Some hypothetical questions about homebirth post June.....

[Freya]

So you could find a private midwife to attend your birth but she isnt insured and could get into trouble? How would you go about getting birth recorded and such if technically its "illegal"?

[Midwife Melissa]

So you could find a private midwife to attend your birth but she isnt insured and could get into trouble? How would you go about getting birth recorded and such if technically its "illegal"?

Homebirth will be legal after July. Midwives will need insurance in order to register, and this will be available for antenatal and postnatal care. There is no insurance for the actual birth, so there's an exemption for that. An exemption framework is in the process of being written so we don't know the details yet, but we have been assured that homebirth will not be illegal, no-one will be fined, deregistered etc. Midwives will be able to provide birth registration forms as we have always done

[Cassius2]

oh thanks for that MM!! i was wondering how it all worked as my midwife has an informal agreement with the womens and i wondered how this would work after june...so that makes me happy! of course, i would rather a resolution rather than an exemption

[Midwife Melissa]

oh thanks for that MM!! i was wondering how it all worked as my midwife has an informal agreement with the womens and i wondered how this would work after june...so that makes me happy! of course, i would rather a resolution rather than an exemption

Well, there's good news there! What they're going to allow (after Nov) is that in the case of a transfer, your IM would be able to remain your midwife (ie, catch the baby / help you catch your baby / help your DP catch your baby) in the hospital in case of a transfer. In other words, women will be able to book with an IM and birth at home or in hospital, either as a planned hospital birth or as a homebirth transfer. Again, the details aren't out yet. Medicare benefits will also be paid for antenatal and postnatal care after Nov and hospital birth will also be funded (but not home birth).