Cardiac event monitoring

[phonix]

Has anybody had this whilst pregnant? I'm due to be fitted a monitor tomorrow which I'll have to wear for 6 days. They say it doesn't interfere with baby, but I'm not entirely convinced. Any first hand experiences?

The monitor I had was just a recorder- when I had an episode I held it over the heart, pressed on, then it would record the rhythm. You just phoned the hopsital, and sent the recording over the phone to the department to analyse.

There is certainly no risk to baby with that type.

If you have any questions, don't be scared to ask them at your appointment tomorrow- the technicians will be happy to allay any fears I'm sure.

Thanks CN!
I've already phoned them expressing my concerns. This device would be on me for six whole days, almost 24/7, they explained that it's very similar to Holter monitoring (which I have had before), two electrodes attached to my chest with the recording being continuous. I think I'll cancel my appt tomorrow.

I assume it is just a mobile ECG machine... it shouldnt do anything to the baby.

I've had several of these and I really can understand your anxiety. And like you, I very nearly backed out each time.

Is there anything you could do to make having the monitor easier for you? Like scheduling lots of relaxing things to do during the six days, buying yourself a few new books, organising coffees with friends etc...?

You will get through it. Certainly, it's stressful but at least it doesn't hurt as much as labour

Just realised I didn't answer your initial question - no, it cannot hurt your baby at all in any way. There's no radiation or ultrasound or any output from the device. Nothing that could hurt the baby. But again, I understand your fear...

Thanks for all your replies and reasurrance re. the safety of this procedure!
My main problem is that I don't think it's absolutely necessary to have this done at the moment. I had a consultation with my cardiologist a few days ago, and it was almost over when I happened to mention something to him which effectively initiated the whole idea in a very light-hearted manner, like "OK, why don't we do a six-day monitoring then?" sort of way...

Also, by the time the report comes back from the monitoring, I'll barely have a couple more weeks left of my pregnancy, I just really cannot see the point.
My cardiac episodes usually continue for a few weeks after having baby (this is my third), so it could easily be done at a later stage.

It also doesn't help that I spent half the night on the maternity ward last night, due to having an accident with a swing on the playground earlier that afternoon:-(((.
I really am NOT in a good frame of mind for any of this at the moment.

How did it go phonix?
Hope you are feeling a little less stressed today.

I've had some time to calm down now - thanks for asking!!
But I still cancelled my cardiology appt yesterday. No regrets about that. My DH agreed, even though he too confirmed that this procedure poses no risk to baby (he works in medical publishing). However, he could also see how making decisions about things like this is stressing me out lately - before this there was the swine flu vaccine, then a few bump related accidents. He agrees that it would do more harm than good if I was anxious (albeit totally unnecessarily) about doing the heart monitoring. It would probably bring on the palpitations twice as strong, too. He is a total gem of a man .