That's awesome meow! I didn't think that it should be problem for you to access public services. I think MW's are quite aware how the costs add up, considering they are part of the $$ outlay.

Last homebirth I decided not to do anything at the hosp and have the morphology scan privately. Then something came up with that and I had an amnio. And then the extra GP visits (paying the gap fee from my expensive, but awesome GP, I had to see her a couple of extra time for hyperthyroid issue that she was able to manage) then organising oxygen and a birth pool added about $1000 to my homebirth (that's just an estimate). And that was on top of the $4000 MW fees. Though expensive, I never regretted the cost. The whole prenatal, homebirth and postnatal care was awesome.

This time (different MW) the $4000 includes the birth pool and oxygen, I'm going public for morphology scan and I'll be mostly liasing with my GP via phone for management of hyperthyroid issue. Will save the $$... though I did have to shell out a lot of $$ for Zofran to survive morning sickness. And this is my last pregnancy and I'm determined to enjoy it, so I am going to put some dollars away for pregnancy yoga....