This is just a little vent I suppose...

I want to have a homebirth for my next baby but I don't think we will be able to afford to ..

Is homebirth expensive everywhere or just where I live (NSW Central Coast) ?

I'm really disappointed that I probably cant have one

P.S I am not pregnant at the moment but will be trying as soon as my cycle comes back.

For what you get, it's cheap. Divide the cost by hours spent. Include travel. It doesn't work out that much. A lot cheaper than a private OB!

BTW, I got $3,000 of the cost back on my health insurance (Australian Unity), although the premiums were very high and have increased a lot since April 1st.

As I understand it, the usual cost is about $5K for a private midwife.

I think there is now a medicare rebate in force for some midwifery services but this doesn't include the birth. Midwifery counts towards the 20% rebate for +$2K medical expenses, but that doesn't get you much back.

Belmont Hospital does a public homebirth program but you are probably outside their catchment area, and their criteria are very restrictive, so you can get booted off the program and into a hospital birth without much cause. This happened to us with the first kiddo, so for the second pregnancy I took no chances and we got our own midwife.

Then it turned out we were having twins! So we had to have a hospital birth, still with our midwife, and with the amount of arguing with obstetricians/extra services she did on our behalf for high risk pregnancy management, the final bill was $5800, NONE of which was covered on medicare or private health insurance.

IT WAS ABSOLUTELY THE BEST MONEY WE HAVE EVER SPENT. We had a wonderful birth and really healthy babies even though I was induced at 36 weeks, and I totally credit her for that.

Yup it's a ridiculous amount out of pocket - I couldn't justify it for our last three births :( . It infuriates me that the government would happily pay far more than that out of pocket amount for me to take up the services of an OB and hospital beds, but wouldn't help out for me to make an informed health choice. :rant:

I don't think it's that expensive given the service your receive.

After all, how many Obs give out their mobile number and tell you to call them at any time if you have a problem? Cruisy unrushed appointments at your kitchen table or in your lounge room. They come to you, no driving if you don't want (towards the end of my pregnancy I never like to be more than 20 min from home), no hanging around in waiting rooms with kids screaming because the appointments are running behind, 100% support and attention during the birth etc etc etc... Worth every cent IMO.

If we are unable to get into the state funded MW programme here in Perth, DH and I have already agreed we'd try to borrow the money (bank/parents/whoever) and pay it back out of the baby bonus.

After being at my friends VBAC in hosital (although a wonderful natural birth) it isn't a patch on being at home. Not even in the same ballpark. I know it's not what I want unless medically necesary.

I payed my midwives afterwards using my baby bonus (paid it to her in installments this last time) so they are flexible for payments.

Best money I ever spent, all 3 times.

I'm in perth, and we are paying off our midwife - shes happy for you to pay as you can, even out of the baby bonus. her fees are $5,000 and shes worth every cent. Usual AN schedule, but she travels from Roleystone to Rockingham (about an hour each way) for every appt, and they're usually about 90 minutes long. We have a coffe and a catch up, fill out my book, do all the usual checks (doppler, BP etc).

The cost also covers the $500 she pays to a back up midwife, who will be there from the second stage until the placenta is out and all is ok. Then the second MW goes, and my MW stays for a few hours. Birth pool is included, she just asks you to pay for a liner (she does these at cost.)

Post-partum she visits daily for the first week. then once a week until 6 weeks.

I'm ineligible for the CMWA HB program due to previous c/s, but refuse to go back to hosptial after my VBAC and the way I was treated.

So excited to be homebirthing was such an incredible team, best money ever spent (I also have a doula on board, who attended my last birth, i couldnt do it without her anymore )

Another happy public system homebirther here through Perth's CMP. We moved to Perth before TTC #2, because I knew it was the only way I wanted to birth.

As others have mentioned though, it is only for low-risk births and the restrictions are becoming tighter. I would pay the money for a private midwife if I did not qualify for CMP next time though - in a heartbeat. It is expensive, but very worth it.

Yes it is expensive but totally worth it. I would NEVER have another hospital birth again (by choice;) )

Come to NZ. Its free.

I'm in SA, where it's quite a bit cheaper for most IM's (mine charges $2500). Still, it's more than we should really afford, and we do need to make some sacrifices for it...but it is just so worth it! I had an opportunity to get into one of the hospital homebirth programs here, when i was pregnant with DD2, but i declined it in the end. I love my midwife to bits, and i was too scared of being risked out of the hospital program.

Most midwives do payment plans, etc. though. Mine told me the other day that she has one woman who pays her $18 a week, until it's all paid off! Another one is painting her house for her as payment.

Mine asked for a payment as deposit (she asks for $1000, and the other $4000 spread over up to the birth). but If you cannot afford that, jsut make small regular payments as you can. We paid the $1000, and when DFs settled into his new job (and hopefully sells his quad!) thats the rest paid for us, MIL is paying half towards it for us, as we dont need any baby gear (she wanted to buy a whole boori nursery, when i have stuff that works just fine! so we asked her to contribute to the HB, as it means more to us, and she offered to pay half. couldn't say no )

my midwife in Sydney charges $3500 half before and half after the birth. I think the first amount is due by 30 weeks. I agree it is worth every penny. There is no way I would submit myself to the maternity system again.