*What state you are in -

NSW

* When you had your homebirth-

2006; 2009

* How many midwives and their cost (each) -

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!