29 with pacer and ready to start a family

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 a slight 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!


8 Comments

Been there done that

by CTB - 2007-08-02 01:08:26

I'm 31, had a PM since 18. Scheduled to have my 2nd replacement tomorrow and have survived a pregnancy. My PM is located under the left breast and I had no problem breast feeding.

I was termed borderline high risk. All it meant was I had to notify my ob and then halfway through the pregnancy I had to see my cardiologist. Some obgyn docs freak out when they deal with PM patients. I think it has to do with being out of their comfort zone.

I did have to plan the pregnancy around my PM. Made sure it had good battery life, etc. You have to keep in mind that pregnancy increases your heart rate naturally. If you have any issues with high rates now, you just need to keep an eye on it.

Other than that, I had a normal pregnancy and felt fine most of the time. Just discuss it will all doctors involved and make sure there is good communication between them.

Good Luck!

Hi,

by Gellia2 - 2007-08-02 09:08:48

Whereas I never gave birth to my own children, I did raise two stepchildren. I have had a pacemaker since 1975 along with a third heart sound and lousy leaky valves, and really don't feel I've missed anything at all. I think it is an individual decision best made between you and your husband with your cardiologist and OB/GYN. I do believe many woman have given birth with a pacemaker. As to having it changed while you may be pregnant, the battery change is a relatively simple procedure usually done on an outpatient basis and can be done with nothing more than local anesthesia, or maybe a light sedative. I just had my 7th replacement and was out of the hospital that day by 1p.m. feeling wonderfully well.
I also have a sub mammory placement and my OB/GYN told me at the time that should I decide to have a child, breast feeding shouldn't be a problem either. Again, I believe it is an individual decision best made by you and your doctors.
High risk doesn't mean impossible and where there is a will, there is a way.
Good luck and the best to you.
Gellia

Dr. said I'd be high-risk too

by sboissonnas - 2007-08-02 10:08:20

Hi Doswald,

I just had my annual physical and my doctor asked if I was thinking about having kids (I'm 33, got my pm last October, and I do want kids in the next couple of years.) For what it's worth, she said she wanted me to keep her in the loop so she can set me up with the right OB/GYN, that she'd probably want me classed as high-risk, but only so she be conservative about my care. It didn't sound like I -had- to be high-risk, just that my doctor would be more comfortable if I were treated that way. (I'm not really sure what's involved in being "high-risk", to be honest, but I'm glad my doctor's already preparing me for it.)

Funny story - when I got home and told my boyfriend about it, I told him the doctor wanted to be involved when we have kids. His reply? "Well okay, but I draw the line at SOME things!" Hee!

-Stephanie

Stephanie!

by Gellia2 - 2007-08-02 11:08:42

Marry him! There's nothing like a guy with a good sense of humor! LOL
High risk can mean nothing more than you get more attention! Not a bad thing.
best of luck to you both!
Gellia

Disarrhythmia and 2 pregnacy

by 423battery - 2007-08-05 09:08:55

I had my first son at 21, and 2nd at 25. I was a high risk both times. My first son I carried on my chest. It was hard to breath, walk, ect. At one point I was not able to drive because I was passing out so much. I did work up to the last 3 weeks. For my son son I did talk with my doctor who said one day I will tell you, No more pregnancy, and if you are thinking of having a 2nd child you need to do it soon. Thank God I carried him around my knees. I was told have my 2nd son to close the factory.
I thank God I have my two wonderful boys. My doctors were great. As noted before communication is key. All test results were sented to everyone. OB got 24 hour holter reports, doctors exam notes, ect.
I will tell you things have changed in 17 years since I give birth to my son. I had 1/3 of the hospital in the delivery room with my husband and I --the OB, anestesiologist, neonatologist, plus nurse from ob, neonatal, cardiology, and the cardiologist on the phone and an exterinal pacemaker sitting by my head. Everything turned out wonderful 8 pounds 8 oz. at 8:08 pm.
Best of luck!

33 and 3 kids later!

by pacingamy - 2007-08-08 02:08:07

Hi doswald,
I had 3 pregnancies from 2001 to 2005. And now have three great kids! All with a pacemaker (implanted in 96- near the shoulder) and 2 leaky valves and frequent palps. No strong arrhythmias though. I think anyone with a pacemaker alone would be considered high risk. That just means they have to follow you more carefully than a "normal" pregnancy. In my opinion it is very important that your cardiologist & your OB have a good relationship. You may also have a specialist that helps your OB follow you and baby more closely (a perinatologist). I had one and loved him and the extra reassurance that everything was going good. My doctors had great communication and kept each other up to date results of my vitals and any test. They monitored their assigned "parts of me and baby" closely. I had ongoing echo's, sono's and ECG's pacemaker checks through out all 3 pregnancies. I was a bit nervous about my own recovery. I felt a bit bogged down after every birth. I did come out the other side with a little more valve leakage but, not as much as they though I would. During the pregnancies my echo results showed the valves did worsen quite a bit while pregnant. I think the pregnancy did a little permanent damage on them but not as much as the . My palps got better with the first pregnancy and worse with the last two and are still bad. My pacemaker did great through out all pregnancies.
During my last pregnancy my battery was running low and they had to watch closely. Didn't have to change the battery until well after but, they said the could if they HAD to. No one felt comfortable about it though.
If you want to get your pacer changed out so you won't have to worry about it and start "trying", maybe they can bump up your setting to use up the battery faster. I know insurance won't cover it until the readings are at a certain number and it is truly time to change it out.
Well, I hope that all helps. I will be watching to see if you have any other questions. Oh, I did nurse all three and it was fine. But, my pacer is in a different spot so, I can't speak from experience but have heard it should be fine.
Hope things go well for you!
~pacingamy

26 yrs and 2 kids later w/ PM

by sweetkozy - 2007-09-10 01:09:10

Hello there!

I just saw this post and hopefully you still check it to see if someone responded.

I am 26 years old and have had 2 pregnancies and 2 very healthy children were born. I have had my PM for almost 5 years now. My first child was born about 1 1/2yrs after my PM was implanted and my second was born 2 years ago. Both pregnancies went fine, in regards to my heart. They did not even have me hooked up to a heart monitor and my doctor was not concerned that I was having children. He was ecstatic and said I shouldn't have any problems. Sorry so short, but the kids want to type. I will email you in more detail about the pregnancies and birth. I hope I will put your mind at ease. :)

Cheers,
Jenny

Another question...

by kim75 - 2007-12-31 02:12:21

Sorry to hijack, but those of you with pacemakers who have had children, did you deliver naturally, or did you have a c-section?

I just had my pacer implanted last week (I am 32) and I have a 6 month old. By a fluke, it was discovered that I have complete heart block right after I delivered my daughter. Docs aren't sure if it was congenital or not.

I definitely want more children, but labor and delivery with my 1st was difficult, and I am nervous to put that much strain on my heart again. But if I knew it was safe, I would prefer to deliver naturally vs. c-section.

Just wondering what others experiences were...

Thanks!
Kim

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