How much did your homebirth cost and what was included?
We get this question a great deal - how much does a homebirth cost. Midwives all have varying packages, rates and services they offer, so let's get a list going for easy reference for everyone looking into cost!
Please share:
* What state you are in
* When you had your homebirth
* How many midwives and their cost (each)
* What was included
* How many pre & post natal visits and their duration
* Were they in your home or in an office?
* Was it worth the cost?
* Other things you found great to be included that you wouldn't have gotten with another form of medical carer.
Re: How much did your homebirth cost and what was included?
* What state you are in - Victoria
* When you had your homebirth - baby is due in a few weeks :)
* How many midwives and their cost (each) my lead midwife charges $4,500 for a complete package, which includes the fee for the second midwife (she works with a second for all HB, and I had a choice of a few middies for my second!)
* What was included - birth pool (La Blassine), all pre-natal and post-natal care, breastfeeding support (she's a IBCLC), lots of reading materials, full birth support including in-hospital if I had to transfer (she is one of the only MW who is allowed to be in as your MW at the Royal Women's which is briiiiilliant!)
* How many pre & post natal visits and their duration - at the start, appointments were monthly, for between an hour - 2 hours each time. Very thorough, lots of chatting, normally with my husband there too. From about 24 weeks, she came fortnightly, for about an hour at a time, again, very thorough, never felt rushed. Sometimes she came more often if she had to rush an appointment for any reason. From our birthplan meeting (with both MW, husband and doula), she comes weekly - so from around 35 weeks. The last month of appointments are with BOTH mws.
* Were they in your home or in an office? All visits in our home, so fantastic! If she ever has to cancel (cos she's at a birth) it is no big deal cos I'm just at home! No waiting around in an office!
* Was it worth the cost? Heck yes! I would happily pay double. You can't put a price on this care in our opinion! Even super-stingy DH thinks it's a bargain lol!
* Other things you found great to be included that you wouldn't have gotten with another form of medical carer. - haha lots of little things! A text message wishing me a happy mothers day from my baby... A late night visit to drop off some tubigrip cos my back was sore... A 3am call when I was 13 weeks to reassure me that my light fever was perfectly fine... Advice on braiding my own cord tie from embroidery thread...
Other costs: we have racked up
LOTS of other costs, however none are 'essentials' I guess...
- Rhea Dempsey's Birthing Wisdom course - $550
- Doula, including 3 pre-natal visits, entire birth, 2 post-natal visits, looooads of books and DVDs to borrow - $800
- internal work private session (Pink Kit) with another amazing midwife - $150
- Misc assorted supplies, such as drop sheets, buckets, hose etc - maybe $200 all up?
- we had a few U/S for a medical condition early on, and a CVS, all up cost around $1,200 out of pocket I think - these costs would have applied for home or hospy birth.
So all up I think this pregnancy and birth is costing around $6000 or so, plus $1200 medical expenses. Worth every cent.
How much did your homebirth cost and what was included?
* What state you are in?
NSW
* When you had your homebirth?
January 2012
* How many midwives and their cost (each)
One midwife as primary care provider, plus second midwife as back up $5,000 in full, ($500 extra than normal for all home visits prenatally). Got $3,000 back from PHI
* What was included?
Prenatal care, birth, postnatal care. Paid for own meds, birth pool (borrowed, but bought liner), oxygen tank, but these were all minimal cost. Lots of books to borrow, including children's books for DD1
* How many pre & post natal visits and their duration?
Prenatal monthly, then bimonthly from 30 weeks (I think), then weekly from 36 weeks. Each appt was an hour or more. We often had lunch! All visits were in my home, so no waiting around.
Birth midwives stayed for hours after birth and cleaned up. They left when we went to bed.
Postnatal daily visits for almost a week, plus more until six weeks. That was a sad one!
* Were they in your home or in an office?
All in my home
* Was it worth the cost?
Worth every cent. And then some!
* Other things you found great to be included that you wouldn't have gotten with another form of medical carer.
My midwife is also a naturopath, which was useful. An ongoing support group with the other families (mostly mums) who had used the services of my midwife's group midwifery. Mostly homebirthers. Monthly meet ups on pertinent topics with an instinctive, natural approach to birth, breastfeeding, parenting, etc. Plus, ongoing contact with both of my midwives and being able to celebrate their births as well! Very much a community feel. Love, love, love!