Would you homebirth if it were covered by medicare?

[Foxymoron]

I'm peeved :mad: I've never once needed a "hospital" birth and yet can I afford to have my own midwife at home? hmmm... Yes- at a stretch but it's what my family think of as a "luxury" seeing as I can have the same help for free in hospital. So it's really not an option for me, it would mean we had less money to go on holiday etc...
How many other mamas birth at hospitals but would rather be at home?

[Ffrenchstar]

Yeah, I definately probably quite possibly would.....I think :D

[tickle]

I don't think that I would like a homebirth but I am wondering why the government doesn't support it?? :rolleyes:
It seems a bit silly not to, to me!!

[alicesmum]

ME ME ME, but i am too stingy to pay all that money for a home birth. :D

the RWBH birthing centre ballot is being drawn TODAY so I am hoping like mad that I get into that. FINGERS CROSSED! it's the only compromise btw a home birth and hospital birth - and it's free!!!!!

i think homebirths should be covered, but in this very conservative political climate and with all the recent bad press re the birth centre here in Brisbane, i think it is unlikely to happen any time soon.

[H&B'sMum]

If I was low risk then absolutly I would birth at home. Being able to have a baby and then get straight into my own bed with my own pillows and just soak in the new life, I would do it in a heart beat.

Alicesmum, do you have to go into a ballot to get into the birth centre? Isn't who ever books in first? That seems a bit odd to me.

[Ffrenchstar]

the RWBH birthing centre ballot is being drawn TODAY so I am hoping like mad that I get into that. FINGERS CROSSED! it's the only compromise btw a home birth and hospital birth - and it's free!!!!!

oooh good luck!! I LOOOOVOOOVE the Brith centre, I agree that it is the perfeect compromise!

Karena, they used to do it by whoever books in first but they changed it to a ballot a couple of years ago. If you dont get in on the ballot, they put you on a waiting list and alot of people end up getting in anyway due to people dropping out due to complications etc.:)

[H&B'sMum]

Wow Katie thanks for that. I just found it all a bit strange, but when I really think about it it is fair.
I actually fudged my dates with Harry to get into our birth centre. I was told my edd was 30th March but told the b/c it was 2 April. Didn't end up using it either, bugger, had to have c/s cause Harry was breech and had cord around the neck.
By the way he came on the 29th March anyway.

[brooke]

I would have defiently done it of It didnt cost so much!

I think the labour would be much more relaxed!
I have opted to have my labour in a birthing centre, as close to having a home birth as I am going to get!

[Rainbowbrite]

Yeah, I definately probably quite possibly would.....I think :D

hehe nice response :D

I'm the same, i think i would. Don't think it'd be much difference to my hospital birth where it took the Dr 2 hours after MJ's birth to come and check if i needed stitches :rolleyes:

RB

[Ffrenchstar]

Yeah, I think it is fair because people have different length cycles, find out at different times that they are pregnant, etc (so first in best dressed may not be that fair)....What I think is unfair is that its not bigger and that we dont have more of them around for all the people who miss out:(

[BJelly]

I'd be keen to have a home birth if it was covered by medicare and all was well with me and bub.

[Ffrenchstar]

hehe nice response

***LOL!***

[H&B'sMum]

I agree with you Katie, you totally need more in this country.

[lucky*me]

I would love a homebirth!

My mum birthed at home for 3 babies and my sister birthed at home. Im pretty sure its gone up by a couple of grand now though so it will be tight for me.

Doesnt medicare in the ACT cover a small number of homebirth claims each year?

P :)

[JanetF]

I do anyway! Even if I had to sell all my furniture and eat rice for years. There are other ways to help pay for the gold standard in care though.

1. Heaps of health funds pay all OR part.
2. You can claim it on your tax like anything else over the "medical" threshhold (OK I'm conflicted over that one since it's not an illness but it's still good to get money back ;) )
3. MWs take installments, many will barter, lots are happy to wait till the Baby Bonus arrives. They're not in it for the money or they'd be Obs ;)
4. There are a number of community midwifery schemes across Australia now so check if there's one in your city.

I can't think of anything better than spending my Baby Bonus on achieving the safest, gentlest and most empowering birth for me and my baby :D

[razzle]

I don't think I would..... I wouldn't want to mess up my sheets! ;)

I don't know why Medicare wouldn't cover it... maybe it's a public liability/insurance thing?? :confused: So you can't sue anyone if something bad happens.

[TwoBlue]

Nope, not me...

My DS was sick when born and whisked off to NICU and then i had a massive bleed....
it was very reassuring to be in a hospital that had all we both needed right then and there...

but i do think medicare should cover it for those who want that option available to them.

[DoulaFelicity]

I'll be homebirthing my future babes regardless of whether Medicare ever comes to the party or not.

The money we'll save on short term and long term issues surrounding the birth and postpartum period, because of the multitude of positive outcomes the evidence shows homebirth brings, balances it all out - in fact, we're sure to come out ahead in the longterm. :D

And - everything Janet said, in terms of how to drum up the moula in the first place. :)

Interestingly enough, at the recent second National Doula Conference, Patrice Hickey (Midwife, Clinical Midwife Consultant, Sunshine Hospital) informed us that the Government wants homebirth to be funded. It's on their agendas and being pushed, and has been for some time - they recognise it as a cheaper option for them then the current system. It's the scared legal eagles and Hospys who are dragging their heels and refuting it all.

So speak out, ladies! :) We're on the brink of such wonderful birthing revolution...

[Mummabear]

Apparently it is very hard and very expensive for Midwives to get insurance to cover them for homebirthing, hence the large cost to the expectant families. Families at the moment are usually required to sign a release in effect releasing the midwife/doula from any liability should things go wrong (this is what I've heard anyway). Personally, I'm not keen on that idea, so no home birth for me. Also, I bled very badly afterwards so was very grateful to have hospital assistance and immediate access to blood.

I can see both pros and cons for it becoming a more regular occurance. I think it would need to be very heavily policed if it was to go ahead. We don't want backyarders delivering babies just cause they've read a few books. For those births that go smoothly I guess it wouldn't matter, but you'd want someone very well educated in the field in case there were any complications. I would also want someone who wasn't totaly anti-hospital and would recoginse when they were out of their depth and needed medical assistance.

I think it should be looked at though, definatley. I'm all for choice :D !!!

[rynosmum]

I really don't think I'd want a home birth (never say never.. :rolleyes: ..)

My baby's heartrate was dropping dramatically with each contraction and he was still quite a way from birthing. Having access to the hospital equipment required was vital to get him out quickly (the cord was wrapped around his neck twice - we hadn't known that until final stage labour). I would hate to have a home birth and require immediate medical intervention just to find that I couldn't get it fast enough.

I think Janet, you referred to homebirth as the safest option ? To what point can a midwife take homebirth ? That is, what urgent medical attention are they trained to/allowed to provide - or would you have to call an ambulance if there was the off-chance of an issue ? I think that this would be my biggest concern. As well as the fact that although I live in a very clean home, I don't believe it would be as sterile as a hospital birthing room. :confused:

[tickle]

I don't know the details about emergency situations with homebirths but I do know hospitals are filled with horrible little bugs and germs!!!
If you were worried about infection or anything like that you would definately be better of at home!! :)

[DoulaFelicity]

Your unborn babe has your immune system; so whatever bugs you have in your familiar home environment, your babe has been exposed to them (through you) for 9 or so months, and is immune to them. This is not the case in a Hospy, though, where there are not only foreign bugs, but superbugs that have evolved. :eek: The infection factor is definitely less in the familiar environs of your home.

A homebirth midwife is a highly skilled medical birth attendant and expert. She is specifically trained not only to support you through your homebirth, but to recognise immediately any signs that a transfer to the Hospy may be necessary, and she has the facilities to do it post haste. She herself will have the equipment and knowledge to deal with some "abnormal" situations such as cord prolapse, shoulder dystocia, postpartum bleed, etc - to a certain (valuable) extent. She is also with you continuously throughout your labour and birth (usually you would have a backup midwife to enable the primary midwife to take breaks, so there is no gap in the continuity of care). When you consider that in the Hospy, your Ob/midwife is unable to be by your side and witnessing your labour 100% of the time...I know in which situation I would feel safer, and more confident of any nasties being picked up on. :)

[Pixie]

I wouldn't home birth personally unless baby decided to come to fast!
I know a lady who if she had, had her child at home, they would both be dead she hemoraged and ended up basically being saved and the baby had to be revived twice. Due to servre asthama

I know that's a rare situation and I have known plenty well two lol girl who home birthed and it was all dandy, but me I want to make the mess somewhere else!

excuse my spelling I am slack today!

[AM]

I am a dedicated homebirther, stuff the cost, I can go without something else!
My next one is planned this February, and I cannot wait!
As a point of interest, my midwife is not covered by any insurance, and she does not have women sign any kind of disclaimer, when i asked her about it - I was worried for HER, not myself, she just said, well, I don't have many worldly possessions, I guess if i got sued, the'd take what i have.
She really trusts her clients, and is just so passionate about a womans right to choose her birthing experience, that she is comfortable enough to practice without insurance.
I'm pretty in awe of that kind of dedication.

I feel birth is a very spiritual experience, not an illness, and I want to be in control of what I do, and what happens to me, and know i have people around me who respect me as an intelligent woman.

My baby has been growing in my body for 9 months or so, sharing my immune system, so is completely ready to enter the world here, in my home, and have inbuilt protection from any bugs lurking.
I would rather come up against the benign bugs in the normal home, than the often 'super bugs' resistant to antibiotics etc that they breed in hospitals.
Hospitals to me are where sick people congregate, not a fit place to bring a newborn into, unless it is an emergency.

My midwife is well equipped to handle serious situations, and carries limited medical supplies, including oxygen for resus, and anti haemmorage drugs for the mother if necessary.
She is also well equipped to know when a situation has escalated out of the bounds of her expertise, and to get to a hospital immediately.

I feel completely safe in her hands.

Yay for homebirth!! ;)

[AM]

O, when I was making my decision first time around, I remember reading a little tidbit which really set the lightbulb off for me, this book was describing the nesting rituals which mammals tend to go through when birth is coming near.
The author said that humans are the only species that actually go through all this nesting, preparing the birth site, then bugger off, and give birth elsewhere. I thought to myself, 'Yes, it is a form of madness!! ;)'

[DoulaFelicity]

Yes, ApprenticeMomma - doesn't it make your heart ache with appreciation and joy when you realise that these truly dedicated, empowering, compassionate, skilled women are risking their homes, life savings, their very material worldly life - just to truly be "with woman" and support safe, gentle homebirth? :D

With that stacked against them, I'd be more inclined to trust what they do and say...their very lives are on the line. Nobody tells them what they can and can't say, they have no hidden agenda (ie: drug company sponsorships, hospital politics, etc) and nobody protects them "just in case" their care isn't up to scratch...they follow their truth and put their entire life where their mouth is.

Wow.

[Foxymoron]

:) If I didn't need to buy a people mover with my 'baby bonus' I'm pretty sure I'd be jumping up and down until my hubby agreed to let me use it for a homebirth. When you have things like speech therapy, school stuff and gymnastics, and all the other things that come with 3 children it's not practical to cut any corners... what is left over is for the family and not just for me :(
I guess if lil Johnnie Howard would HECS my Naturopathy Degree (it's a registered bachelor of health science.... just not covered by our narrow minded system) I'd have a better chance of paying for my own homebirth. I guess you just can't have everything... Maybe I'll go back for number 5 once I'm qualified and can afford it :p

I do agree that home is the more 'sterile' option, staph germs love hospital, and I'm not sterile around my babes anyway... there's a mounting stack of evidence that keeping baby germ free encourages sensitivity and allergy. Breastmilk is LOADED with antimicrobial proteins, just as your own blood is... and topped up with your own immunity.
I don't know of any midwife who doesn't know when transfer to hospital is appropriate..... So that wouldn't be a worry to me. Home birth midwives practice evidence based care and aren't constrained by hospital rules.
I've decided now that I'll only stay for the minimum 4 hours after bub is born, and if I can I'll birth the baby into my own arms or my hubbys.

[JanetF]

Loving all that, Angie! The insurance is interesting to me too. My rationale was that hospies are insured up to the wazoo but it's not for my benefit and since the outcomes are so poor in comparison with hb, obviously all that insurance ain't making us safe! Birth is part of life, not an illness :)

Sounds like you're set for a wonderful birth, Keara! I can't wait to read your birth story :)

[cobysmummy]

nope... i had a horrible birth and feel comfortable at the hospital with doctors and drugs!

[WeThree]

Yes Yes Yes!!! i love the idea, in fact im feeling so inspired by some of the links Janet F has posted recently regarding home birth that im thinking of having another bubs just so i can do it!! (well maybe not quite that keen hehe):)

[mummy2pj&bood]

Yes!! After two bad experiences with hospital births. I was all set to go, but it fell apart with the midwife and now I'm having an unassisted homebirth. I bleed heavily after birth, but feeding bubs straight away and being 2mins from hospital, even if I hemhorage I feel I can get there quick enough - not that thats going to happen.

Ali

[schmell]

YES YES YES!!

I almost stayed home at the last minute with DD2 but only because I didn't think I would make it to the hospital, made it with 4 minutes to spare..... :eek:

If we have any more bubs we have decided that hang the cost I am staying home!!

[HoopDeeDoo]

It's a nice idea but I don't think I could do it.
My last birth was 5 weeks early, no complicattions but my little bubba had to spend 10 days in NICU. Which at the time was very frustrating because he was completely healthy but because of thier policies I couldn't breastfeed him whenever i wanted to they insisted on tube feeding most of the time for the first few days, and i just found it was like it was thier baby and they were telling what I could and couldn't do instead of letting me go with my instincts.
If I have a full term pregnacy this time I will be staying at the hospital for as little time as possible, and rushing home to enjoy my family with no one telling me what I can and can't do!
My first labour was only four hours so I may not even make it to the hospital this time! :D

[TwoBlue]

If I have a full term pregnacy this time

and you will, or hopefully will anyway ;)

[Ffrenchstar]

but because of thier policies I couldn't breastfeed him whenever i wanted to they insisted on tube feeding most of the time for the first few days, and i just found it was like it was thier baby and they were telling what I could and couldn't do instead of letting me go with my instincts.

Grrrrr, that makes me soooo cranky :(

here's to a beautiful long lasting (but not too long lol) pregnancy this time!:)

[loobeelu]

Wow! I assumed NZs and Australias birthing practices were similar and they couldnt be more different! Home birth is covered by the government in NZ, everyone uses independent midwives and few people see OBs.
I think if I am having another babe I might just have to come home to do it!!
I assume you can still check yourself out of hospital immediately after birth and recuperate in the comfort of your own bed?

[MariaO]

No, I wouldn't homebirth. I would not have the confidence (or inclination really) to do it. I found the support in the hospital (well most of it) really helpful.

[DoulaFelicity]

Wow! I assumed NZs and Australias birthing practices were similar and they couldnt be more different! Home birth is covered by the government in NZ, everyone uses independent midwives and few people see OBs.
I think if I am having another babe I might just have to come home to do it!!
I assume you can still check yourself out of hospital immediately after birth and recuperate in the comfort of your own bed?

That's why I wish I was in NZ sometimes, loobeelu. :p

We're oceans apart (forgive the pun) in Maternity "care" between NZ and Oz, sadly. NZ is a lot closer to what many of us are fighting for here in Oz.

Checking yourself out of hospital immediately after the birth is frowned upon here in general Labour wards (and, due to high rates of intervention, many Mums and babes aren't in a fit state to check out immediately). Hospital Birth Centres do have an "early discharge" program, where it is standard to send a woman home with her babe within 24 - 48 hours (I think if you wanted to go earlier, then you could). Obviously, it's always "your choice" when you check out - but many times it's not portrayed to you in that manner :rolleyes:. One Ob here has already been shown to be "trigger happy" in calling in Child Protective Services for an unborn child, because the Mum went against his hospital's recommendations...! :eek:

[annsam]

I will be homebirthing next time around too. I can hardly wait!!!! ........spose I need to get pg first though.......... ;)

[loobeelu]

. One Ob here has already been shown to be "trigger happy" in calling in Child Protective Services for an unborn child, because the Mum went against his hospital's recommendations...! :eek:
Oh wow!! OBs still rule the roost then huh!
In my 2nd and 3rd hospital births (long story about why they werent home births in the end) I left the hospital within 3 hours and went home to enjoy and bond with my baby in my own environment.

[chellegoth]

Nice idea but ther ewould be no way in the world I would do it even if it was free. And that is even after having a hideous hospital experience.

[AM]

I assume you can still check yourself out of hospital immediately after birth and recuperate in the comfort of your own bed?

Hi!
I'm a kiwi too, living in Brisbane, and was completely floored that birth practices here were so bad.
So I opted for a homebirth first time, but got transferred due to 'failure to progress' - 12 hours pushing all up, and spent an hour in hospital actually birthing ds, then another getting stitched, cleaned up etc, and was on my way home an hour after that, we just discharged ourselves, and they weren't too happy, but no child protection people turned up on the doorstep!

BTW, I have heard lately, that it is a new policy of Logan hospital that if they are aware of your plans to homebirth, and cannot talk you out of it, they will put a note in your file, and will notify child services if you do not come to the hospital to birth your baby.
Scary stuff!!

Wouldn't it be nice to be left in peace to make your own informed decisions?

[rynosmum]

..., that it is a new policy of Logan hospital that if they are aware of your plans to homebirth, and cannot talk you out of it, they will put a note in your file, and will notify child services if you do not come to the hospital to birth your baby.

Hmmm...from what I've heard about Logan Hospital, they should be calling child services if you DO give birth there :eek:

Apologies in advance to anyone who had a successful medical experience at Logan, it's not what I heave heard is all...

[stormanet]

not me I'm afraid. My little man came out in an emergency caesar(Ican never spell that when I need to!) If I was at home he probably could have died or something else may have happened.. I'm forever grateful that my ob and her team were right there when I needed them. Home births are just way too risky for me.

[Liam&Sienna'sMum]

LOve the idea of homebirth, and once upon a time I would have said yes. But after two massive hemmorhages, *if* I ever have another baby, it will be in hospital. I will certainly be having an independant midwife, perhaps a natural birth frinedly ob also :)

[giggles]

I have to say I wouldn't consider a homebirth.

Maybe because my birth was textbook and we were in a beautiful suite and my OB was very encouraging that I could do it etc and everything was done as we wanted and maybe if I had a bad experience I would change my mind. My DH stayed with me for the time we were in hospital and we had a double bed adn ensuite so we were pretty much left to our own devices. If we wanted/needed help/advice, it was only the press of a button away! Very lucky I think.

I think being in another environment was much more relaxing for me than being at home as I think I would have stressed more in my own environment thinking that I should have been organising things.....not sure if I am getting my thoughts across very clearly :confused:

[the_queen]

Perhaps because I didn't get to specifically choose my MW, I'm in a different boat... but here's my experience in this pregnancy (so far):
I went to the Northern Women's Community Health Centre (in Elizabeth, SA) and I had a bit of an interview with the desk lady, then I was assigned a MW and a backup MW. They're both lovely, but if I'd had personality clashes with either of them, I could easily have changed to a different MW. The first question they asked me was where will I be birthing? At home or in the hospital? I said hospital, kinda automatically (although I am beginning to change my mind, all being well with the rest of the pregnancy). But if I want to birth at home, they'll help with that too. In the last 4 weeks of the pregnancy, she'll come to me at my house to do the checkups, and when I go into labour I call her first, she'll come to my house and see how things are progressing, and accompany me to the hospital (should i choose to go). It's not costing me a cent.

Maybe because the Elizabeth/Salisbury area (in which I live) is classed as "low socio-economic"...? So I guess they are a government-funded clinic, so their insurance is covered by funding? I don't know. I guess I'm really lucky that the MW's assigned to me are really great and are supportive of all my core values surrounding birthing and parenting. I'm about 40% in favour of a home-birth (at this stage - 12 weeks ago I was 100% in favour of a hospital birth!) and like I said, if I do birth at home, it won't cost me anything.

[Hukuna Matata]

The_queen - that sounds like a fabulous system. Sounds like a great model for the delivery of maternity care.... I would definately use a service like that.....

Yup, I would home birth. For me, it was the only other option if I didn't make the ballot for the BC in Bris. No way could I not have continuity of care (which I get at the BC). So if I didn't get in, I had phone numbers ready to call to start organising home birth. If home birth was covered by Medicare, I would definately do it. The cost is a little off putting, but worth it for continuity of care if it is the only option.

The other thing that attracted me about BC for 2nd bub was that I could have the same MW as for my first bub....

[Ffrenchstar]

Hey hey Kara fancy seeing you here:D Love your username....

[WeThree]

~hukuna matata, great to see you! i was just thinking the other day that you hadnt been around for ages and then suddenly here you are :)
~ queenie, you are so lucky, the system they have in your neck of the woods sounds fabulous, good luck :)

[meglet]

I have chosen to have a homebirth with my baby due in June. Finances were a big part of the decision, which nearly drove us to hospital. But when I found out I couldn't go to the birth centre because I had a c/sec nearly 8 years ago... I decided to scrounge around and find every penny I would need to pay a midwife!

If home birth was covered by medicare the health care system would be unburdened a great deal I believe, simply because of all the unnecessary interventions which occur in otherwise normal labours.

Yes I would do it if it were covered by medicare - but I'm doing it anyway;)

[OopsieDaisy]

No a homebirth is not my thing I am too much of a worry wart lol and I feel safer in a hospital!