homebirth cost?

[babykaoss]

so how much does the average homebirth cost?

i'm getting more and more uncomfortable as each day goes by with the thought of going to the hospital to give birth, even though i have been seeing a CNM. i'm finding myself longing for the chance to stay home, not have to leave my 2 year old dd......or the comfort of my home........but i know with our current financial situation (living paycheck to paycheck) there is no way we could afford to pay out of pocket for it. :( we have medicaid that's covering costs and takes a lot of stress off of us.......but lately i am feeling a lot of unrest and lack of peace about the situation.

what can you guys tell me? help? advice?

[ashleep]

nak

out of pocket $1000. she would have taken payments, but our financial situation at the time allowed us to pay it all at once. insurance said they would cover 60%, and then when it came down to it they tried to get out of paying. :irked: But eventually she got paid by ins.

my best friend just had a HB and her MW was very flexible w/ payments too. THey traded babysitting and house repairs for a few payments taken off.

It would be worth checking with the MWs in your area. Good luck!

[TrishWSU]

My WA state medicare paid 100% of my homebirth. But my midwife's total fees (all prenatal to 6 weeks PP) was $2800. She had very flexible payment plans if I hadn't had insurance. I'd assume that since you'd only require a few months of care, that there would be a reduced cost for care.

Good luck, I hope you get the birth you want!

[fourlittlebirds]

Six and eight years ago, my births with different midwives in the same area were each $1500, one paid by medicaid, one out of pocket. I think that is pretty much on the low end for this area now, back then it was mid-range, and I believe they both charge more now.

We were living paycheck to paycheck too when we paid out of pocket, luckily we were able to pay for it out of our tax return. But our midwife also did sliding scale and trade for other services, bless her heart! Maybe you can find something like that. Or heck, consider an unassisted birth, that would cost you nothing! ;)

[jplain]

It'll depend a lot on where you live. The cost variation is huge!

Two years ago, DD's homebirth cost $2400.
We'll be paying $2800 for this one.

Many midwives have a sliding scale based on your ability to pay. Many are also very flexible about payment plans, allowing you to spread out payments, even after baby's birth. Anything you could barter? That's another option to discuss.

:) Carolyn

[crunchymomof2]

Homebirth with a traditional midwife isnt exactly legal here so ins wouldnt cover it. But it was only $2000. And she was extremely flexible with us. We just got her paid and my baby is 3 months old. She was great about it especially since my husband was out of work for over a month during my pregnancy then we had to try to catch up everything.

[UmmBnB]

Mine hb's $1800 and $2600. Her prices went up a lot in 4 years but for my first she was pricing much much lower than others in the area.

The first time around I wasn't stretched as tight and was able to pay it, via a payment plan, by 36 weeks.

This time around we ended up paying about $1000 out of pocket in monthly installments, taking a loan for $1100 and bartering the rest (dh is a carpenter and she had a small job that needed doing).

While we obviously paid interest on the loan it was 100% worth it and since I took the loan from my retirement savings I paid the majority of the interest back to my account with only 1% going to the administrator.

There would have been no way I could have gone from having one perfect hb to having a hospital birth for my second.

[alegna]

Around here it ranges from ~$2000- $4500 I would do ANYTHING I had to to have a homebirth though. I'd sell off stuff and rack up credit card debt to do it.

-Angela

[foehnjye]

We are paying $2500. Our insurance will pay 80% of that.
Given the level of care, I can't imagine it any other way!

[ZeldasMom]

We are paying $2400.

[teachinmaof3]

My last birth (3rd baby, 1st homebirth) was around $2000. About $1920 of that was the mw's fees + birth kit, the rest was lab fees, one u/s, and extra birth supplies that I wanted.

This time I'm using the same mw that was here for my birth last time...she was the apprentice w/ my last one and ended up being here on her own (her first solo birth :) ). Anyway....b/c of our history we've made a deal for fees and bartering.

I'd interview a few and ask about payment plans and bartering.

[kote80]

well we are going to pay a total of about 1700-1800, from about 31 wks preggo, that doesn't include birth kit. 300-400 of that is for the assistant fee, because the primary MW isn't cpm yet and her assistant is her training MW. We are paying less tho I think than we would we because she doesn't have her CPM yet, most others in the area were about 2500-2800 I believe.

[kote80]

I was wonder, do these totals include prenatal care?

[Aka mommy]

Our midwives standard cost is $3500 but thankfully our insurance will be covering 75% of that since its being deemed out of network. We have been able to make monthly payments and have been living paycheck to paycheck. But it is sooooooo worth it. I think i would refinance on a home just to have a homebirth because the care is so different and the sigh a relief we can take is worth it!

[AutumnMama]

The birth fee was $1,200. The visits cost $35 a piece and the birth kit was around $50.
WAY cheaper than a hospital birth around here! (at least $5,00, and that's if you have NO interventions/meds/etc).

If you're feeling uncomfortable then I think you should listen to that...it won't hurt to go check out a midwife (or two, if you have them) in your area and see how you feel with her/them.

After having a hospital birth with my first, and a midwife attended home birth with my second I'd personally say homebirth midwife all the way!! :love

Good luck with your decision :hug


Also, I second asking the midwife if she can work with your finances...most are very willing to...they're in the business of helping families have better births; not everyone can afford it though and I think they know that and can help you find a way to do it :).

[crsta33]

We went from Medicaid to out of pocket for a homebirth. I think our total was $2345...Medicaid in Mississippi doesn't cover homebirth, but our CNM will file for it anyway. Also, she prorated her fees b/c I came to her late in the pg and we got a discount for paying the entire amount by 28 weeks.

We racked up credit card debt. We got a 0% interest rate until July...hopefully we'll be able to pay it off by then. :innocent

Christa

[selazenby]

We're paying $3650 for our homebirth - this includes all prenatals. We do have to buy supplies for the birth separate from that. For us, we basically pay all out of pocket. We have a Health Savings Account - so we pay out of that account but it's still "our money" that we're paying out. But as a previous poster said, it's so so so worth it to us - and I would pay more if I had to!

[2+twins]

My guess is that in the middle of the country, especially in less city-ish areas, homebirth prices probably average in the $2000 range. But where I live (heavily populated city area where *everything* costs more) I'll be paying $4500. My last birth with the same mw, just under 2 years ago cost $4000, and my birth prior to that with her just short of 5 years ago was $3000. So it's really gone up in a relatively short period of time. For this birth and the last we're stuck paying entirely out-of-pocket. Not even sure how I'm going to do it this time but there's no other option for me - I wouldn't birth in the hospital unless there was some huge glaring medical reason to do so. So we'll find a way. Good luck! Oh, and those fees didn't include any testing aside from the pee dip stick at the prenatal visits, or anything else like the birth kit, birth tub, etc.

[MamaTaraX]

Our MW is $1800. This includes all prenatals, the birth,and six weeks of post-partum care (she does like 4 post-partum visits).
Birth Kit -- DOn't know yet, $75?
Tub -- we are renting a tub froma friend and she's giving us a discount, so $150
Total: approximately $2025

We're paying for it all out of pocket. We saved for it. We will pay the midwife all at once so we don't forget and have loose ends, tub too. We do not have insurance,but I think our MW can try to file with insurance for those who do after the birth. She's been trying to talk to Medicaid people to get them to cover for a while. That'd be nice :)

To be honest, if we didn't save, we couldn't afford thisbirth. I can't say I'd be willing to go into major debt to pay for a birth. (a la Angela's reply). I'd probably go back to the birth centre where we wnt last time or birth at the hospital where I work and mnake the birth work for me if we honestly coudln't afford it. I'm very glad that we can.

Namaste, Tara
mama to Doodle (7), Butterfly (2), and Rythm (due at home 1/06)

[BethSLP]

We are in Houston and my MW costs $5200. She is quite famous here and has 27 years experience and delivered 1500 babies. Her assistant (a direct entry midwife) is $3500.

I am willing to pay for Pat as i feel she is well worth it.

The price includes all prenatal visits and birth classes.

XOXOXO
Beth

[Persephone]

Hmm... The cost for her services is $1600. She rents birth tubs for $100. I'm buying some herbal supplies, and that comes to about... $50. And there might be a few more things in there that I'll need to get that aren't herbal for oh, let's make it $100 to be really generous. So, the total cost will be something like $1850 for the birth, and our midwife is letting us make it in monthly payments, so it's easier. I'm really grateful for that. Also, the first midwife we looked at was over $2000, so hearing her price was really nice! :) Now, please, someone inform the insuranace companies how much cheaper it is to homebirth than hospital birth! According to a nurse in my doula training, that much would barely cover the epidural!

[busybusymomma]

I would do ANYTHING I had to to have a homebirth though. I'd sell off stuff and rack up credit card debt to do it.

-Angela
:yeah:

My mw charges $1500 in southern Indiana. She is flexible as well if you start care with her later in the pg. I do have to buy things like gloves, chux pads and I'll just reuse my $25 tub. ;) We'll be paying for it out of our tax return and it's a sizable chunk of our $20k-ish yearly income, especially considering I could have a Hoosier Healthwise paid birth at the hospital with an OB... but it's important to us to hb. :thumb

[Barcino]

I am paying $25.00 since my ins is covering it :bouncy
I think my midwife charges around 2,000 or so for everything except ultrasounds or special blood work. However my ultrasound is also covered by the insurance so I am paying only the $25.00 co pay. I thought there was no way but my midwife's administrator that deals with the insurances worked it out. She is excellent!

[JanetF]

It can cost $2000-$4000 in Austalia depending on which MW you choose and where she is. Some of us have private insurance that covers it, most don't. My feeling however is how can I *not* afford to home birth? Having transferred from home to hospital with my son's birth and experienced the hospital (s)care, I would sell internal organs to pay for a home birth. Perhaps not my uterus, but you get the idea ;) The costs to me of PTSD, counselling, being suicidal, missing the first 2 hours of my son's life all thanks to a vindinctive hospital punishing me, cannot be tallied up in dollars. Mws aren't usually in it for the money unlike sObs so most (and I know lots worldwide as well as Australia) will take installments of whatever you can manage and not expect the last till after the birth.

And for the person who asked what the $$ actually covers. This is my list :)

Monthly prenatals of at least an hour's duration from 14 weeks - 36 weeks then weekly after that.
A birth plan meeting at my home of about 2 hours. She also brought me flowers LOL.
She was on call to me 24/7 from when I hired her.
Borrowing hundreds of journals, books, videos, magazines etc throughout my pregnancy.
Being with me from strong labour onwards and having checked on me twice through early labour.
Going to the hospy and fighting for hours with them. If he'd been born at home she would have stayed a few hours after his birth and remained on call to me after that.
She came to our home every day for 5 days after he arrived and provided support for bf as well.

And I can't put a price on the normalising and support she provided in my pregnancy. Yup, I say it again, I can't afford to *not* home birth. :hug

[catballou24]

our's charges $2800 but gives $1000 discount if paying with cash (ie: payments) by 36 weeks...:) we got her paid by 36 weeks as i also have medicaid and they won't pay for homebirths. :) it's totally worth it in my opinion. :)

[UUMom]

My insurance coverd two of my hbs completely, but i had to pay my last when we switched insurance. It was 3500, for 36 weeks of care. We used our tax return.

[Rach]

I would do ANYTHING I had to to have a homebirth though. I'd sell off stuff and rack up credit card debt to do it.


*raisies her credit card debt hand*
Yep. We are paying 2000$ for ours. We paid entirely on our credit card. We made 200$ payments at each appointment, and then just recently charged the rest in full.
On the bright side, it raised Adam's credit limit. :thumb :LOL
We too, live paycheck to paycheck just about, but we knew we absolutely could not place my care in the hands of OBs and hospitals this time around. Though we'll be paying the baby off for quite a while, we feel it's worth it.

A lot of midwives will work out payment plans with you, since many people must pay out of pocket. Some may even charge you a lowered price if you're coming in later in the game. Some even let you exchange services [yard work, etc...] and take off a bit of the price.
I wish you much luck, I really hope you can get the birth you want!!

[Gunter]

About $2200 for prenatals, birth and four postnatal visits plus birth classes. May rent the aqua doula ($$??) and have to buy a birth kit that's about $35.

[Yemaya1]

My midwife charges 3200 with no insurance. 1600 fee(out of pocket) with insurance. I live in the Philly area.

[splash]

Our entire pg would have been $3600, another $125 for the tub. That covers all prenatal and postpartum care.
However, we did not get the actual birth... and our birth ended up costing over 30 grand!

[busybusymomma]

Our entire pg would have been $3600, another $125 for the tub. That covers all prenatal and postpartum care.
However, we did not get the actual birth... and our birth ended up costing over 30 grand!
Good heavens! What happened?! :dropjaw

[babykaoss]

:(

yeah, what happened?

[Mom2_3girls]

Our birth was 2000k including everything except the tub which was 150..although I didn't use it and birthed outside in my swimming pool... :LOL Thankfully I live in AZ and it was still hot in Sept.

[splash]

Good heavens! What happened?! :dropjaw

He went to 43 weeks, failed an NST, had low levels of amniotic fluid, and got stuck. She went into labor at 38 weeks, got to 4 cm, and stopped. Then he retreated, she closed up, and at 43 weeks he was still floating but she was losing amniotic fluid. So, in the middle of the night with our midwife's encouragement, he got a womb with a view. And after examining him, his placenta, and his location in the uterus, it was determined he probably never would have come out on his own, and he probably would have lived in the womb only for a few more days. And all the midwives we saw concurred, as well as the OB who had had 3 HBs herself. So... Charlie was not destined for the long and gloroius journey down the birth canal.
And, looking at Jean's family history, we should've known. We were hoping she would be one to skip that. All the women in her family have gone into labor ~38 weeks, gotten to about 4 cm, and stopped. Her own mother was at 4 cm for 2 days until they broke her water, which bought her another 20 hours at 4 cm until they did a c-section. Same story with her subsequent births and all her sisters' births. In Jean's 43 cousins (that were birthed by her mom's sisters, there are more cousins, but we're not counting them) there has been only one vaginal birth, and they broke his shoulder and mom's tailbone to get him out, because by the time they got to the hospital there was no way to pull him back, and he was desperately stuck.
Vaginal births apparently don't happen in her family.
Oh, and then Charlie was in the NICU for a while because he couldn't breathe.
Isn't it the birth we all dream of? :) Oh well. He's healthy, she's healthy, we're happy.

[busybusymomma]

Well, I'm glad everyone is okay now! I'm sure that was a harrowing experience, but makes Charlie all the more precious. :)

[rad]

Ours have all been $3800. 95% of the first and third births were paid by the insurance.. The 2nd was paid 100%.

[witchbaby]

$3100, but only $2900 if you pay before 28 weeks-- which we did last week! :D
oh, but we still owe $66 for lab fees and will owe another $10 for the birth tub liner! :LOL

[alisaterry]

My midwife here in Utah County charges $1200, to be paid in full by two months before the birth. That includes visits that last an hour (try and get THAT from an ob/gyn!), urine tests each visit (I have to monitor my sugar levels) and the occasional quick finger prick to check for blood if my urine level is really high. She also listens to Connor's heart beat each visit. After the birth, she will check up on us twice.

Rental of her birthing pool is $120.

My husband and I cut back in other areas of our budget in order to pay her. We believe it has been worth it, though we have not necessarily been strapped for cash and sacrificing really important things (the food budget has remained untouched), so we have been lucky in that respect. When we lived in Seattle and first started pricing midwives, they averaged between $2000-$3000.