pregnancy

Hello all! Hope everyone is doing well! I recently found out that my husband and I are expecting our first child. I go to my first "high risk" clinic appointment on Feb. 20th. My question is, what happens to my baby if my defibrillator shocks me? I have been pacing a lot more lately, and it is incredibly noticeable. I think I am also having a lot of PVC or PACs. It is happening almost every day now for an extended amount of time, a few hours or so. I don't want anything happening to hurt the baby or myself. Any advice? I am 25 and besides my heart am otherwise very healthy! Thanks!! :)

7 Comments

No worries

by Kdalton - 2014-02-09 11:02:15

I've home through two full pregnancies with my pacemaker doing it's own thing with no ill side effects I have two healthy babies :) doesn't hurt to ask your ob those questions I'm sure it will all be fine :) congrats!!

Congratulations

by Grateful Heart - 2014-02-09 11:02:29

To you and your Husband. Very exciting time in your life.

I don't have an answer for you but I just wanted to wish you a happy and healthy pregnancy.

Grateful Heart

j.b.

by JoFosqk226 - 2014-02-09 11:02:33

There are a lot of people on here who's opinions I value, and have gotten some wonderful advice before. And if you haven't noticed, I said that I have an appointment made already. I live very far from any big cities so it is difficult to get appointments right away. I visited an emergency room and this was the closest appointment I could get. If you are going to criticize my posts and lecture me then please refrain from doing so. This site is made for people to discuss topics and issues. I do not appreciate your
patronizing attitudeand negativity.

Just had my a baby.

by Vmurph - 2014-02-10 11:02:29

I just had my baby 6months ago and was also considered high risk. I have a pm not a defib, but I had A MILLION questions about how everything would work. I had a stroke 6weeks before I found out I was pregnant so we had a lot to worry about.

My advice to you, WRITE DOWN EVERY QUESTION YOU HAVE! I would forget mine constantly but high risk groups are prepared for people like us. I hope yours will put you at ease the way mine did. She was also my first baby so I was scared to death.

This is my experience, and maybe it will give you some things you can ask your doctor when you go. I was taken off ALL of my heart meds in the beginning. My EP and OB were really good at communicating about meds that were baby safe. They adjusted accordingly. I had ultrasounds every 4 weeks to check on my baby. As high risk, they will check him/her constantly. They did an echo of her heart in the womb at around 6 months and monitored her closely.
I had constant tachy issues where my hr was 165-185 and we were both okay. It was exhausting for me and I ran the risk of bed rest for a while, but ended up okay. I did have 3 mini strokes during my pregnancy but we were both okay. The hospital I delivered at had me see a Cardiologist and EP there beforehand so they'd be familiar with my case when I delivered. There were 4 doctors and 4 nurses in my delivery room prepared for me to stoke/bleed out or have a heart attack.. I had the easiest delivery there ever was and have a healthy, chunky little girl that is all smiles.

So it is possible for it all to go as smooth as possible. Just don't be afraid to ask anything you have concerns about. This is a big deal and I wish you all the luck in the world!!

Good Luck!
VM

Strictly from an electrical...

by donr - 2014-02-10 12:02:07

...standpoint, nothing should affect your baby.

First look at your PM functioning - it MOST likely uses a BIPOLAR lead, meaning that the pacing current passes from the core conductor, through the heart muscle to the conducting sheath, a VERY short distance away - measured in fractions of an inch. The current goes nowhere near the baby.

Now - The ICD uses a different kind of lead. (This description is of the Medtronic Sprint Quattro lead) It has 4 conductors in it - 2 for pacing & 2 for Dfib. The pacing pair is Bipolar & functions like a normal PM lead. The Defib pair is different - one of them terminates in the Superior Vena Cava - the big vein at the top of the heart where the lead passes through enroute to the interior of the heart. The center conductor of the lead passes through the heart & is embedded at the bottom (Apex) of the heart. This way, the current flows down the entire length of the heart to stop it from its uncontrolled contractions.

Here again, the two electrodes are nowhere near the baby & the current should not pass anywhere near the baby. Theoretically, since one electrode is planted at the top & the other at the bottom, the current will only flow through the heart muscle, not distribute itself throughout the body.

Ask your cardio about the leads. He/she will know.

The situation for the paddles is different. They are larger in surface area& are placed on the chest on two opposite ends of the heart. The current travels a considerably longer distance since it has to pass through other body tissue to get to the heart muscle that is the target. The voltage used also has to be higher to force the current through the skin, so the effect is much more dramatic.

Verify what I have said w/ your Cardio - but conceptually, this is correct.

I wish you the best w/ this pregnancy.
Don

DonR

by donb - 2014-02-11 10:02:17

Excellent post on ICD effects during pregnancy. This information is great for any young person & also explains the function of an ICD.
DonB

everyone

by JoFosqk226 - 2014-02-11 11:02:39

Thanks, all! Those are wonderful posts and I'm very glad to see that I'm not alone! Your information is very helpful! The high risk clinic called me last night and are having me go in tomorrow instead of the 20t. Definitely makes me feel much more cared for! Thank you for all of the encouragement and knowledge!

~Jo

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