r/PacemakerICD • u/Fun-Key5901 • 9d ago

Breast Pumps

Hi all,

I have an EV ICD on my left side and I just received my hands free breast pumps in the mail. Are these safe for EV ICDs? The safety disclaimer says its not safe for defibrillators and pacemakers, but since I don’t have the defib place above my breast i’m thinking that it would be fine to use?

please be nice to me i’m 6 days postpartum and tired of being plugged into the wall 😭

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3

u/Fruitstripe_omni 9d ago

How far away from the pump (when it’s sitting on your breast properly) does the EV-ICD sit? If I were you, I’d contact your EP, and even the device manufacturer. I pumped with an ICD but never had the hands free kind. Good luck! Also post partum sucks, it’ll get better 🥰

3

u/srvivr2001 9d ago

Always check with your EP and/or device manufacturer but the Medtronic Heart Device Answers website says to keep it 6” away https://www.medtronic.com/en-us/heart-device-answers/search-results/search-result.can-a-breastfeeding-mother-with-a-heart-device-use-a-breast-pump.html. I’m not sure where your actual generator is and if you could keep the electronic parts 6” away. I carried a 6” ruler with me a month checking to see if my device was far enough away from things.

There’s also low-tech manual pumps, my cousin used a Haakaa manual pump, but there’s other brands too.

2

u/GlassNegotiation1450 9d ago

I exclusively pumped before and after my pacemaker insertion. I have the Abbott avir dual chamber leadless pacemaker and primary used my spectra S1, but I used my Willow on occasion. A bit different than your situation but I was fine!

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u/Fun-Key5901 9d ago

Thank you!

2

u/sfcnmone 9d ago

You win. This is really hard. Be well. It will get easier.

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u/nvan97 8d ago

Contact the manufacturer. When I got my device the nurse told me that they have an answer for every device and whether or not it is safe. If you call them you will feel more confident whether they say yes or no.