Now a little bit about the birth. Sorry to bore you, but (a) it's my only topic of conversation at the moment, and (b) it does have some relevance to my future running plans.
Naomi was born by emergency caesarean section after detection of fetal tachycardia a high heart rate. Wed noticed this at home using a portable fetal heart monitor (yes HRMs do serve a purpose!) and by the time we got to hospital the rate was literally off the scale of the instrument more than 240 (previously it had been around 140). We left home at 3.20 pm, drove about 15 miles to Reading hospital, and by 4.44 she was born.
The docs initially thought the high heartbeat was due to an infection, but the rate didnt come down, and after an ECG they diagnosed
supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). We were assured that this could be managed with medication, but there were a few days of real worry as they tried several different treatments to bring the rate down including the highly technical "dunking babys head in icy water for 10 seconds" (they did that three times). The SVT wasnt causing her any problems as such, but we wondered how long her heart could take the stress.
After a few days and various drugs the SVT began to abate, and after 10 days or so she was down to only about 6 hours SVT per 24 hours. We were initially told that she couldnt go home until shed been SVT-free for 48 hours, which seemed an impossible task, especially since one of the drugs seemed to always send her back into SVT for an hour or so. But after a couple of days we were told that since she was suffering no ill-effects, we should "take her home, treat her like a normal baby, and bring her straight in if she turns blue." I do like a simple plan. That, plus the five doses of medication per day (orally, thank goodness).
And thats where shes at now, at six weeks today. Shes thriving, and we have no idea whether shes suffering any SVT or not we still have the heart monitor, but amazingly havent been tempted to use it once. Later this month were attending a clinic with the cardiologist, who will discuss longer term plans. It seems theres a decent chance that she will grow out of it without the need for surgery.
So, what does this have to do with running? Well, obviously it means I havent any time to do any a situation that for once Im entirely happy about. Actually Ive squeezed in two half-hour jaunts since the birth hard going, but satisfying.
But furthermore, I had been thinking about doing London 2007, and more generally whether long-distance running is a sensible sport to pursue, compared with say swimming or cycling. Now having spent 12 days in the special care baby unit, in the company of some people in far worse situations than ours, its occurred to me that it wouldnt kill me to do a charity marathon once a year and put something that I enjoy to good use. Destroying my hip joints may save a life.
So Im hoping that in the next few months I can prove to myself that I can find the time to train for a marathon. It seems that in late summer / autumn, Berks / Bucks borders is the place to be, as I have four half marathons (Burnham Beeches, Windsor, Henley and Marlow) within 10 miles of me in consecutive months. BB is already out due to other plans, but I hope to do two of those four. Plus the Runners World events diary reveals seven 10Ks, a 10 miler and a 5K in the area before the end of the year - a smattering of those would be nice.
Suffice to say this is currently all in my mind - no miles have yet been logged. But hopefully the next time I pull on my Asics it will be the first step on another big adventure.
Cant let Naomi have all the fun.
...and then there were two
You're making me feel guilty now...
.. but thank you for that!
