Calling all Feb. Homebirthers - Page 9

[aries_mama]

I have a question about insurance coverage -- if you are submitting it to your insurance company, how do you go about it? I feel like "less is more" in this case, and I'm planning to just submit the out-of-network paperwork with my ND's name/address/etc. without going into specifics about WHERE I'll be giving birth. Our out-of-network coverage is 70%, so I'm *really* hoping that our insurance will cover that amount. Though it wouldn't necessarily be a dealbreaker if insurance won't cover it, it will certainly sour our plan for a homebirth a little bit. If anyone else has specific experience with Humana PPO, that would be great to hear about too. TIA!

[1Baby5Pups]

We are planning a homebirth. My first was planned that way, but a last minute blood test result (I had just started labour when they called me) showed me severely anemic and the midwives weren't allowed to do it at home. I only had time for a good cry before labour really got started. I was at home for the first 8 hours, in the hospital for the last four. Not my preference, but it wasn't too bad. I didn't like the nurses in there, especially at the shift change DURING PUSHING. I broke down and asked for gas. And I'm not sure what happened, but my husband was supposed to catch the baby and got pushed out of the way at the last second (I think she was trying to breathe before she was out and they were worried).

Anyway, my most recent blood test showed me with a high iron count, so I'm back to hoping for a homebirth. We may move half way through my pregnancy. My midwife is going to refer me to a friend of hers, but if I can't get on her roster I *may* consider UC. Maybe.

[smokeylo]

Any input?

I met with a midwife today and am wondering if I should just go ahead and hire her. I know everyone always says to meet lots of midwives before making that call, and I do adore many of my local midwives (they're all friends). Here are the things that are tipping me in her direction right now:

- She's comfortable with a postdates baby. The other two midwives I have contacted have a hard and fast 42 weeks deadline, which I'm sure I won't need to worry about, but I'm still uncomfortable with those kinds of arbitrary boundaries. This is a big deal for me since I strongly feel that my baby should guide the birth, and I don't want to be doing castor oil or really anything that would induce the baby for any reason other than placenta problems postdates or some other reason that would threaten the baby's life. She has delivered as late as nearly 44w!
- She's both a CPM and a CNM. Her experience is just about unparalleled in terms of range of births. She has a good rel. with the local hospital and would stay with me if I transferred (which the other midwives may or may not do, I don't know). I think that my husband would find her expertise and range of experience extremely reassuring (he had to work today and didn't meet her). I'm not at all saying that DEMs don't completely ROCK, but I like that she has a full knowledge of homebirth as well as hospital procedures and practices and can help us make sense of that stuff if god forbid transport was needed.
- She seems very much about letting ME guide our prenatal and birth experiences. For example, the other midwives have in their literature that they don't want me to push during 2nd stage, they believe in blowing through ctx and letting the body do the work. Now, that's well and good and I'm totally up for 'laboring down,' but I have the feeling that I might really want to work with the urge to push, and I don't really want someone telling me not to unless I'm on the verge of tearing. The midwife I met today said that she thinks laboring down for as long as possible is a good move, but that she wouldn't tell me to stop pushing if that's what my urge was.
- She'd do all prenatals in my home, and my cats really liked her. Those are minor/conveniences but they matter!
- I might be able to get some insurance coverage since she is a CNM. The other midwives have lower fees but they're DEMs so there's no way I could get coverage. AND she would accept payments after the birth.

I have lots of other midwives I could meet, but I'm really wanting to have this settled. I'm wondering if it's worth the time arranging all the meetings, traveling (they're about an hour away), etc. I don't know. What do you think?

[flapjack]

I think she sounds great. I've never had the luxury of picking a midwife, but every midwife I've been allotted has come through for me big time. I did find it helpful having antenatal appointments in my home though.

[TrishWSU]

She sounds really great to me! There was only 1 MW in my town {at least the was licensed and state ins would pay for} so that made it an easy choice, lol! The in-home visits are great, too, especially if your other option is driving over an hour. That would really suck in at the end when you're going every two weeks, then every week.

[SamuraiMom]

I interviewed a great Mw today, she is so sweet and down to earth, knowledgable, hands off, flexable, super. I told that i had not found my uterus yet, and her eyes lit up, she offered to check and then she told me that she brought her doppler, so I got to hear my little one's tiny heartbeat. It was so nice, and reasurring However, I'm not going to frett just yet, but DH has descided that we CAN NOT afford to HB this time around and since we were approved for Commonwealth Care (state HI) that I'll just have to "suck it up and be in the hospital for three days". He does not understand that this isn't just something that I want, it is the ONLY way that I will birth! WHY would i ever want to be in a hospital again, I swear I am almost considering UC. Almost, I said Almost. I am absolutely sure that Fallon will not cover a HB, and though they have Midwives, they are only allowed to attend during office hours... what is the point I ask? When I had Ds in Hospital it was chaotic and hellacious, even though my MW was "allowed" to continue care with me ( they changed the policy mid pregnancy) and she was there. I am going to check with Network tomorrow and see if they will cover, I have 60 days to switch plans...ARG, I would be super angry right not if I wasn't so tired....and a bit hungry, but I will make this work, I will be birthing at home.

[flapjack]

[gerlassie]

My oldest son had a serious cord complication so, we had a pretty scary birth. Having that fresh in my memory I opted for a hospital birth for my second. Since I'm now officially 40, and realistically thinking, this may be my last child, I would really love to have a home birth. My Midwife does support home births and it would clearly be my decision but, I would have to have her in attendance but may not want her to be hands on. Can anyone give me some encouragement, positive reasons or support in approaching my Midwife. I want to have clear discussion with her and hopefully, some of the mommies who have experience with home births can boost my confidence. We're also thinking about leaving the city and "flying below the radar" to raise our children in peace. If there are any country mommies either in North Carolina, Maine or Colorado I would love to hear about your transition from urban to country living.


Thanks,
Kim ( Daniel 6 and David 2 and Our Little One due February 2008 )

[mama_nym]

My CNMs accept most insurance and they bill the insurance company so I dont' have to worry about any of it - thank goodness!!!

smokelylo - That midwife sounds WONDERFUL!!!

Kim - I am a mama who labors best on my own without any interference. I cannot be touched during labor or while I'm birthing. I explained this to my midwives and they agreed to be totally hands off except for the occasional heartbeat check (and then asking my permission and only touching my belly with the fetoscope/dopplar). I pushed without a word or touch from my midwives - one of my midwives (2 attended C's birth) caught the baby as I was on my hands and knees, but had I been able to catch, they would have been totally hands off. I'd say just be frank with your midwife and tell her that you need her to be as hands off as possible - and then ask her how hands off she can be during labor/birth.

My next mw appointment is on Monday - I'll finally (hopefully!) get to hear this little one's heartbeat!!! I'm going to see if my mom is up for leaving an hour early so we can go for a walk on the beach before my appointment!

[OldFashionedGirl]

Can I tentatively add myself to the list? I'm hoping for a VBAC, and I'm afraid that if I go to the hospital I'm going to end up with another c/s. Right now, the plan is to labor at home for as long as I possibly can. And if the kid happens to pop out before I feel like going to the hospital, so be it

Ideally, I'd like a MW assisted HBAC, but it would seem that ANY kind of assisted HB in Nebraska is illegal. But, as long as I catch the kid myself...

Anyway, I'm going to continue lurking on this thread, even if I'm not "offically" in.

[loraxc]

OKay, we're in!! We're going to do it! Homebirth, here I come!!

[Fletchersmama]

We're ready for our second home birth with the same midwife! I wouldn't have it any other way!
Unfortunately our insurance won't cover.: They will cover a midwife, but not for a home birth: :
That won't stop us though!

[True Blue]

Fletchersmama -- ask how your midwife bills. Many midwives around here don't even bill it as a homebirth, just global maternity care...which is covered. There is no reason your insurance company has to even know it was a homebirth, actually!

[Teenytoona]

I am seriously starting to consider a home/water birth. I have no idea where to start, or even if I can find a plus-sized mama friendly midwife, or if my insurance will cover anything (that will probably take the taco, in truth, if we can get it to go on the insurance), but the more I read, the more I want one.

[TrishWSU]

Teeny, I don't thinking being plus-size will cause a problem with finding a mw. Two of my sisters are very overweight and each have had two fabulous homebirths. Now the insurance part is a whole 'nother problem! Good luck, I really can't imagine giving birth anywhere but home!

[smokeylo]

Originally Posted by Teenytoona

I am seriously starting to consider a home/water birth. I have no idea where to start, or even if I can find a plus-sized mama friendly midwife, or if my insurance will cover anything (that will probably take the taco, in truth, if we can get it to go on the insurance), but the more I read, the more I want one.

Teeny,
GO FOR IT! I think you will find midwives provide amazing care to plus sized Moms and are a lot less judgmental and pushy about weight gain/GD/etc. It is worth the investment.

L.

[mama_nym]

I'm a plus size mama who is going to have my second homebirth and my midwives have absolutely no problem with it. In fact, they're a bit concerned because I'm 14 weeks pregnant and have lost 14 lbs (3 lbs in the past 4 weeks!). They keep telling me to EAT! (I have morning sickness - so even when I do eat in the morning, it doesn't "take" : ). I'm not doing any testing aside from the initial bloodwork, all of which came out fine. I may decide to do the gd test just in case I birth another big baby - it feels great saying that I birthed a 10lb 14oz baby and NO, I didn't have gd! (That was C's birthweight - my first homebirth!)

[aries_mama]

I am still debating between using a N.D. for a homebirth or a C.N.M. for a hospital birth center birth. I have met with both providers and I really liked them both. I think I could have a wonderful birth experience either way. The $$$ bit is stressing me out a bit, because of the distinct possibility that our insurance will not cover a homebirth. I hate for that to be the deciding factor, but we can't afford to just pay cash. Especially when we pay so much for good insurance! So, assuming that in both situations you'd have a wonderful, caring, respectful provider, plus a doula (I'm NOT a hands-off type person -- I WANT support), and that you're able to deliver naturally without intervention, what makes the PLACE such a big factor? I guess I'm feeling like the people surrounding you should make a bigger impact on your experience than the place? Thoughts?

[TrishWSU]

Originally Posted by aries_mama

what makes the PLACE such a big factor? I guess I'm feeling like the people surrounding you should make a bigger impact on your experience than the place? Thoughts?

That's a good way to look at it. I think for most people, home vs. birth center just comes down to convience. Everyone comes to you and you get to snuggle in your own bed right after birth instead of getting in a car in labor, driving to the BC, then driving back home a few hours after giving birth. Plus, at home you have your own "stuff" around you and don't have to worry about packing everything.

You're lucky that you have two such great options available to choose from! I get so irratated that all insurance companies won't pay for homebirths. (I have military insurance so there's no way mine will cover it, not with a base hospital and OB dept 10 minutes from my house!) Is there anyway the ND can bill the insurance for just an "office" visit without specifically pointing out its for a HB? I hope you have a great natural birth at either location you choose!!

[True Blue]

Trish, are you the active duty person? BC they DO cover it if you can get on Standard....and I think with some fighting you just never know. That said, I know you are going UC so the whole thing is moot!

Oh yeah, but I second what Trish said. Place is about convenience and comfort, mostly. However, I will say that we considered a birthing center this time around for $ factors and I just couldn't do it. I want to be at home. But I am getting insurance to pay for it now.

Have you asked your provider HOW they bill the birth? If they bill Global, your insurance company won't know where you birthed, thereby getting a homebirth covered even if they don't technically cover it.