Here Today, Gone Tomorrow, Forever With You.: March 2015

Not gonna lie.

Giving birth is the hardest thing I have EVER done.

So this is all about the birth of Keegan Thorlongus Crawford.

He was born 02/10/15 5:15 PM

8 lbs 8 oz and 20.5 inches long!

BIG BOY!

In all reality, contractions started Saturday when I went in to work. I was just handing out samples that day. On my way to work I started feeling nauseous probably because I needed to eat.

When I got to work they were SUPER busy so I ran around helping here and there, before I started the samples. Truck came so I went back to the kitchen to talk to Jake about it.

In the middle of a sentence... That's when it came. My first contraction.

I wasn't sure. It didn't feel like the braxon hicks I had before.

But I had to stop,
and breathe.

Totally took me off guard! and Jake too! He asked if I was okay, which I was, and said oh just some pregnancy stuff when he asked what happened.

Went about the day like normal.

Picked up my Mom from the temple. (I think)

Then we went grocery shopping.

We went to Costco.

Walmart.

JoAnne's

Macey's (because Walmart didn't have my deodorant or the cheap nail clippers)

then ran into Little Caesar's for dinner.

I was having little period cramp like contractions the whole time.

Mom knew. Matt knew.

I went to the bathroom, and saw what I was my mucus plug.

I didn't want to say anything to anyone. Didn't want to jinx myself.

Is he really coming?

But I started getting things ready. I finalized my birth plan. Email it to Matt's Mom. (Just in case)

We had plans to go to the Fire and Ice thing at the Riverwoods.

Mom's friend and her family were there.

We finally made it over there, quite a bit later than planned for obvious reasons. Walked around looked at everything, as my contractions got stronger. Towards the end of the night my Mom went to find herself a new bra that fit. So I went with her. When I sat down the contractions started slowing down and going away.

They went away until the next morning.

We didn't go to stake conference because I had no idea where it was and because we didn't know what my body was going to do. I just hung around the house all day.

Took a bath.

Lost some membranes, then showered off. I went visiting teaching. Contractions picked back up. Made Taco Soup for Dinner. We did nothing super active or anything. We went to bed around 11 PM.

I had a meeting that next morning in South Jordan, and Matt and I agreed that if the contractions kept up or got worse I would not go.

Sure enough at 2 AM contractions woke up me and kicked me out of bed. I bounced on my exercise ball for bit. Went back to sleep for 2 hours and woke up to contractions again. This kept up until 7 AM.

Matt was supposed to into work that Monday. He woke up and just didn't feel right about it.

So I told him, okay we really need to actively be getting this baby out today. He went back to bed after that. And I don't remember much from that morning. Mom cleaned up the baby's room. (she is stayed in) I bounced on my ball and kept her company. I washed all the baby blankets and newborn clothes I recently received. Matt woke up and we walked down to the Provo Bakery.

Which is when my contractions really started kicking in.

I also don't remember much from that day in general I guess.

I was timing contractions just carrying about normal things. They got SUPER close together from 6-8 PM. I was SO excited!

During that time they were 3.5 minutes apart, lasting about 1 minute or more each!

(We were doing the 321 method- Contraction 3 mins apart, for 2 hours lasting 1 min each)

SOOOOOOO CLOSE!

But from 8-9 they slowed down, and got more intense. I was so bummed! They were so dang close together!

I made Matt call Labor and Delivery and ask.

We decided not to go in, but my Mom coaxed us to go walk around Walmart and see if we could get them going again. So we packed up everything and headed out.

We walked around Walmart for maybe an hour. The contractions picked up again.But not as close as they needed to be. They were 5 minutes apart. I was SO frustrated.

I knew exactly what was going to happen.

So we just went home.

We went to bed. That next hour my contractions got REALLY strong. Just laying in bed. I was having a hard time breathing through them. The were only 4 minutes apart. But because of the intensity of the contractions we decided to go in. So we packed up AGAIN. Called Matt's Mom. And headed to the hospital.

When the nurse checked me I was 80% effaced and dilated to a 3.

Only a 3.
I was pretty frustrated.

That next hour they had me stay in bed and monitored the baby's heart and my blood pressure and contractions. In that hour I progress to a 4. They officially admitted me. Asked for my birth plan, Called my doctor and got everything ready and set up. My blood pressure was pretty high still.

My doctor was a little worried about my blood pressure so I was given a hep lock.

Which took 4 times to get in!

Yes. That means they busted 3 veins trying for that hep lock.

Not going to lie.

THAT HURT LIKE HELL.

It was probably from my pressure being so high.

Those definitely hurt WAY more than the contractions at the time.

I was moved to the bigger room with the tub right after that. So happy and excited to try the tub to work through those contractions. That was the first thing I tried. I got my swimsuit on and hopped in. Sadly the water and jets hardly helped the contractions. I tried everything from laying on my side, to my exercise ball, my knees/all fours, walking/swaying/dancing, pressure points...

The only thing that seemed to help was walking/swaying/dancing.
And I would only let my nurse and Matt help me.
So from about midnight 02/10/15 until 9 AM I was working through those contractions.
It was killing me.
I hadn't slept that night and hardly the night before. My body was extremely exhausted. 9 AM came around and I felt miserable. My hips felt like they were going to shatter. I got something to take the edge of the contractions. Which basically just made me feel the peak of the contractions and confined me to my bed for an hour. SO DID NOT HELP!
I got up after than hour and I remember just making the decision.Time for an epidural. I just could not handle it anymore. I couldn't relax and I was exhausted. Cervical checks were the worst. The last contraction I felt was definitely the one that made me grateful for the epidural.
I held on to Matt for dear life.
My hips hurt so bad! I had the thought to just fall on the floor during it.
It was terrible.
I was very afraid to get the epidural,
And really did NOT want to get a catheter.
Well, I hardly felt the needle and didn't feel the catheter at all.
My nurse went ahead and checked me.I was at an 8!!!! WHAT!??!! No wonder I was in so much pain! I was in transition. She also told me I had A LOT of fluid right in front of the baby's head. Which is also why I was hurting so bad.
Well for the next few hours we all took a nap.
THANK GOODNESS!
I woke up around 12 PM and felt so much better. My nurse came in then and check me again. My water broke.I was at a 10! She called my doctor and we were given the go ahead to start pushing.
Well, pushing went on forever.
The monitor watching my contractions would stay on either. So that was no help.
I was in different positions and was even able to use the squatting bar for awhile.
This little boy would not come!
Luckily he wasn't under any stress, and his heartbeat was perfectly fine.
He did however have his first bowel movement while in the womb.
Fun fact: I kept on receiving calls from people I was working with so in between pushes I was sending texts back. haha
My nurse called my doctor and explained what was going on. I had three choices.
1. Keep on pushing (I was already not looking pretty down there)
2. Forceps
3. C-Section.
My mom really didn't like that last choice and started freaking out a bit,
We called Brother Hadlock (from our previous ward) to help Matt give me a blessing.
Which was a wonderful relief and was such a comfort.
Shortly after my Doctor came in and brought another Doctor for a second option.
Forceps is what we had to do.
My epidural was wearing off so the anesthesiologist came back in and gave me a stronger dose. (I think)
I was a bit worried, especially when they were trying to place them on his cheeks. They slipped a couple of times adjusting them.Dr. Andrews (my doctor) said we would know if the forceps would work with just a couple of pushes.
Then the room filled up with like 10 million people. Seriously no joke. It was SOOOOO FULL!
Well, I started pushing again and my mom's face lit up.
Apparently it was working!
5 pushes and he was out!
The immediately put him on my stomach.
Screaming, bloody and all,
One of the first things I said was something along the line of; "That was in me?"
Totally felt surreal, and it still does.

I don't remember too much at this point.
I know I looked at Matt and told him yes to Thorlongus (middle name). I looked at Keegan and felt it fit him.
I saw Matt cut the cord then they took him over to the heater, rubbed in the vernix, weighed and measured him. Then wrapped him up and stuck a hat on him.
Brought him back to me.
All I really remember is shaking like crazy, feeling like I was going to throw up, and being really tired.
I think Matt took him. I know they gave me something for the nausea. I know they were stitching me up.
And then I was out...
I woke up somewhere around 7:30-7:45ishh.
(Keegan was born at 5:15 PM)
According to my Mom I looked really bad. No color in my face, even my lips.
Matt was really worried about me.
My Dr. even ordered a lab to see how much blood I lost,
I don't know how they calculate it or even the label, but normal losing amount is 500 and I lost 650.
Because of all the blood lost my blood pressure took a HUGE dip too!
Between those two things, not sleeping, and shock is what I contribute my passing out to.
When I woke up they were finishing stitching my up.
I had a 3rd degree tear. My cervix even tore!
I was still shaking pretty bad!
I was handed Keegan because he hadn't nursed or ate anything yet.
I know holding him and having him nursed calmed those shakes down to nothing!
THEN I GOT TO EAT!!!!!!!!
I WAS SO FREAKIN' HUNGRY!
That was when they did a PKU screening, and gave Keegan a shot.
He was screaming. Matt was SOOO CUTE! He was standing near him and said: "I don't know what to do?" I told him to comfort him, talk to him rub his stomach or something. Matt did that and Keegan started to calm down. Seriously, CUTEST THING EVER!
Then they moved us into another room...and brought me more snacks,
Matt stayed the night that night. Even though he went into work the next day.
I woke up in the middle of the night extremely uncomfortable and in pain. The remainder of the epidural wore off. And of course that's when Keegan woke up. That was the only time he got formula, I just couldn't handle trying to nurse at that moment.
The next day was good.
Lots of people came to visit.
We REALLY got started on nursing.
We went home on Thursday. Which is a miracle my body bounced back so quickly.