If we lose the baby bonus, how will this effect your decision to homebirth?

**callycrum** · 06-05-2008 18:21

I know we were planning to use all this money on funding ours, and not sure whether we'll be able to afford it now. Our midwife costs over $4000 dollars!! Any thoughts?

**Mamalicious** · 06-05-2008 18:41

Have they actually decided to stop it? For everyone?

If I was to not have the baby bonus and want a homebirth in Australia, it wouldn't be able to happen.

And that makes me FURIOUS.

**doulacara** · 06-05-2008 19:12

We are a bit in the same boat. The Baby Bribe is going to be funding my homebirth. If it becomes means tested, it is unlikely that we will still get it.

Although my DH earns a reasonable wage, it is the only wage, so higher tax than two people earning a combined income of the same amount and the increase in interest rates means our mortgage has become massive each month. We are by no means poor, but it still isn't going to be easy to find $3500.

There is ABSOLUTELY NO WAY IN HELL that I will be planning to birth in hospital - so we will just have to make some cuts here and there.....somewhere.

I think I will be sending my Midwife's bill to Mr Rudd.......

C

**PookieLady** · 06-05-2008 19:25

Originally Posted by doulacara

There is ABSOLUTELY NO WAY IN HELL that I will be planning to birth in hospital - so we will just have to make some cuts here and there.....somewhere.

C

As much as the BB will come in handy for our HB, id rather live on baked beans until we have bub than got to hospital. I wouldnt have bubhub anymore cause the net and phone would have to go to. I will do everything in my power to stay out of hospital.

Sarah

**~Emmylou~** · 06-05-2008 19:54

Even if it does become means tested I honestly wouldn't worry too much for this time around ladies.

They won't just bring it in tomorrow - they will be mindful of people who are already pregnant and counting on it - and I think you'd find that any changes would be brought in on a timeframe that would only affect people who aren't pregnant yet

**Freya** · 06-05-2008 19:59

Well I sure as hell aint a high income earner so the changes wouldn't affect me, but if I was then I guess I would be freebirthing... Or saving up.

**MilkOnTap** · 06-05-2008 20:04

Originally Posted by callycrum

I know we were planning to use all this money on funding ours, and not sure whether we'll be able to afford it now. Our midwife costs over $4000 dollars!! Any thoughts?

I totally understand and have just been through the same emotional roller coaster. I have put my name down on the MGP programme at my local hospital as a backup. When the budget comes out (15th May I believe) I will at least have all bases covered and can make an informed decision.

Fortunately I'm still early in my pregnancy, so chopping and changing right now isn't as difficult as later on.

We earn over $60K (just...) and I have no idea how on earth we could afford a HB without the BB.

**doulacara** · 07-05-2008 00:36

Originally Posted by ~Emmylou~

They won't just bring it in tomorrow - they will be mindful of people who are already pregnant and counting on it - and I think you'd find that any changes would be brought in on a timeframe that would only affect people who aren't pregnant yet

That's what my rational brain says.

I'll probably still fret about it until Tuesday though.

**stellarella** · 07-05-2008 07:30

I totally agree that it wont affect anyone who is pregnant now....these things don't just happen overnight.

Anyway, I would still HB, it is that important to me and just an expense we have to pay for if I want a safe birth. I come up with rent and food money, it's just like that....money that has to be spent.

I am lucky though, we have enough savings in the kitty even though we live on less than $50,000 a year total.