New To Homebirth

hey everyone :)
So i'm not yet pregnant with number two but I'm REALLY interested in having a homebirth....
Firstly I do have to convince DH, however I figured i'd do my research and give him all the info at once and let him stew on it for a while!

I think our biggest struggle is going to be the cost....we had DS in the public system which didn't cost us a single thing. There were pros and cons of having him there however I had an ok experience. Looking at a few IM's the cost is freaking me out a little!

So....I was just wondering what it would roughly cost all up for a home birth....ie. pool hire, IM, doula (although i have a friend who is one anyway! :) ) etc etc and what else do i need to look at for a homebirth.

Thanks in advance.

Hi Kirley!

I have had two amazing homebirths and one hospital birth.
My first homebirth was in 2006 and cost us $2 500. My last homebirth was in 2009 and cost the same. My midwives were charging $3 000 by then, but as we were previous clients we got a discount! I know that homebirths can cost a lot more than this now, particularly in metropolitan areas. I didn't hire a birthing pool either time so I can't help you with costs there. One of my midwives had a birthing pool that she would loan to clients at no extra cost.

What have you been quoted?

I do not regret a cent that I have spent on my homebirths. The money is worth the peace of mind of knowing who will be with you when you birth (even if you transfer to hospital) and the post-birth care is awesome too. I also enjoyed having pre-natal appointments in my own loungeroom. We are hoping to have another bub next year, and I want to have another homebirth - there is no question about it.

I am happy to answer any other specific questions too.

Start saving!

Check this out: https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...cluded-133577/

I almost didn't have a homebirth based on the cost, I kept talking myself out of it. But it's worth it and I never regret the money spent. Failing help from medicare, that's what the baby bonus is for right? ;)

thanks meow.

i didn't really think of the baby bonus. do they let you pay after though?

ours all up including all pathology and GP bills and calmbirth course and pool hire, IMs and information sessions and naturopath visits and psychologist appts was $5,500. But DH and i went to town with it and did everything we could to not repeat our last experience in a hossy (was left with a PTSD).

It was the best money that we scrimped and saved for. I will do it again a thousand times over....it was that worth it :lol: you will not regret making the decision to plan for a HB. the support is amazing and the journey something so so special with the friendship taht you build with your IM (and this goes for your whole family: DH and previous children).

I'm curious as to anyone who has had payment plans with IM's. what do the plans work out to be? (how much per week etc?) Still looking into this but still no money saved :( our bills are as much as DH earns unfortunately!

Hi Kirley! Congratulations on you pregnancy. :)

We are planning another homebirth. I have a different IM this time around (my last IM has retired). We are paying $3000 this time. I have signed a 'contract'/agreement with my IM. One of the stipulations is that we pay her the full amount by 37 weeks gestation. She also requested a deposit of $500, which I paid on our second visit. Each time she visits, I make a payment- but she was not expecting or anticipating this. I just prefer to pay it off over time rather than have the temptation of spending the money on something else! But technically, we could have just waited and paid the balance ($2500) at our 37 week appointment.

Have you got any 'quotes'? Do you think paying it off over 30-odd weeks is feasible?

Thanks for your replies Ash! Well I've been given a ballpark figure of 3500..which is very reasonable but that works out to be 100 a week which id have to prolly send hubby out to get a casual job... Theres no stretch in our budget unfortunately :( really sucks. Im pretty sure hubby won't go for it. Our general hossy does have a midwife program which I have been accepted into before my first m/c. Apparently the program is great...i just really would love to home birth tho :(

Your midwife might have ideas you haven't thought of. Would you be able to use the baby bonus to pay if the midwife was able to accept it?

I was a census collector that gave us a large chunk of the midwife fees. Could you do a paper round or take in ironing to get some extra cash? Tax return? Centrelink money you get after you put your tax in?

I already work part time to pay some of the bills...id be happy to put tax return or baby.bonus towards it... Will just have to convince hubby a fair.bit more. Guess ill wait until we are passed scans and things in the next month or so.

Congratulation on your pregnancy ;)

Hope things work out for your Kirley. A homebirth is the best money you'll ever spend, an investment in the well being of your whole family.

Here's some stats that your dh might enjoy:

The lastest stats we have are from 2009.

:

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In 2009 there were 863 planned homebirths. 216 of these women were first time mothers. The predominat method of birth was non-instrumental vaginal for 99.5% of these 863 women. Of babies born at home in 2009, 99.8% were live born.

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From Australia's Mothers and Babies 2009, pp 59-60