Why does it have to be so expensive?

[MilkOnTap]

Even though after our rebate from PHI our homebirth will only cost $2500 - its STILL $2500...

I want to use the baby bonus - and in theory thats all good and well... But HOW do you pay for the appointments BEFORE receiving the bonus??

[forbetoel]

Is insurance a large chunk of the fee? Also if there is not a high percentage of woman having homebirths, the individual fees of a private midwife will probally be higher. I don't really know, but these two things spring to mind. At any rate, it isn't fair, a homebirth should be affordable for everyone.

[mysonroger]

yep, that was the problem with the doula i looked into. she wanted a mere $2000; half the baby bonus. she said i just could pay her from the baby bonus, and i couldn't help but wonder that she had her eyes firmly fixed on my baby bonus when she came up with the fee structure.

i think, not sure, but that's about the same fee as an anaethetist, who are highly trained, have attended university for years and who can hold the balance of life in their hands.

Hmmmm.....

[Super Trooper]

if your having a midwife present, i personally dont see the need for a doula.

the midwife can help you with the birth side of things, and you wont need to be fighting hospital staff/intervention, because you are at home. you shouldnt have too many problems with a homebirth midwife.

and DH is there for the emotional side of things, and can speak on your behalf if he knows what you want.

but yes just having a midwife is still expensive, and its not fair that medicare covers ALL the expenses for a (public) hospy birth and doesnt do anything for homebirth

but i guess you do get the midwife working for you in an ongoing manner, she may be present for days at your birth, there is a lot of responsibility on her, and lets face it, being at that end during birth cant be the nicest thing in the world, so they probably figure they deserve to get paid what they do

and after looking at all the wedding costs for just one day, it doesnt seem so bad to be paying half the baby bonus to be bringing your child into the world (the way you want)

just some of my random thoughts

[~Emmylou~]

PL - Have you asked the midwife about her fees? Often they do allow you to pay afterwards once your BB has come through.

mysonroger - $2K is very much on the high end of fees for a doula. Going rate is usually $800-$1200 I've never heard of anyone charging that much

While doulas aren't "university educated" they do spend alot more time with their clients than the average OB or anaesthesist (as do IM's getting back to Pink Lady's question!). Many hours face to face and the same again "behind the scenes" in prep work. We are on call 24/7 for weeks before the birth, and at the end of that time drop everything to be there, even if it's 3am, or our own kids are sick, or we have some other personal commitment - and it's the same for indpendent midwives generally. Compare this to an OB or anaesthesist who doesn't even show up to your birth if it's their rostered weekend off, despite having been paid a few grand months in advance to do so. The nature of this work being what it is - unpredictable - doulas and independent midwives pretty much forgo a personal life - in the same way anaesthesists and OB's do But we don't have a roster system or back up. I love this work but it takes me away from my family in the same way any other job does so for that the financial incentive has to be there also or doulas and midwives would very quickly burn out and resent mothers calling them up at all hours and dragging them out of bed at night I just think it's a bit rough to imply a doula was greedy for charging a certain fee in view of the fact she isn't "qualified" to the level of a medical professional. It's a bit apples and oranges - yes one is more qualified but they don't spend anywhere near the time or energy either

But of course each woman has to decide what that service is worth to them and for everyone that will be different, depending on what their needs are. And PK I guess this applies with your situation as well. I know it's a lot of money and it sucks that we have to fork it out ourselves when hospital births are so subsidised

[MilkOnTap]

and after looking at all the wedding costs for just one day, it doesnt seem so bad to be paying half the baby bonus to be bringing your child into the world (the way you want)

just some of my random thoughts

What an awesome argument to present to my husband lol!!!

I just realised that we should get a decent tax rebate in a couple of months too - what perfect timing

[TwoBoysOnly]

Is insurance a large chunk of the fee? Also if there is not a high percentage of woman having homebirths, the individual fees of a private midwife will probally be higher. I don't really know, but these two things spring to mind. At any rate, it isn't fair, a homebirth should be affordable for everyone.

It's most definantly not insurance - independent midwives don't have insurance because there is none to be had

[MilkOnTap]

I will receive a rebate from my PHI for $1500 - my IM's fees are $4K.

[stellarella]

To me it isn't expensive. It costs more to have a hospital birth but the govt pays for it. IMs don't charge too much, they come to your home, spend as much time with you as you need, stay with you as long as it takes during the birth, they are on call 24/7, they stay after the birth and come back for regular visits. Where else do you get that kind of individual care?

Money well spent IMO.

My midwife charges $2000 including a birth pool.
I know that is much less than other cities/regions and I am lucky, but I would have happily paid $5000.

I too think $2000 is absurd for a doula, they only see you a couple of times before the labour. I have been quoted $600 by about 6 different doulas.

[TwoBoysOnly]

I think $4000 is reasonable for a midwife considering she does ALL your antenatal care, is there for the whole birth and up to 6 weeks post partum in most instances..... If you add up all the fees of visiting an ob which is the professional in complicated birth then midwives who are the professionals in normal birth are relatively cheap really IMO

Money well spent on the future of your baby