Community Midwifery Program (homebirth)

[Matryoshka]

I'm not sure if this is just a WA thing or what its called in your state but here its the CMP. Its completely covered by medicare basically enabling you to have a homebirth. You have one primary midwife who you see monthly then more regularly from 28 weeks i think, you also meet a second midwife later on and then both are present at your home birth.

I'm really interested in this and would like to hear from anyone who used a similar program. Or anyone who may know how this would differ from going through a private midwife.

[BellyBelly]

Yup WA only and it only costs a $100 admin fee afaik.

[Matryoshka]

really this is only a WA thing?? wow thats unfortunate for other states because it sounds really good. What do you think kelly?

[BellyBelly]

I think its great, lots of independent midwives are part of it, Mary Murphy is one who got Midwife of the Year a couple of years ago. Definitely worth doing and we're definitely jealous in the other states!

[Antheia]

omg i feel jibbed lol. I wish they had something like that here! I think it sounds great!

[Matryoshka]

Thanks Kelly

Yeah i was really surprised but another perth lady went through them and speaks highly of it. They also visit you for 10 days afterwards and you get a lot more visits than i did through the birth centre.

I just need to get DH on board now, he's not keen on a hb unfortunately.

[BellyBelly]

Take him with you for a meet and greet visit!!!

[Matryoshka]

You know what his big concern is? the mess He doesn't want to clean it up!

[BellyBelly]

Get a doula hahaha!!! Or someone else to do it, thats the whole idea. So you can be involved in the moment and others around you cleaning up. Also, if you have a waterbirth which you can also do, you just need to drain the pool!

[paradise lost]

Tell him i had a homebirth on the bed, on a bunch of the incontinence mats they bring and i saw ZERO mess. Seriously, even the bed sheet didn't need washing! Homebirth=mess is a myth

Bec

[Matryoshka]

Nah its just that he SAW the mess at my birth at the bc so he knows how messy it is!!!

Kelly do doulas do the cleaning up??? I would feel so rude to ask?

[~kaos~]

Ohhhh, I'm so jealous...... You don't want to know how much I'm forking out for my homebirth

[Matryoshka]

Oh thats not fair Kara, i can't understand why homebirth would not be covered under medicare in all states.

[Yael]

So Kelly - does this mean you'll clean my house too?? j/k!

I think they should have this in all states.. judging on that they don't, i'm assuming it's state vs. fedral funding

[Matryoshka]

I guess they view it as an "alternative" choice, but it shouldn't be that way. Should be on par with hospital/birth centre births if not MORE supported and funded. As from what i've read it seems homebirth has high percentage of satisfied outcome for the mother.

I'm also currently looking for research disproving the danger myth for my dh to read, not sure if anyone can point me in the right direction their?

[~kaos~]

Oh thats not fair Kara, i can't understand why homebirth would not be covered under medicare in all states.

Hopefully in future it will be, if all the hard work, lobbying and campaigning by various groups pays off (and it looks like it might be heading that way )

In all reality, I don't mind paying for my homebirth to guarantee that I have continuity of care and achieving a birth on my terms, though if some of it was covered by Medicare that would be great, not only for the monetary benefit, but also just that social acceptance of my choice, instead of being "alternative". I'm loving the service provided by my MW so far, and I'm only 19 weeks. Lots of discussion and education about informed choices (i.e., being presented with all sides of the story, not just what the hospy thinks is best), and I already know a lot about birth and babies as it is (well I think I do, from experience and having my foot in natural birth circles for 3 years). This is service I am paying for and I'm very pleased to be getting a quality service....

[BellyBelly]

Lux check out websites like the maternity coalition and the ACMI but studies basically show there is much less intervention, mortality rates pretty much the same as hospital but less interventions = less complications in the first place. There is also the homebirth and homebirth australia websites to look at, which I think are both .org.au websites?