average cost of a homebirth

[allycat06]

So there's the cost of the midwives obviously, what else?
Can someone explain to me all the things that would need to be organised to have a homebirth?

[jackrose]

If you find a good midwife they will help you through all of the set up, costs etc.

I am having one this time around and am going through Midwives Naturally. You can have a look at their website and there are links to their costs and I believe a list of things you will need for the birth.

So from my knowledge so far, I am paying for consultations as I have them, about $110 each time as they are at my house. I need to pay the booking fee for my midwife now at 28 weeks and for the second midwife a bit later. Then pay the birth fee later again. So all costs are spread out.

I also need to pay for my birth pool hire for a month, about $160 and have been required to make sure I have ambulance cover.

Then there are the usual pregnancy costs such as blood tests and ultrasounds...

Midwives usually have a whole lot of resources they can lend you such as birth movies or books.

One other little cost to consider - although this should be a cost for any pregnancy - is pregnancy exercise and care. You may wish to do some form of exercise such as yoga, pilates or swimming which will all add up over the months. This does not have to be a huge cost of course but if you are trying to do a budget, you may want to consider things like this. There is also courses you may wish to do such as hypnobirthing/calm birthing or childbirth education classes.

Finally, I pay for post natal visits on the day of the visit.

Most of the things required for the birth are not too expensive, some old towels, candles etc so that is not too much of a concern. The midwife supplies most of the things required such as oxygen.

I can highly recommend the women from Midwives naturally if you are in Melbourne, they are very professional and very very passionate about birth and about their work. They hold monthly information sessions (the next one is about partners and what they can do to support) and you get a chance to meet the midwives, ask them questions and figure out if it works for you.

Hope that helps and is what you are looking for. I'm more than happy to answer any more questions if I haven't covered what you want to know.

Good luck with the decision!

[Kitt3n]

My midwife provided everything from the bath to books to vids etc etc etc

$4k was the total cost, we got $700 back from our health fund.

HTH

[CatherineL]

Yes, I was told 4k too. Plus I'd have to hire oxygen. And any appointments, scans and blood tests with an external party I want.

[Schmickers]

$3,500 to $4,500, depending on the midwife.

[Alan]

I just helped a woman birth at home on Tuesday. My charges came to $2,405

[phynna]

ours was about 4.5 ish too, for 2 midwives and one in training, and every consult was 2-3 hours long too! paying it off with our baby bonus installments.

absolutely everything has been included, pool to homeopathies to books/dvds. ultrasounds and doctor consults on medicare.

[phynna]

annoyed at govt for not allowing homebirth on medicare...

BUT no regrets and will pay it all again no hesitations for next babies

[Mummato2]

annoyed at govt for not allowing homebirth on medicare...

BUT no regrets and will pay it all again no hesitations for next babies

There are some govt funded home birth options available depending on where you are.

I went through the Belmont Birthing Services and HB was an option for me completely free of charge (I only had to supply oxygen which was cheap)

We had a Birth Centre birth in the end because I wanted to use their better facilities - BUT there are some around if you look - they are usually associated with a main hospital.

[allycat06]

Thanks for the replies guys! Not having another for a while yet, just curious as homebirth is something we're definitely considering. I reckon it'd be worth every penny, I doubt any OB would ever spend 2-3 hrs with you for a consult and they charge pretty much the same amount in the end!

Mummato2 I don't think they have any of those hospital run HB options in Melbourne unfortunately.

[jackrose]

Good news, they do have home birth options available through some hospitals in Melbourne!

A few hospitals were given the go ahead to run trials just this year, I know Sunshine was one for example. I have a friend going through it right now. You are assigned your own midwife and she comes to you with back up hospital care.

I am not sure of the other hospitals, someone else might know but it is good to know there are possibilities!

I was like you, researching it all before I even fell pregnant! Unfortunately I could not go with the hospital based programs as I am considered "High Risk" by them, having a VBAC.

And I'm with the others, no regrets on the cost even if it is frustrating that there are no rebates or government support. Personalised attention and loooong consultations are so wonderful.

[phynna]

I think the other Melb hospital is Casey? Don't quote me though

I was considered high-risk too, coz of my liver condition and my anti-cardiolipin antibodies
....high risk and I ended up with a drug-free, tear/stitch/cut free, intervention free labour, and my baby is completely healthy, no jaundice, and no problems breathing/sucking/toilet-ing, etc!

[meow]

Has anyone gone through the public system for blood tests, ultrasounds etc but hired a midwife for a home birth? I went public last time and I can't get my head around paying for these tests when I can get them for free.