Wendy posted:
"Mother who is 42 has 4 month old baby, fully breastfed - long gap since
other
babies.
6 years ago she was fitted with a pacemaker. Since the birth of this baby
she
has been experiencing episodes of arythmia - upto 170 beats/minute but
irregular. She has been admitted to intensive care but has refused
medication. So far treatment has been to monitor but to startle her -
presumably to produce natural adrenaline - by ice water plunges and attempts
to make her angry!!!  Only time this actually worked was because of her
level
of distress at being told not to breastfeed. She feels the episodes are
hormone related and is under increasing pressure to take medication which
she
strongly objects to and/or to stop breastfeeding which she also doesn't want
to accept."

Wendy,
Hard to comment a lot without specifics but there are anti arrhythmics mom
can take. Why doesn't she find out the suggested med(s) and check their
compatibly with breastfeeding?  Or fix the pace maker?
The ice water is often used for supraventricular tachycardia. Placing ice
and or cold water on the face causes a mammalian diving reflex which slows
the heart rate. Obviously whales and dolphins are better at this than
humans.

-Rob


Rob Cordes, DO, FAAP, FACOP
general pediatrician
Wilkes Barre PA
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