labor/childbirth. 

 


 BabyFruit Ticker 
01-03-2013 at 4:27 PM
gulickr
Not Ranked
Joined on 11-10-2008
20,420 Points
gulickr is not online. Last active: 05-25-2013, 6:09 PMBronze
redaero:

I'm a redhead too, and definitely giving this the side-eye. It's an idiotic myth, if you ask me, it would make me wonder what other weirdo things the midwife believes. Having red hair does not mean that your clotting factors are somehow screwed up. It also does not mean that your uterus is floppy or won't stay contracted after delivering the placenta (which is why people generally hemorrhage). Having red hair usually only means that you're pale, so bruises show a bit more than they do on other people, which (apparently) leads some people to conclude that you're part hemophiliac, or something.

FWIW, I had my first LO at a birthing center with no IV fluids, no heplock either, and no hemorrhaging. I also work at a hospital maternity center and none of the L&D nurses I know believe in the myth, either.

Weirdly, I did google, and there were a few decent sources backing this up, but no controlled, peer-reviewed studies. That said, I'm OK with a hep lock, it was the hooked up to a bag part that was weirding me out.

I'll also ask at my next appointment - this is the first time I'd seen this specific midwife in the practice (and I actually liked the others far better...hoping the lottery system works in my favor). 


 BabyFruit Ticker 
Hot Topics

New dad or dad-to-be? Chat with other dads here!
Visit the Dads & Dads-to-be board

Need baby shower inspiration? Get ideas here!
Visit the Baby Showers board

Chat with other crafty moms here!
Visit the Crafty Moms board

search boards

choose another board

From The Nest Boards:
"Thrown under the bus …"
tiffwins on 9 to 5

"Please tell me my husband is NOT the only one …"
IDO2008 on
Entertaining Ideas