* What state you are in- NSW
* When you had your homebirth - December 2008, another one coming up November 2010
* How many midwives and their cost (each) 1 midwife $4000 (rebate from health fund of $700)
* What was included - EVERYTHING - all antenatal appt's, books, dvd's, birth pool and pump, helping hubby to clean up afterward, stayed with me for hours after hospital transfer
* How many pre & post natal visits and their duration - would have included all but only decided on HB at 30 weeks.... I think we had around 8 antenatal visits and they went for 1-2 hours each (including playing a little Wii once or twice lol). Post natal I could have had as many visits as I cared for, for up to 3 weeks after the birth (but always a phone call away if needed, even after that)
* Were they in your home or in an office? Always in our home. Always worked around our schedule.
* Was it worth the cost? every cent
* Other things you found great to be included that you wouldn't have gotten with another form of medical carer.- there is simply no comaprison. I have done shared care, had an OB, and unless there was something very worrying about the pregnancy I simply would not go any other way (this time though I am doing shared care for the majority of the antenatal appt;s in order to keep costs down)
What state you are in NSW
* When you had your homebirth- 4 weeks ago April 2010
* How many midwives and their cost (each) 1 midwife $3100
* What was included- Midwife 1.5hours drive each way, birth pool
* How many pre & post natal visits and their duration-once a month until 30weeks, fortnightly until 36weeks weekly till birth. Once a day for 10 days after birth(optional if you don't feel you need it) once a week for six weeks after birth. 24/7 phone contact
* Were they in your home or in an office? my home
* Was it worth the cost? TOTALLY
* Other things you found great to be included that you wouldn't have gotten with another form of medical carer. Personal touch, cups of tea and talking each visit was at least an hour. My children had hands on experience listening to the heart and feeling around with the midwife. Being RH neg, my midwife was also able to take bloods in my own home which I loved that I did nt have to go anywhere at all during my pregnancy!
* How many midwives and their cost (each)
- 2 (Primary and backup)
* What was included
- Pre,post natal and birth care and breastfeeding assistance. Had to supply your own birth things, such as pool and towels etc.
* How many pre & post natal visits and their duration
- about 12 pre and 6 post natal (plus one un-official visit because she was passing by)
* Were they in your home or in an office?
- All at home
* Was it worth the cost?
- Covered by medicare - so only cost was pool etc plus 12 wk scan. It was with Community Midwifery WA, so not a hospital program.
* Other things you found great to be included that you wouldn't have gotten with another form of medical carer.
- If I transferred to King Eddie hospy, they would have stayed my MW's (where as Ind MW could only stay as support person).
What state you are in SA
* When you had your homebirth 3 yrs ago
* How many midwives and their cost (each) 1 @2500
* What was included everything, pool, herbs, vitamins, antenatal, postnatal,
* How many pre & post natal visits and their duration all "standard" scheduling.. 4 weeks then 2 weeks then weekly then daily phone until birth was there for 12ish hours with us then saw here daily for the first week then by phone until 2 week mark then again at 6 weeks from 30 min to 60 min
* Were they in your home or in an office? my house
* Was it worth the cost? ABSOFREAKINLUTLY
* Other things you found great to be included that you wouldn't have gotten with another form of medical carer. Love and friendship! attention to detail, respect! i was truley taught to trust my body and my baby!
2006 & 2009 - 1 midwife and 1 doula (they work as a team) - cost $2 500 on both occasions. Should have cost $ 3000 in 2009, but I got a discount as I had used their services previously (2006).
* What was included -
pre-natal care; attendance at the birth, post-natal care up to 6 weeks after the birth; assistance with breastfeeding. They cleaned up after both births, and even did a little bit of house work for me (vaccuming, washing, folding laundry!
* How many pre & post natal visits and their duration -
Pre-natal visits were at least an hour in duration, started out monthly, then fortnightly, then weekly after 36 weeks. Post natal visits ranged from 20 minutes to 60 minutes, just depended on what I needed.
* Were they in your home or in an office? -
Pre-natal appt's were in their office until 36 weeks, the appt's were then held at my house. All post-natal care was in my own home.
* Was it worth the cost? -
Yes! Both times. It would have been worth double the cost.
* Other things you found great to be included that you wouldn't have gotten with another form of medical carer. -
These things are not necessarily exclusive to homebirth, but this is what I valued about home birth. I gained a close relationship of trust, friendship and respect. My children were involved in the appt's (listening to baby's heart beat, applying gel to my tummy, etc). I never felt that my appt's were rushed. I was able to phone them on their mobile phones if I needed to, post and pre birth. I also valued the fact that I was birthing in my home environment, where I felt safe, secure and in-control. They never dictated how I should birth, they just let me get on with it. It was amazing!
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