Quinn’s Birth Story
Quinn Rae Karp — only a few days old here.
It’s a late morning on a beautiful July day, and sunshine leaks through our drapes, creating stunning streaks against my new baby’s bassinet.
My new baby, Quinn, was born eight day ago.
When I announced Quinn’s birth on Instagram, I briefly shared it was a fast labor (4 hours, start-to-finish), an unmedicated labor (as I hoped for), and also, how grateful I’ve been for a beautiful recovery thus far (mentally, spiritually, physically).
I received many DM’s asking for how I approached pregnancy, birthing, postpartum, and also, Quinn’s birth story.
It seems natural to first share my daughter’s birth story, as it is fresh in my mind.
Before I dive in, I want to say a couple things:
My gratitude for a positive labor, birth, and recovery is insurmountable — I know this isn’t the case for all women, and I’d be remiss to not acknowledge my blessings.
The way I carry pregnancy, the way I birth, the way I recover is not a prescription for how you should carry, birth, or recover. There is no “one-size-fits-all” when it comes to your journey. I am simply sharing my own unique experience with you.
Now that I’ve said that, here is Quinn’s story.
The evening before I delivered Quinn.
SHE Was Late.
Very late, actually. I was approaching my 42nd week of pregnancy, in which case, I was told—by many doulas, midwives, and doctors alike—that serious risks increase after 42 weeks of pregnancy (like stillbirth, infections, etc.).
In other words, if I reached 42 weeks, I was strongly advised to get an induction.
Despite being so uncomfortable and impatient, I chose to wait as long as possible in hopes that I would go into natural labor.
Being completely honest, I was nervous about using Pitocin to jumpstart my labor. Pitocin is a synthetic form of oxytocin that runs through an IV to help women have contractions. Indeed, Pitocin is an incredible medication to help women progress, but I viewed it as a last resort for my own labor.
Probably, a Pitocin-induced labor would be totally fine—especially if I had the right mindset around it (the mind is powerful)—but I really wanted another unmedicated labor.
I wanted an unmedicated birth for a few reasons:
I wanted the natural form of oxytocin working through my brain and body — this “happy hormone” naturally helps women cope through intense contractions, but also, is a natural chemical that helps mom and baby bond,
I had an unmedicated labor with Kennedy, and had a wonderful postpartum experience — whether it’s justified, I worried worried that, if I did something different, it might not be the same, and
I wanted to feel every sensation of bringing my baby into this world (especially the pushing piece).
So, despite all my impatience and temptation to “just get it over with,” I decided to wait. I did a membrane sweep to promote labor, and also, non-stress tests and ultrasounds in the meantime to ensure my babe was doing great.
Although my baby was doing well, I had to constantly check in with myself and my own well-being. Physically and mentally, I was at my capacity — especially because my body kept psyching me out with prodromal labor (“false labor”) with cramps, Braxton Hicks, lightening crotch, etc.
I’ve heard this is common for second-time-moms — that your body holds muscle memory, and “gears up” early, sometimes fooling you that you’re going into labor when you’re not.
That said, I knew when I was in fact going into labor.
6:30pm: it went from zero to 100.
Around 6:30pm on Tuesday, June 25th I started to feel contractions that I knew were definitively labor contractions. I knew these were it because
There was a clear start and end point to my cramping/tightening, and
The cramping wrapped around to my lower back, unlike my Braxton hicks that occurred only in my front abdomen.
After a few contractions, I called my doula, who asked me a few questions and confirmed: yes, this sounds like labor, but to call in 20 minutes to check in on how I’m feeling.
I took my time to put Kennedy to bed. As I rocked her, I experienced more contractions that wrapped around my back.
I cried tears of happiness; I knew I was going into labor, and I was so grateful my body was doing it all naturally.
My doula made her way over, and I called my mother-in-law who planned to stay with Kennedy as we were in the hospital.
8pm: i used a couple coping Tools.
My doula arrived at our home around 8pm. She prepared some hot water bags for me, and we made a little nest upstairs in my bedroom where I laid on my acupressure mat.
Side note: I laid on my acupressure mat most of my labor with Quinn.
I also had time to take a warm bath before heading to the hospital — I shaved, did some skincare, and prepared for my evening at the hospital.
I remember saying to my doula, “So, Quinn will probably be born tomorrow, making her and Kennedy only two days apart in birthdays.”
My doula said, “I’m confident she’s coming tonight.”
I was a little dumbfounded. How would Quinn come within four hours, when I labored with Kennedy for 28+ hours?
My doula was right, though.
The moment I met Quinn (you can see my acupressure mat behind me).
9pm: we made our way to the hospital.
Around 9pm, we checked into the hospital—which, frankly, felt more like a birthing center—it was super chill, quiet, easy-going. I was one of three patients.
I even had time to choose my room (I requested a lot of natural lighting) and create a mood with dimmed lamps.
The nurses checked my cervix. I was four centimeters dilated.
At this point, I felt good and ready for action with a bit of adrenaline pumping through my body. I was making conversation and jokes with the nurses.
9:30pm: it turned beautifully barbaric.
Suddenly, I had to moan through contractions. I laid on my acupressure mat, working through each one. A major contraction broke my water around 9:30pm.
When your water breaks, you know shit is about to get real — and indeed, it did.
The contractions were incredibly intense, and my most animalistic self was revealed. Moans, screams, heavy breathing, stern eyes.
I went onto my hands and knees for a few contractions, hoping gravity would help the process. Ultimately, I grew tried, making my way back to my trusted acupressure mat.
Liquid was gushing everywhere; I wasn’t sure (am still not sure) if it was my water, urine, or both. Probably both.
Within 45 minutes, I went from 4cm to 7cm dilated.
10:20pm: MY ob enters the room.
And she made it only in the knick of time.
She walked in with her sweet voice “Hi, Megan!”, and I responded, “I’m having a contraction!” and as I screamed, I felt Quinn’s head plop down (yes, plop) and the next thing I said was,
10:20pm: “I HAve to PUSH”
I felt Quinn’s head crowning; I wasn’t even pushing. She was determined to come out with little effort on my behalf.
My OB frantically pulled on her hospital gloves saying, “hold on, hold on, hold on!”
Honestly, if my OB would have entered a moment later, a nurse would have had to catch Quinn.
Her head was already out. I only had to push for her body to come into the world.
At 10:23pm, Quinn was born.
She came out with open eyes, staring into mine. I was overcome with emotion — with perseverance, gratitude, love.
Moments after birth.
TEN DAYS LATER.
I say with immense gratitude: I feel so good.
My bleeding is minimal, barely there. My two stitches have healed (I tore lightly where I previously tore with Kennedy). I have good energy, and I feel completely like myself again.
I assume much of my quick physical recovery is due to the fact that I had a quick labor, and to be clear, I don’t believe I did anything to promote a fast labor.
From what I’m told, second-time-moms typically deliver a lot faster. Put simply, nature worked in my favor here.
That said, I do believe there are a few things I do during my pregnancies that have helped my physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, like:
Regular exercise — typically, a long gentle walk and stretching (yoga, hip openers),
Dense nutrition — I eat a lot of natural foods, ranging from micronutrient dense salads but also rich fatty resources, like red meat,
Massage, baths, acupressure — to calm my nervous system,
Daily manifestation — I seek uplifting resources, positive birth stories, and mantras to help train my mind for birth and postpartum.
If I had one theme to give my pregnancy, birth, and postpartum philosophy, it would be:
“Stick to nature.”
Speaking honestly, I can’t say I’m the pregnant woman who craves McDonald’s french fries and Oreo cookies — I’m not.
If I had to guess, I think I have “trained my body” to only desire foods that come from nature (or are minimally processed — I will say, I enjoy plantain chips made in coconut oil).
My cravings aren’t often intense, but if I do have a hankering, it’s usually fatty, dense nutritious foods that derive from nature. Fatty red meats and rich dairy, like cheese, which I don’t eat much of when I’m not pregnant.
I also try to connect to nature—earthing, a cozy fire, submerging in water—things like that.
I try to move my body in a way that feels natural; walking and yoga, mostly. Nothing that feels stressful on the body.
Then, when it comes to actual labor, I try to stick to the natural process, avoiding any type of medication that might alter the natural rhythm.
Again, I want to note that I was absolutely willing to get medication if necessary, and sometimes, it is necessary for women. I am fortunate it wasn’t necessary for me.
BUT ALSO, BE FLEXIBLE.
There’s a saying, “Man plans, God laughs,” and I had to remind myself of this as I reached almost 42 weeks of pregnancy with Quinn.
I had a plan in mind for my birth. I wanted it to be unmedicated, like Kennedy’s, and in a sense, began to compare Kennedy’s birth to Quinn’s. I wasn’t proud of this, and learned I had to attach a lot less to my plan.
Because plans are not guaranteed.
Nothing is guaranteed.
I slowly let go of my ego—what my human mind desired—and trusted God in the process, believing everything would happen the way it was meant to happen.
Even if that meant my plan was to be ripped to shreds.
A healthy baby matters most.
Ultimately, I stopped trying to hold tightly to what I wanted and prayed for a safe, healthy delivery for our daughter… because that’s all that really mattered.
As my husband tells me, “it’s the result, not the process, that matters most.”
A healthy baby matters most.
The way the baby gets here… that matters a lot less.