My fees were $5k, an extra $500 on normal so I could have all home visits, not just the third tri ones. PHI covers $3k.
I think the 2nd m/w is important, but it didn't cost extra in our case (1st m/w must put some of our fee to her).
It's a shame it isn't more affordable, but with so few (relatively) m/ws available and no govt support it's hardly surprising. Although, our first birth (c/s in private hospital with private ob six years ago) I think still left us out of pocket more than the HB, despite PHI. Once you add the $500 hospital excess, the $350ish for surgical assistant and then I think about $1k for the ob, whatever was the gap for the anaesthetist (sure I've forgotten something), you're on a par. With a much less desirable outcome!!
Private m/w for home is a similar cost comparison to private ob in hospital. You're paying for that extra level of care (supposedly!). What we need are more home birth services through our public health care system. With less rules IMHO. Women should be able to choose whichever they want and then it's up to the care providers to accept them or not, based on their expertise and comfort in the so-called risks.
None of us VBAC mummas would be able to access a hospital HB program. And VBAC risks are lower than repeat c/s, which is about 85% likely to happen in hospital.
Last edited by Jennifer13; September 5th, 2012 at 10:56 AM.
My hb cost $4000. All home visits pre and post natal included. I could have had 2nd midwife too, but I elected not to. I worked the census during my pregnancy and that paid for a chunk of my bill. We paid some off during pregnancy and finished it off after when I sold my car. Completely worth it. My midwife only just made the birth, but her expertise during the pregnancy and after ds was born were invaluable.
I don't know if dh would haveappreciated the benefits of hb and my im during the pregnancy but I reckon he would understand the costs were justified if you asked him now.
I was never in any doubt that it was worth the cost.
My MW charges hourly so for DS birth it cost heaps more than DDs as things didn't go quite so smoothly so had MW there longer. Had a second midwife as well. DH likes the second MW just from the cleaning up perspective lol. Still my MW wass cheaper than a lot of other MW charge. Having MW though has been invaluable, wouldn't have it any other way. Unless of course I couldn't get a MW then I'd be stuck at why to do! DH feels the same way he's prepared to help pay because he knows having MW support and homebirth is very important to me although he didn't always think that!
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