Shannon Crocker is a mum of 3, living on the land in rural Queensland. She and her family live about half an hour from Roma in Muckadilla. Shannon has both birthed in the local, rural maternity unit using GP shared care and at Mater Mothers in Brisbane.

Shannon’s first birth was at the Roma hospital. She worked with local midwives and a GP throughout her pregnancy. Shannon had prepared for birth/labour through reading, enjoying both Kaz Cooke’s ‘Up the Duff’ and JuJu Sundin & Sarah Murdoch’s ‘Birth Skills’. These books both proved useful. Shannon appreciated Cooke’s sharing of her own birth that didn’t go to plan and found the pain management strategies from ‘Birth Skills’ really accessible, as during this birth Shannon experienced extended transition due to complications. Shannon had a leak in her hind waters and was advised that induction, at 40+5 weeks, could prevent this risk of infection. Shannon was induced, but felt her body wasn’t yet ready to birth. She did reach 10 cm dilation, after around 10 hours, but due to a cervical lip and the position of her son pushing was not progressing. This meant that they needed to call in a fly in obstetric specialist from Mount Isa, upon his arrival and through the use of forceps Shannon’s son was born.

This first birth experience and extended time in transition made Shannon feel very far away from the extra help that can sometimes be needed in emergency situations and so for her second and third pregnancies she sought care through Mater Mothers in Brisbane with a private obstetrician. This ob. supported Shannon through sharing prenatal care appointments with a local GP.  Shannon also continued to connect with local services through attending midwifery appointments at Roma hospital – so her care pattern had three branches. Shannon’s second and third births were via caesarean section, they cultivated a sense of calm and were healing experiences.

In this interview as Shannon shares her story she describes the differences between her births, she delves into postpartum and offers solid advice on how rural women can gain further support through associations like Uniting Care (Rural and Remote Support).
https://www.unitingcareqld.com.au/services-and-support/family-support/outback-families

Shannon still lives in rural Queensland on the family farm and she also runs a small business.
https://acountrymum.com/
You can connect with Shannon via Instagram:
@acountrymum