Do I need a pacemaker (with SSS/AF) if I'm planning to become pregnant?

Hi,

I am new to the group, and this is my first post. I recently went to my cardiologist to discuss some heart problems I'm having and I think it's probably SSS or AF. I will know for sure next week. Anyway, my OBGYN said I needed to know more about my heart problems because some women shouldn't have vaginal deliveries. I'm not currently pregnant, but would like to be. So, my cardiologist says I'll probably need a pacemaker, and should have it implanted before becoming pregnant. This makes sense, but for those of you out there who have heart problems and have gone through a pregnancy,...do I NEED a pacemaker? I have been looking on-line and there are shockingly few reports of how this kind of arrhythmia reacts to the body's changes during pregnancy. I read an article indicating that a number of women with AF died during pregnancy/child birth. That's pretty scary. I will get one if it's the best thing for me, but just want to know if there are alternatives.

Thanks in advance for your help and advice!
Tara

4 Comments

pregnancy.

by marijke - 2009-04-09 01:04:20

Hi tcram, I think TraceyE has a good point there. Ask your docter everything you want to know. Make a list with your questions and take a family member, your husband or friend to your appointment for incase you got emotional and maybe forget answers or suggestions from the dr's. And it is also good for some discussions afterwards at home . You can always do a second opinion with an other dr. Than you have two visions. Maybe is it an idea to consult also an geynocologist. Inform you self the best you can! Marijke. (Sorry, if my English is not correct all the time; it's not my first language.)

I agree

by renee14150 - 2009-04-09 11:04:06

I agree that all of us our different. I have Syncope therefore bradycardia. I have 2 pregnancies before the PM and had no problems. I actually was symptom free the whole pregnany and about 6 months after wards. I had 2 C sections....one was an emergency the baby stopped breathing the 2nd was a planned c section. But we all are different so ask questions....
Renee

we're all different

by Tracey_E - 2009-04-09 11:04:28

Only your doctor can really tell you if you need to get it first or not. Carrying a baby is hard on your body, both the stress of carrying the weight and the hormone changes that cause circulatory changes. Also, if you are going to need it eventually, it's a lot easier to get it done before you get pregnant than to get pregnant and need it before you deliver.

Many people with SSS have a pacemaker and feel wonderful. SSS is when your sinus node (which controls the atria) slows down, generally when you're at rest, then it picks up normally again with activity. It's time to get a pm when your heart slows down often enough that you don't feel good, or gets dangerously low. Have you had a Holter study? That's when you wear a monitor for a few days to a few weeks to see what your heart does. If you're dipping dangerously low, it's time to get it now, regardless of any plans to have a baby. There are no alternatives to speed up your heart or make sure it doesn't pause, only a pm will do it.

Pm's don't do much for AF because they can only speed up a slow hr, not slow down a fast rate. It's usually controlled with medications that slow down your heartrate.

The two conditions are not related, though you can have both, so the first thing to do might be sit down with your cardiologist and make him explain to you what you have, then discuss the effect of the stress of a pregnancy.

I have a different problem from you, av block, but I was told young that I absolutely would need a pm before I could even consider becoming pregnant. I was both my cardiologist and ob's first pregnant pm patient. There are a few of us here who have done it but in general this isnt' something many doctors ever deal with so don't be surprised if they seem like they don't know all the answers! My docs had a discussion early on and decided that since my problem is completely controlled by having the pm, I was not considered high risk. They were a little concerned about a long, drawn out delivery so I was told that if I showed any signs of stress, they'd immediately do a c-section. I had two regular, ordinary vaginal births.

Good luck both with your decision and becoming pregnant! Please don't be shy if you have more questions.

my experience

by bella - 2009-06-20 08:06:02

i have total heart block and have a pm that i am totally reliant on i had 2 had to normal pregnancies i even had a battery replaced while i was 34 weeks pregnant but everybody is different do your research and play it safe good luck.... bella

You know you're wired when...

You can proudly say you’re energy efficient.

Member Quotes

Pacemakers are very reliable devices.