Any other older mamas have a/planning a homebirth?

[Caryliz]

I've just discovered to my great surprise and delight that I am expecting a second babe, and both DH and I feel strongly about having a homebirth. (DS was born in a hospital following an emergency transfer from a freestanding birthing center. However, it was a natural birth - not a C-section.) Unfortunately, I've just learned from the first HBMW I spoke to that my health insurance company must review and approve me for a homebirth, and that my age (I'll be 44 when the baby arrives) may be a mitigating factor. I don't think she was trying to scare me - just prepare me.

Any other older mamas out there who have successfully negotiated a homebirth? Any tips you can provide as I start down this road?

TIA!

[Gena 22]

One day I'd like to be in your shoes. I had a homebirth at 31 and loved it. Not sure if or when I'll be in a position to do it again. Likely a good long while.

So I'm hoping you get a lot of positive responses! I'd say you should be able to go for it, but I haven't done the research. And as a homebirthing twin mom, my definition of high risk is not the same as other people.

[Caryliz]

Wow! You got to homebirth twins!

I do think the regulations differ from state to state. I remember when I first met the midwife who attended my son's birth, she told me that, if I was carrying twins, she could still attend the birth but it would have to take place in the hospital. (Now that I've typed that I realize I don't know if that was a state regulation or just had something to do with her insurance coverage.) I opted to have my son at a freestanding birthing center, though my MW was also willing to attend a homebirth - and DH really wanted a homebirth - but for a variety of reasons I chickened out. However, since we ended up with an emergency transfer to the hospital, I suppose the point is moot.

Crossing my fingers this will work out! I've been reading obsessively about HB and KNOW this is the right choice for us.

P.S. I suspect my definition of "high risk" is also not the same as others...LOL!

[goldenwillow]

Not a problem! Their review will show that you are a healthy woman, regardless the age. If it is your will to have a healthy homebirth, you will. You know your body best, also an intuitive midwife knows when a woman is not healthy to have a homebirth. Insurance may challenge you, but geez... they are not in the business to pay anyways, not in their best interest. So that is why they are challenging, I think. I am 34 and had a fantastic homebirth. We had already made the decision that a homebirth was best for us, our midwife was also willing to do a payment plan if need be, maybe yours would too.

[sweeetpea]

I was 38 when I had my homebirth. No problems at all.

My problems were with the mw/ob hospital group I was seeing for shadow care (dd1 was a preemie and I wanted a relationship with a practice in case I wound up with another preemie). They treated me like a freaking landmine due solely to my advanced maternal age . Wanted to do all sorts of tests, told me my placenta would crap out early, so I needed to schedule an induciton or c/section at 38 or 39 weeks - blah blah blah . I would have saved myself a ton of anxiety and stress had I just trusted myself, my baby and my healthy yet elderly body, and kept far far away from their fear-mongering.

Stress-free homebirth of a perfectly healthy baby at 41w2d.

[Gena 22]

Great perspective!

Healthy mother and baby = great candidates for homebirth

Older mother (a day past 35) does not equal landmine.

[bcafe]

I will be 39 when we have our homebirth. My MW has no issues with age what so ever. AMA is a joke these days.

[Beltane]

I'm 35....having my first baby and planning my first HB in August.

[fairydoula]

I'll be 38 and this will be baby 5, our third homebirth. I find it offensive in the extreme when careproviders act as if "advanced maternal age" is really an issue, and especially when they use scare tactics on us older moms. Argh!
Lifestyle, health, mental attitude, informed minds... these are infinitely more important than age!

Consider a 23 year old mom. She drinks, smokes and lives in poverty. She has no husband, is living with an abusive boyfriend, does not know if she will still have a place to live when baby is born and often is short of food. Her food choices are poor, consisting of fast food and high-fat, greasy foods. She demands an epidural immediately upon entering the hospital, when labor has barely begun and cries when she can't have one. Her labor slows when the epidural is administered too early, due to patient demand (i.e. screaming and crying) and after many hours of lack of cooperation from mom and a sputtering labor, she has a c-section and complications later, due to poor diet and smoking, including poor scar formation and infection.

Now, I ask you... HOW can a care provider be MORE nervous with a 40 year old mother of two (born vaginally) who's having baby three. She doesn't smoke or drink, she's mildly overweight (less than 30lbs). She exercizes regularly, more now that she's pregnant. She makes an effort to drink plenty of fluids, eats lots of fresh veggies and fruits daily and gets as much sleep as she can. She has a stable homelife with her children and partner. No abuse or substance abuse. No lack of food. She's informed and plans on labor support and wants to have a natural birth, barring medical complications. She's well-read and feels prepared.

But the careprovider I know considers the 40 year old to be at much greater risk, in general, than the 23 year old. This is so beyond ridiculous I can't really even begin to address it. It's so insane! Of course, 40 year old mothers are at higher risk, statistically, of a baby with congenital defects or other issues. Down's is one thing that is usually in the forefront of one's mind for an older mom.
But just higher risk, because she's 40?
please....
And to ignore the 23 year old's behaviors, assuming that because she's 23 her body will just compensate for ALL those stressors?

Argh!
I have not adequate words!
- Jen

[Manessa]

I'm 36 and planning my first homebirth. My midwife and I joke about my "advanced age", it's the only "risk factor" I have.

[Caryliz]

Jen - right there with you!!!!!

And sweetpea - this is what I am worried about. We just don't have the $10,000 sitting around for us to try and do this (homebirth) without some insurance reimbursement. Yes, the only available midwife in our area is willing to work out a payment plan - provided that care and delivery are paid in full by the time I get to 36 weeks.

The way my insurance works (and maybe this is true for everyone in NY State, I don't know) is that both I and the midwife must be approved in advance for the homebirth before the insurance company will consent to any reimbursement. So my first appointment (which is this morning) has to be called a "consultation" rather than a prenatal visit, and I have to pay out of pocket. Once the MW has gathered baseline data and filled out the insurance company forms, I submit them to the ins co. and they will let us know if I am approved for homebirth under her care. Given that I had my first at 38 and had "geriatric" (LITERALLY) written all over my files at the hospital where I went for my sonogram, and that everyone went nuts at said hospital about what a high risk I was - despite my excellent health - my age is giving me pause. Just wondering if others have had their HB covered by insurance, and if age was a factor?

TIA -

Caryliz