Homebirth General Discussion #5

[Jennifer13]

The pre and post natal visits are a fraction of the cost of an IM's services, because the birth is the expensive part, and I'm actually paying a little out of pocket to have mine come to me throughout the pg. It costs around the same as for a private ob in our case.

From what mine have said, they will continue to practice, atm they have no insurance anyway for what is essentially the most important part of the service - the birth - so taking it away for before and after poses little risk for them. The issue is that instead of improving the situation by giving m/ws access to insurance for all services, it's taking away the little they have. A hospital transfer does mean our IMs become doulas, even now.

I wonder what will happen with those health funds that offer HB coverage (like mine)?

[HotI]

Have/Did you tell people you were planning a homebirth? Did you tell everyone or choose who you told? I have talked about it before i was pregnant, but now i'm not sure i want to tell people. However, i really don't want to lie about it yet know people often ask 'which hospital are you going to?'. For now, i could say i am checking out the birth centre (which i am, but i already know i am not going there).

i just dont think it's really anybody's business, and don't want to deal with their issues with it.

what did you do?

[Cassius2]

when people asked which hospital I replied: "we are having baby at home". no aggression, or fear in the sentence (even if i were feeling both lol). i made a conscious decision about how i said it as i wanted those around me to have to take the information as it was intended: ie as a valid place of birth for our baby, so that meant no bells and whistles in its declaration ITMS. it took some people aback as it was such a casual reference and I never offered any reasons why or the logistics (unless asked) as i simply saw that i didnt feel the need to ask others why they chose a hossy IYKWIM.

HTH.

and a few of these thrown in

[Artechim]

Far out we are so lucky here in NZ with our birth choices! It is all up to the woman if she choses to go through the hospital or an Independent Midwife. IM's visit you at home and attend the birth at the local hospital, or birth centre, or home depending on what service she offers. And it is all free! For such similar countries I don't know how our systems ended up so different.

So because of the system here, no one around town bats an eyelid if you say homebirth. Since we are rural the only other option is the health centre which is just one room with a bed and spa and the same midwife you would have at home anyway. The only downside is that if we are transferred to hospital (1.5 hours away) it is sans the midwife because the IM's here aren't in the catchment area for the hospital so have no rights there.

But in saying that, there is still a perception around (mostly older people or city folk) that it is dangerous even though it is exactly the same risk as you would get at the birth center. I won't be telling my mum the plan until it is all over and done with lol, just can't be bothered with her disapproving.

[Eenee]

I told someone once that I wanted a homebirth I got the biggest lecture I never told anyone after that. So it was a surprise for many after I had DD. The select few I did tell gave the whole but it's your first speech. DH took enough to convince at first but now he tells everyone.
For my future babies if it comes to not being able to homebirth don't know whether DH will let me free birth but I will not go to hosp!!! So don't know what'll I do. Its just so stupid this legal stuff at the moment!

[Tegam]

I think if we have another and im not supported to HB ill just pretend i will go to hospital and just spend a few hours on the toilet on my own and come out with a baby!

I dont even want to go back to work in a hospital!

[Eenee]

Tegam I know it's still very raw for you!

I'd stay and home and try not let DH catch on that I was ready to push, but once I've started pushing it'd be to late then right?

[HotI]

I think if we have another and im not supported to HB ill just pretend i will go to hospital and just spend a few hours on the toilet on my own and come out with a baby!

i think people thought i was going to do that last time (if only...), DH works shift work and long shifts and friends would just 'drop in' to see if i was ok when he was away.

Spoke to a mate today who was really excited when i said we were staying home, and that she was considering it if they had another bub.

My Mum is coming with me on Tuesday night to see the movie.

[Smoke Jaguar]

Yep, I just say "we're having a homebirth", then we get the "ooh, you're brave" and I say that I'd be braver to go into the hospital system with the risk of unnecessary medical interventions, and I say it in the nicest possible way
The midwife closest to me who is also a IM told me she would not be allowed to practice without insurance, legally, so once that legislation kicks in, no-one around here will have much birthing choice - free or hospy will be it. I hope it changes. Not too fussed if it doesn't, I'm pretty comfortable with the idea of doing it unassisted here at the farm - esp as we're not hundreds of kilometres away from the nearest hospital or even RWH, if necessary. Our last homebirth was out of pocket and without insurance, so if there WERE an IM around who was able to practice without insurance, then that won't be new for us.

[Tegam]

i say that i'd be braver to go into the hospital system with the risk of unnecessary medical interventions, and i say it in the nicest possible way .

so true!!!!