The Birth: Isobel and Sam

Below is a transcript from the Midwife Angela... My comments are in blue...

20 Jan Isobel is experiencing some pains and is not sleeping well. I decided to stay home today thinking that things might be happening.

21 Jan

1000: went for coffee at Hydro, Isobel is a bit tired and still experiencing some pains.

1300 Met at midewife clinic. Had VE excellent soft with nobbly OS (previous cryo).

1700: Jess comes over for a visit, I then go for a run...

1800: Isobel is not feeling too well when I get back from run. Feel very guilty for going.

1830: Grab a quick bit (something from the freezer). Isobel is on tge bed in quite some pain.

1900: Starting to have some pains that are more regular. We try going for a walk. Feels a bit better and less pain.

2000: Isobel is getting stronger pains. I try to get her to drink but she is not feeling very well at all. She is sick.

2030: Isobel is sick again and I decide that we should call Angela.

2045: drive to the River Ridge East Birthing Centre and head into a unit.

2055: Admitted to River Ridge East Birthing Centre with history of very long latent phase for over 24 hours. Pains every 4 minutes lasting 45 seconds. 1 cm dilated on admission. No change [since this afternoon].

2105: 50mg pethidine IV and maxalon 10mg.

2115: Settled and relaxed. Left to sleep. Fetal HR 130-146.

2330: Isobel rang bell, passed large blood clot in toilet. Contractions have decreased and Isobel has managed to have some sleep. VE CX remains posterior, 2cm dilated. Large amount of blood clot post exam. From CX? Will try getting into the pool. Fetal HR 132-150.

2345: Into pool. Much more relaxed. Coping well in water with contractions every 5-7 mins. 1 litre of IV hartmans. Fetal HR 140

22 Jan

0100: pethidine 50mg via IV. Settled to sleep again. FH 132-136.

0215: Spontaneous Rupture of Membranes. Clear blood stained liquid draining. VE 5 cm dilated. settled back to sleep again.

0415: Gas, commenced contracting regularly and lasting longer. FH 140-150

0430: Using gas well. FH 120-126

0530: Isobel request VE. FH 118-122 No change from before. 5 cm dilated. 2nd litre of IV commenced.

0630: FH 122-128

0730: Into pool and using gas. FH 120-132

0830: Urge to push. Good red show.

0900: Sat on toilet to encourage effective pushing. Contracting 1:5.

Angela took the gas away from Iz. I checked the read out. She had just used i/3 of a tank!!!

1000: Progressing steadily. Now out of pool on bed. FH 126. In semi reclined.

1015: FH 150-156 Isobel now on all fours. Ineffective pushing.

1020: Now on birthing stool on bed. much better pushing and encouragement.

1030: FH 150 and 110 in contraction.

1045: Now pushing well and effectively. FH 150 between contractions.

1137: Baby born in good condition -> skin to sin. Oxytocin 10 units. No mucking about, she was moved directly onto Iz's chest and wiped a bit. For some reason I thought that she might have been taken away for a quick wash or something... I watched as Sam took her first breath and a small cry. Angela clamped the cord then handed me the scissors and I then cut the cord! It is quite thick and took quite a bit of effort! Then the blood splattered everywhere!

1142: Placenta and membranes. Baby weight 2.49Km 2nd degree tear sutured in two layers. Interrupted sutures as very jagged tear. I could not quite pluck up the courage to check out the placenta... Angela got me to take a look at the stitches. This was quite difficult as it looked rather painful and swollen and bruised...

1230: Baby put to breast and sucked well once latched. Mum up to shower, then transferred to P/N room.

So there you have it... A very long few days and maybe one of the toughest that I have ever seen

Sam enters the world !

What an event! I can't believe it man the birth was a LOT tougher than I ever thought it would be. Of course each woman has a different experience, but we have decided that athlete woman will have harder labour because of bigger, tighter muscles...

More to come...

Sent from Ant's iPhone

The bike or the baby...

Well obviously the baby... but she was due on Saturday and as yet still does not look in any hurry to join us. Iz is getting a little apprehensive but I think a bit early to start worrying just yet.

On the plus side I was able to get out for a good long run - 1h55m and 25k followed by a 4km swim on Sat so that was good to do. I would have done them in the reverse order except the Te Rapa pool was closed. Still a nice and steady run. The swim was not so great as I was quite tired (really) so was only averaging about 1'm37" per 100m.

Sunday dawned rain so I jumped on the trainer and did a 2hr set with 3 20m 10x2m 1 gear harder sets. Not too bad. I did not do it too hard or with too much resistance just in case...

This week I am hoping for a long run mid week and long swim sat with a bike and run after, plus a 5hr ride Sunday... we'll see how that pans out...

It just keeps getting better

Wow, I cannot believe it! 5 minutes faster than by previous personal best at Tauranga two years ago.

Ok, admittedly, the weather was perfect hardly any wind and a bit of cloud cover to keep the heat down a bit...

Starting with the pros was interesting at the start. Just like last year we drifted way over the line. This time I was quite happy about that! They were trying to bring us back and then the gun went. I found a set of feet for a while and then hand to swim in the front of a pack the whole way. Not much fun. Got stung whilst swimming through part of a jellyfish too. 29'44" so not too bad for the course with the tide etc...

  
Exiting the water...

Into T1 one did not run that quickly never seem to be able to just got caught by the first of the age groupers too. 1'23" 

Onto the bike and I did swim quite hard so was feeling not so great. Did not get going. A group started to form with me, Armando, Rob D and Paul W. We were going at about 40Km/h or there abouts.

 

Starting out it was quite wet...

Started picking up riders all over the place... Caught Jo and Shacks, then Walter, Glen G, Micheal K and Tony. That's when I tried to get away. No go every one was onto that. Then Michael K had a go... I tried to go past and push on. That lasted a few minutes then Paul went past and one other and I go pinged for drafting I cannot believe it! I'm quite sure I was not. well at least I am sure that 15seconds had not elapsed when the last rider went past me. But what do you do? Nothing I think just take the penalty and get going.

  
End of first lap on my own here due to penalty.

I got into the penalty box first but was too slow to line up and did not get the card first. So I was first in and third out. That did not go down to well either I do not think that the officials really new what the were doing. I reckon it cost me 3 mins from off bike to back on at speed. 

    

Just starting the second lap...

I caught the two in front of me Michael and Rob and then pushed on riding a lot harder than I might have otherwise... time with penalty 2h15m13s Still a personal best...

T2 was quite good for me, 1'23" I put socks on as usual so pleased with that considering it is quite a long run out of T1.

Then onto the run. I was feeling quite tired by this stage. Was beginning to wonder if I biked to hard... Michael then went past quite fast, faster than I dared anyway, then Rob. Rob then took a detour to a rubbish bin worried that he might get pinged for littering! Once 'round to Ocean Beach Road I caught and past Michael and did not see him again. I then past Shacks and Tony, his calf was gone so was only going to be able to try and complete. I started to feel good so tried to get going a bit. I sore Mark B ahead which gave me something to aim for. after turn around he had to duck into the sand dunes - he then came out just in front of me! Glen G then went past like a man possed. He is really quiet good at pacing himself on the bike.. I caught Mark at the base of the Mount track... Took it easy on the climbs and free running on the downs.

First lap with Rob just behind

At the half way in just over 42' - not bad for this course hoping for more like sub 41' but I'll take it! Had a GU and started taking coke. Things stared to take a turn for the worse on the beach road heading out again and I think I lost a bit of time. But once I started to work out possible finish times and see what was possible, I started to wind it up a bit... the Mount track the second time really hurt and the last few hills were quite slow...

'Round the Mount...

Down onto The Mall for the last time the cramp started to appear in the hamstrings but was still able to run well to the line...

The Finish :)

Total time : 4h 13m 30s 

Fantastic result. I think that the draft bust cost me 3 mins for a unofficial time of 4:10:30 Can you believe that? Very good conditions for the bike so a bike split could have been 2h12m !!!

Tauranga Half Ironman Race Plan

Isobel is nearing the end of pregancy so there is always a chance that this will not happen... we'll see. I'm just going into this race to have a bit of fun and go hard. I will try not to get too worried about the outcome.

Gear

• Goggles TYR technoflex jr clear ,
• Will wear my 2Xu shorts and 2xu ACT top, familar and comfortable,
• race belt with number on reverse and tucked into shorts,
• Don't forget body glide!
• Xterra wetsuit will be good,
• On the bike will use my aero LAS helmet and ZIPP 404/808 combo with Open Pro CX tyres and new wheel cover for the 808 to make it not entirely unlike a disk,
• Use the Orbea Ora TT bike!
• Shimano shoes.
• On the run will don a cap and glasses and my Nike flats,will take the time to put on a pair of socks. 
• Don't forget some lube for the shoes!
• Areo bottle on the bars so allow lots of drinking easily...
• Spare Tub and 2 x CO2 and tyre leavers taped in cage behind saddle.
• Arm coolers/warmers available
• Polypro available

Food

• For the ride food I will use 4 GU gels.
• For drink I will use Cytomax, one scoop per bottle. Two bottles.
• For the Run will take 3 GUs and have one every 20mins with water then,
• coke/water after that.
• Might have a couple of salt tablets first and second lap too.

Race Plan

Days Before

• Check wheels OK,
  
• Tape up the container to hold spares.

Night before

• Rack bike and cover it so does not get too wet.
• Fill drink bottles (3) night before.
  
• Tape GUs to top tube 4.

Pre race

• Breakfast - simple toasted museli, Tea.
• Get bike together, tyres pumped up, shoes on right pedals, Put fluid into front aero bottle,
• Other drink on.
• Put helmet on top of bars,
• put sal tablets in helmet,
• Put spares and leavers in back holder properly so they do not come out. TAPE IT.
• Put some vasiline in shoes,
• Layout running shoes with socks in each shoe half inside out,
• put cap above shoes with glasses and with three GU's.

Pre swim

• Put on sun tan lotion,
• quick run warm up 10 mins
• put wetsuit on and body glide,
• zip up and get in water 15min before start, for a 5-10m swim warm-up leave no more than 5mins before race.

Swim

• Tuck in behind Tony,
• Try to hold on as long as possible,
• Find feet to swim on.
• When age groupers come past, keep trying to hang on to feet...
• At end of first lap, try and find a good set of feet if not already,
• Go hard no hanging about!

T1

• As coming out water take off top part of wetsuit, unzip and pull off arms,
• take off googles and cap and carry,
• hit lap button at T1 entry,
• At bike, drop goggles etc,
• Pull off wetsuit,
• salt tablets in top,
• Put helmet on,
• unrack bike and head for exit.

Bike

• hit lap button,
• jump on bike with left pedal forward, stand on left shoe push forward and get right foot onto right shoe,
• get up to speed and then put left foot in first, then get some more speed on,
• then do right shoe, now go!
• settle in and have a drink...

Bike Tactics

• See how feel after swim, if a bit tired, don't push too hard, 
• Have a GU,
• Once feel better wind it up, if windy steady.
• wind it up on the flat/down hill/tail wind parts,
• do not over do it into the wind,
• At each of the turn arounds on the first lap evaluate where you are - how far back,
• maybe another steady - hard session to catch a group. 
• On the last two laps wind it up on the good road surfaces and wind conditions.
• Last half lap ride steady and try to recover.
• Last GU before transistion

T2

• Dismount,
• hit lap button,
• Rack bike,
• take helmet off,
• put sock/shoes one one foot at a time,
• get glasses/cap/GUs and run to exit putting glasses and cap on,
• turn race number around,
• put GUs and tablets into pockets,
• hit the exit hard at full speed.
• press lap button.

Run

• settle into a good fast pace perhaps faster than ususal sub 4m/km,
• take a GU at 30m,
• first lap drink carbo drink and water, take salt tablets, at each aid station,
• GU and 60m,
• 2nd lap take coke if available.

Run Tactics

• 2 lap course loop no easy markers.
• Make the most of the road surfaces and run as fast as possible,
• Don't over do it 'round the Mount,
• take splits against anyone in front, try to catch earlier i.e. lap 1 or 2
  
• Hang on for last lap!

Finish

• Have a drink!
• Party, party, party...