Role of B2 Adrenergic Receptors in Labor Pain

Overview

The study aims to understand why labor is more painful for some women compared to others. The study will study whether a woman's baseline pain sensitivity, beta2 adrenergic receptor genotype is related to her pain in labor for the birth of a first child.

Other than parity, and infant size, the etiology of the great variability in labor pain us unknown. Previous studies have demonstrated that baseline pain sensitivity is related to postoperative pain and narcotic requirement. We hypothesize that baseline pain sensitivity is related to pain in labor. The study will determine baseline sensitivity to heat, cold and pressure as measurement of pain sensitivity. Furthermore, b2 adrenergic genotype has recently been identified as a potential determinant of pain sensitivity. The investigators will determine whether B2 receptor haplotype is an independent predictor of pain experienced in labor.

Conditions

Eligibility

Locations (1)