My name is Jade Farmer, I am 24, and was born at home in the bath in Eudlo Queensland with midwife, Jane Ferguson. My sisters were born in Brisbane with midwives Jane Ferguson, Judy Thompson and Vicki Chan. One of my mother?s births was in hospital after 63 hours labour but Vicki still delivered her 9lb 6oz baby. I was in attendance at part or all of 3 of these births.

At 19, I delivered my first child in the Royal Brisbane Hospital, It was a 26 hour labour, with a posterior bub who was approx 3 weeks early (apparently). I dilated very slowly to begin with but refused all pain relief other than gas. A nurse attempted to catheterise me part way through my birth but "missed" 3 times at which point she was told in no uncertain terms to go away. I found it very frustrating to be able to look at tubs but be told that they were not qualified to use them. My mother and my husband were in attendance. I was spoken down to, intimidated and taken advantage of, in the middle of a particularly painful contraction a nurse gave me a pethidine injection (which i had not agreed to) stating that it would be a long time and it would be fine as I was only 5 cm dilated and my membranes were intact. Approximately 40 minutes later i told my mum that i needed to push, so jsut to be sure she asked me to try not to push through one....this was impossible! So by now, mum and I both know that it is nearly time to have this baby. Upon telling the nurse this she told me that i wasn't! so mum told the nurse that she had been there done this and would be more than happy to deliver it herself. A short time later my membranes ruptured. After about 20 minutes, of pushing (on my back at hospitals insistence) i delivered my son. He was not breathing, the hospital then proceeded to make sure it was emergency by cutting his cord. bad move. His apgar scores were 7 and 9 and he weighed 6lbs 7oz. I was then discharged from hospital 2 days later, unable to yet feed my baby. Overall this was a horrible and scary experience

I fell pregnant again at 21, feeling like i had no choice i attended hospital appointments until 30 weeks. My mother then told me that she was terrified of coming to the hospital again with me and that she would pay for me to deliver at home. I jumped at this chance, although it took a little more to convince my partner, he was pretty much told what was happening . So at 32 weeks, I met Dierdre Bowman (Ashiq). Went into labour at 35 weeks, but that was quickly solved with some prompt zinc drinking at Dierdre's advice. I mad eit to 40 weeks, and 41 and 42..... So at 41.5 weeks Dee did a little stretch and sweep but it had little effect, i also started attending acupuncture every 2 days and went to the naturopath to get some serious labour herbs happening. I finally went into labour at 1 day short of 43 weeks (again, apparently) Again she was posterior. this labour lasted about 13 hours. I was not dilating evenly so i was walking up stairs sideways so shift bubbys head, mum was cooking soup for after the birth, my partner was watching the world cup soccer. At one point i was getting pushing contractions but was not ready to push yet, so we told Steve (my hubby) to go have a lie down and we would do it, so mum breathed through the most painful contractions i have ever experienced with me. i was finally able to push. we called steve in, he sat on the edge of the bed with me standing facing him, he supported my weight while i semi squatted. my membranes ruptured all over his lap. he asked to go wash but i said no . Johanna was born with the cord loosely around her neck (the midwife and my mum had known this the whole time and was monitoring it, i did not know) her shoulder also got somewhat stuck but Dee fixed it fairly easily. Her apgars were 6 and 10 but unlike with Alex, i was never scared for her. Johanna weighed in at a healthy 9lb 3oz. She took to breastfeeding wonderfully although we did need some help with getting a good position for large breasts, this was no problem for my midwife of course.