Abdominal pacemaker and pregnancy?

Hello I'm new to this page and just wanted to see if anyone could answer my question because due to financial circumstances I can't see the referral adult cardiologist I was referred to anyways my name is Alyssa I'm 22 years old and I have had a pacemaker since age 4 due to sinus node dysfunction and a VSD I got my first one placed in my abdomen and I'm on my 3rd pacemaker now as an adult I'm currently a college student and I want to have a family someday but due to my abdominal pacemaker I don't know if it it's life threatening and I currently take my heart medication Lisinopril which I know can cause birth defects if anyone can help me by answering my question I'd greatly appreciate it thanks

2 Comments

motherhood

by The real Patch - 2017-09-21 13:25:47

I'm not a woman, and never been pregnant but...

as an adult, unless you are extremely small in stature, your device will be moved to the pectoral region (shoulder).

As for the Lisinopril, that's a decision you and your Cardiologist will need to make and there are other options.

What I really wanted to point out is that there are many women who have pacemakers and ICDs who have children. Our Moderaztor TraceyE is one of those. In fact she got her first pacemaker as a child, and now she's an old lady with two college age children. She's still quite young but I always have to needle her a bit. I'm sure she'll add her invaluable input as well.

Good luck and don't worry you'll be able to have children if it's mean to be

pregnancy and pacers

by Tracey_E - 2017-09-21 20:52:46

Patch is a trouble maker :oP

Have you discussed having it moved when you have your next replacement? That's what I would do. I know of a few others paced during pregnancy but we all have them in the chest. Patch doesn't count well, I was an adult when I got my first one so I've never had abdominal  placement but I understood they usually moved it once you hit your teens and are mostly done growing. I can't  imagine that it would feel good during pregnancy if it's not moved.

I have a different condition than you, congenitall heart block, but I had two uneventful perfectly normal pregnancies and deliveries. Teaching them to drive was much harder on my heart than carrying them. You'll for sure want to discuss meds, switch to something else well in advance.  Also, your cardio and ob will need to talk beforehand to discuss monitoring and limitations.  But it's been done before and hopefully with care and preparation, you can safely be pregnant, too. 

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