Homebirthing mamas...a question?

[milk_maker]

How much are you paying for your homebirth? When DS was born I paid around $1800 (this was in NC). I was searching for a midwife here on the island and it seemed the going price was $2500. Now that I'm going home to FL I'm searching for a midwife there and the only one I've gotten in touch with thus far is charging $4,000.

This is going to force me to go to a hospital. I mean, I can afford $2500 no problem, but $4000? I had a hard enough time convincing DH the first time around because the military hospital is free. So why pay for what you can have for free? That's what DH thinks. Now he agrees that it's worth the cost to pay for a homebirth, but I know he'll say hell no to $4K...even I say hell no to $4K.

I emailed her and I'm hoping that she'll take the fact that she's only going to be doing 10 weeks of prenatal care and a birth instead of the full 40 weeks into consideration, but my hopes aren't that high. I know the area she's based out of and it's come up a lot in the past five years, but normal people still live and work there, not just rich people who pay half a million dollars for a house just so they can tear it down and build a new one.

[Basylica]

My soon-to-be midwife (i'm waiting on ins issues....again...arg)
She charges 2900 for a homebirth, with a discount if you pay early...so I think as low as 2400...
And charges 1200 facility fee if you deliver at the birthcenter she runs.

i'm actually leaning towards the BC option again, eventhough i've always wanted to do the homebirth gig.
Namely because I KNOW i'll be extremely uptight about my house being messy...because I know it will be (god forbid my hub clean up!)

And because she has giant tub

[Fuamami]

I think it will be about $3000. Last time she charged us a travel expense because we lived an hour away. She's the only game in town, unfortunately, because I think if she had some competition she'd lower her prices. Maybe. She's worth it, though.

[Defenestrator]

That fee might be artificially high because of insurance -- insurance reimbursement is very different from state to state for CPMs and LMs -- in florida the insurance companies have to pay them. If the norm is to bill insurance rather than have people pay cash, the rates will usually be higher because insurance companies will often not pay the whole bill. She may even have an unpublished cash price that is different from the price quoted.

Perhaps the midwife can bill insurance for you?

[milk_maker]

Originally Posted by Defenestrator

That fee might be artificially high because of insurance -- insurance reimbursement is very different from state to state for CPMs and LMs -- in florida the insurance companies have to pay them. If the norm is to bill insurance rather than have people pay cash, the rates will usually be higher because insurance companies will often not pay the whole bill. She may even have an unpublished cash price that is different from the price quoted.

Perhaps the midwife can bill insurance for you?

That is the price quoted specifically for uninsured mothers. My insurance will not cover a homebirth as she is not a CNM.

[Kimcarrots]

We will pay $2300 since we are paying before week 36. They do offer a sliding scale I think as low as $1500. I would be shocked if your midwife didn't offer a reduced fee or maybe a barter etc. situation. If she didn't and she knew how much homebirthing meant to you maybe it is time to look for another midwife?? My midwives "get it" meaning they understand some of us are not all rich.

My first birth my midwife waved a huge portion of my fee saying it was a gift so I could afford to stay home with my babe . Talk to your midwife about how important this is for you and how much you can pay.

Good luck!!

[boscopup]

Originally Posted by Kimcarrots

I would be shocked if your midwife didn't offer a reduced fee or maybe a barter etc. situation. If she didn't and she knew how much homebirthing meant to you maybe it is time to look for another midwife??

:

Alot of midwives will do a sliding scale. My midwife says in her info packet that she never wants someone to decide against homebirth due to finances. She'll always work with women to make it affordable.

Also, are there any birth centers in that area? I know Florida has them, and they'd have CNMs which would be covered by your insurance. It's certainly be WAY better than any military hospital (I wouldn't touch a military hospital with a 10 foot pole after hearing my friend's mother's experiences birthing in them!).

[milk_maker]

Vera, I'm looking, but it seems that all the BC are in Orlando. No way am I driving to Orlando to give birth. I hate that town on the best of days, and they rarely have good days. Rush hour starts at 4 am and ends at 11 pm. Bumper to bumper traffic all.day.long. No way!

I've got two more midwives that I'm trying to reach and I emailed the overpriced midwife so I have my fingers crossed. The time difference here in Hawaii is killing me and my ability to contact anyone on the East coast.

[my_baby_love]

I believe that our midwife charges $3200, but also has dicounts for people who pay up front or pay cash. I know she also works out payment plans, and is willing to be flexible. Our insurance is paying for most of it, though (I know I'm extremely lucky!), so our out-of-pocket expenses won't be that much. Good luck finding a midwife that won't charge you a ton of money for the birth you want!

[riversong]

Here in CA the m/ws cost $4,000 also. I almost decided to go with the hospital because of it. My m/w's price has gone up $500 since I had dd with her 2 years ago. It is insane, but we're going to battle with the insurance company to try to get some of it paid for. It's a big financial strain for us. The only m/w close to us who offers a sliding scale is someone I was not at all comfortable with. I feel your pain.

[heartdancer]

You should ask people in your area on that forum - they could probably give you a more solid idea of what other people's rates are?

[Naughty Dingo]

The MW I interviewed today charges 2400, 2000 if you have had a baby with her previously.

The Birth center in town was much more costly. Over 6000. 4800 if you prepay before a certain date. The facility fee portion of that price was about 1200.


ND

[Pandora114]

$0

It's covered by the provincial health care...

So there's your "low of the low" price range hehe

[happydoulamama]

$1800 for our prenatals and homebirth.

Rachelle in Indiana

[theboysmama]

My midwife charges $2,500 but only $2,300 f0r returning moms. That includes all the birthing supplies including the tub and all of the appts, the birth etc. She gives a discount the later in the pg that you come to her as well.
Good luck on being able to talk her down. Maybe you can barter or help her w/ something to help lower your fee.
Nicole

[poetesss]

There's the Labor of Love birth centers in Lakeland, Tampa, Clearwater, and dunedin. I'm pretty sure Sarasota also has one though I can't remember the name off the top of my head. I'm in Tampa, if you want me to ask my midwife for a recommendation for a certain area in FL let me know.

Oh btw there is a practice of CNM's in Tampa that does births in a birthing center in Tampa General. Don't know how midwifey or medwifey they are but I can try to find out if you are interested.

[milk_maker]

Originally Posted by poetesss

Oh btw there is a practice of CNM's in Tampa that does births in a birthing center in Tampa General. Don't know how midwifey or medwifey they are but I can try to find out if you are interested.

Tampa is waaay too far away. I think it's about a 3-hour drive from where I live on the Space Coast. THanks though

[kalisis]

Definitely ask about a reduced fee or perhaps bartering? I agree that the rate might be artificially high to compensate for insurance. Here in NY, they're only required to pay 65% of the fee b/c it was a midwife and not a dr. Stinks, right?

With that said, we paid $4000 for our last birth (insurance reimbursed us at the end, but still, it was $4000 out of our pockets for nearly 9 months) and will probably pay more this time around - I don't have a mw yet, so I'm not sure exactly.

Good luck - I hope you find something that works for you.

[emdeecee_sierra]

I'm being charged something like $3,500. But insurance covers part of that, so we're going to be out of pocket just for the mw around 1,300 I think. Anything else, such as anatomy scan, will come out of pocket (our insurance pretty much stinks).

I'm sorry it is looking like finances might keep you from the homebirth you want. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that it all works out for you