Larissa Petfield is mum to 3 girls in rural Queensland. She lives on a cattle station. Her home ‘Attica Station’ is located about 120km out of Augathella and it’s 30kms to hop over to her neighbours.

Larissa grew up in Kingaroy. When she first fell pregnant, knowing 36 week relocation was necessary to access birthing facilities, Larissa chose to birth in Kingaroy with a known GP/Ob. Relocating to her parents house meant that she had prior knowledge of the hospital staff and this helped her to feel supported. She went into labour shortly after relocation, in her 38th week of pregnancy. She laboured during the day, through intense back pains, before discovering  her daughter was presenting posterior and breeched. She was in highly active labour when she and her team decided to redirect and she birthed her daughter via unplanned emergency c-section.  Her postpartum was well supported by a group of powerhouse playgroup mums in Augathella and Larissa readily drove the hour and a half for this connection and support.

Larissa felt very supported by the staff present at her first daughter’s birth and so when she fell pregnant again she reactivated her care plan. She was planning a VBAC but changed plans after having a reaction during the induction. Her first and second daughter were born close together, after fertility consultation in Toowoomba; however, they waited a little longer before trying for number 3.

Larissa’s youngest daughter is a survivor. During Larissa’s 20 week scan her daughter was diagnosed with serious heart defects. Young Annie presented with:

1. Pulmonary valve stenosis

2. Hypoplastic right ventricle

3. a large ASD

4. VSD

5. Bilateral Superior Vena Cavae with LSVC draining to coronary sinus

So for Larissa’s third pregnancy she required specialist care via Brisbane’s Mater Mothers.

Larissa and her husband have been faced with a challenging journey through gestation and early childhood monitoring and surgery. At times they felt highly supported but there were times when medical support people laid judgement and conversations around late term termination were difficult for them to endure.

Larissa birthed her third daughter via planned c-section at Mater Mother’s and now at four years old she is their families little miracle.

Larissa has traversed back through this emotional experience in hopes that others, who are faced with similar circumstances and isolated from medical assistance, know help is accessible.