Is pregnancy a problem?

I am new to the pm world, so I was curious if pregnancy has more complications with a pacemaker than a normal pregnancy? I am 28 and had a catheter ablation that went awry, which led to me having heart block, and then the pacemaker...but I really want to start a family soon...any advice out there?

5 Comments

pregnancy with pacemaker

by juliek - 2007-06-05 05:06:30

Hi Aggietread,
Although I dont currently have a PM I will be getting one due to complete heart block. I am currenly pregnant and have been doing alot of reading on pregnancy and pacemaker etc .
My understanding of the situation is that the pacemaker itself shouldnt make any difference to the pregnancy. It can be more comfortable if the actual device is not in your abdomen but there is no reason why a person with a pacemaker should have problems with it.
However, the bigger issue is the patients underlying condition and any meds that one is on. The advice I recieved was to check with my cardiologist/EP and to try to get an obs/gyn that is prepared to work with your cardiologist.
Having said that I am 19 weeks pg, on number 3, with a complete heart block and no pacemaker. My docs arent worried.

Good luck, and have fun
Julie

Lots of recipeints have babies

by admin - 2007-06-07 08:06:49

You have a good question that is quite common. Thousands of recipients give birth to children each year. I do not know your complete medical condition, but I would think you could too. Please discuss this with your doctor to be sure.

Blake

pregnancy and PM

by pace1 - 2007-06-11 01:06:36

If anything, you would be at more risk without the PM during labor. I had both of my kids before getting a PM (I have complete heart block and was apparently born with it but didn't find out until 3 months ago!). The dr.'s were shocked that I didn't have complications during labor with my heart rate so slow (20's-30's resting). I think you'll be fine unless you have any underlying issues as stated above.

2 PM babies

by goodoscar - 2007-07-07 02:07:04

I've had my pm since I was 24. Since then I've had 2 beautiful babies. No problems at all. I do not take any meds though which might make a difference. Once I knew we were going to start trying I did have my generator change a little earlier then normally it would have been scheduled. I was nervous more about having to have a generator change during pregnancy and the anethesia and antibiotics that go along with surgery. My doctor went along with that, I had the generator change and 2 years later had my first baby. It was not considered high risk or anything and I went through both pregnancies just like anyone else would. Good luck!

29 with pacer and ready to start a family

by doswald - 2007-08-01 06:08:51

I'm 29 and have had a pacer since I was 17. Things have gone well over the years and I've only had 1 battery change since but my doctor tells me that in the next 2 years I will probably need the surgery again. He also said I could be considered high risk because of an arythmia. Of course, my husband and I talked about having a baby in almost exactly 2 years too. I don't take any meds and I'm very active but I'm concerned.

For those of you who have had children with a PM - did any of you have an arythmia or were any of you considered "high risk"? Do you know how long you have to wait until after your surgery to consider giving birth? And did your ob gyn and cardiologist work together through the pregnancy for any reason?
And... did any of you have a pacer sub mammo rather than near your shoulder? Sorry for the all the questions :) Would love your feedback!! Thanks!

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It is just over 10 years since a dual lead device was implanted for complete heart block. It has worked perfectly and I have traveled well near two million miles internationally since then.