Anyone experience pregnancy with an ICD or Pacemaker?

I just got my 1st ICD pacemaker for Polymorphic VT & Sinus Pauses October this year.  Before that all happened my partner & I were going to try for a baby (his 1st, I've 2 children from a previous marriage). Obviously we have put this on hold for now but I was wondering if any of you here have got pregnant whilst also having a device? ...what concerns me more is I've been put on statins and aspirin, as well as betabblocker, as I suffered 2 TIAs after my ICD. Statins especially are contraindicated in pregnancy as they can cause birth defects....we will seek advice of my GP, as well as my specialist consultants (cardiac & stroke) if we decide we want to try again but what are your thoughts/experiences/advice??

Kindest regards & Season's Greetings!!

Zoë 😀

4 Comments

yes twice

by Tracey_E - 2017-12-08 21:31:53

I had two kids after being paced, however I'm not on any meds and have a very different condition from you, av block only. I would suggest a call between your OB and cardiologist to discuss handling the meds and other risks. Most ob's never have a paced patient and our conditions were an afternoon in med school so they don't really know what to do with us. My ob was ready to send me to a high risk specialist, have the baby monitored by a neonatal cardiologist. My cardio told him to treat me like all his other patients, that none of that was necessary, that what I have is not genetic so my babies were not at risk. The only concession was a heart monitor during labor, had it gotten too drawn out or my heart showed signs of stress it would have been an immediate c-section. I had two perfectly normal pregnancies and deliveries. 

Best of luck to you!!!! 

Thanks Tracey :)

by Zoë - 2017-12-09 08:12:03

thanks for your reply.  It's good to know it can be done and doesn't automatically rule me out but, as you suggested, we shall be seeking medical advice first.  Luckily I don't have any genetic markers for SAD or other heart arrythmias (long qt, WPW etc...) as do none of my parents/family.  I always had atrial arrythmias until 2years ago when they then became ventricular. So I guess I'm a bit on an anomaly. However, I will be having my girls screened next year Incase they have the same cardiac disorders as me (touch wood they don't).

I guess I'm also curious as to, when you're heavily pregnant (and our organs are squashed up enough as it is & breasts become heavier) can this play havoc with an ICD/pacemaker? 

Many thanks again for your response.

P.s...I had 2 previous C-sections so it will be C-section again....

by Zoë - 2017-12-09 08:20:45

my 1st born was a C-section (due to me having a "lazy uterus" and I was unable to fully dilate).  My second baby was nearly 4wks prematutre and was in SCBU for 10days with collapsed lungs but recovered well.  Both girls (aged 13yrs & 11yrs) are blessed with good health and no medical conditions.

babies

by Tracey_E - 2017-12-09 11:00:04

My cardiologist ran work ups on both of my kids when they were about your kids' ages. He was mostly just curious, we weren't expecting to find anything (and we didn't). But it's nice to know for sure! 

Unless you have an abdominal implant, the device itself will be fine during pregnancy. Device and leads are both well above anything that gets squished. Mine is buried under the breast and it was not an issue either. I nursed both. 

 

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