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Some health insurers pay out small amounts towards home midwifery services, but as far as I am aware, none of them even approach covering the full cost.
DW charges $4000 for the full package - antenatal care and education, birth support at home or in hospital, and postnatal care. One of the midwives who was there when Molly was born in Sydney now charges $5000.
Welcome aboard, AnnaT - I think you've made a great decision.
Wow, i know you guys are envious that the NHS does homebirths for free in the UK, but if i HAD decided to get my own midwife to do my birth (and gotten the one-on-one care i'd have loved) it would have been about 3000-5000 GBP! A LOT more expensive! Also we don't get the baby bond or anything like it. Those on benefits get 250-500GBP for big baby items like pram/cot etc. but you have to be in reciept of a particular benefit to qualify. We qualified for both the benefit and the lump sum but because the department that processed the benefit took 6 months to look at our claim the window of opportunity closed and i didn't get a penny. I think the UK theory works better than the practice!
DP gets medical with his new job and we're secretly hoping they'll pay for a homebirth midwife. If they do i'd CERTAINLY get a private middie, though i'd go NHS again no worries before i paid out of pocket. There's a difference between someone who supports your wishes and someone who is paid to support your wishes...
Bx
AnnaT - I think you were in my due in group when I had my daughter Harriet in Sep 2006. I had to rejoin because i lost my password. I am planning a home birth this time too. Although I am going for midwife only care.
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Yeah we were Puffin, nice to see you again! Amazing its been 2yrs since Harriet and Jett were born. Feels like yesterday!
So we're pregnant and now proud Nth Queenslanders. Im due in March 09 and although Im booked in to see an OBGYN Im still aiming for a homebirth if this pregnancy goes smoothly. Problem is I cannot find any independent middies up here in Townsville. Anyone know where I can find listings or names? Thanks!
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I am pretty sure there are no independent midwives in Townsville but you can contact the Maternity Coalition and see if they know anyone that will travel there. Just google it and the website will come up. I hope you find someone and congratz on the pregnancy!
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Unfortunately your right Tegan, there are no homebirth middies in Townsville so its hospital birthing for me as the birth centre wont take me because they open in December and at this stage consider me high risk. Its cool though as my OB is super natural birth oriented so its up to me how my birth turns out
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Perhaps you could have a doula then? Have you thought about that? You can also try things like hypnobirthing or calmbirthing.
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