[naturalmama09]

Hi ladies,

I am currently living in Monterey county, CA. and am 35 weeks pregnant with baby no. 2.
Baby no. 1 was delivered in a hospital with no drugs of any kind, but I still do not fully like the experience I had - you all know why not, the typical reasons. So the closer I get, the more I am wanting a homebirth. But I have no idea how to go about it. There aren't many midwives in this area , and even if I can find one, we can't afford them out of pocket for sure. We have Blue Cross/Anthem for insurance, and havegone on their website - they have a tab for in-service midwife providers but they only list one lady and it turns out shes not a midwife at all - she's an obgyn who is not highly rated at that. so, what do we do, especially on such short notice. I really would love to be able to do this birth here at home, but i am starting to feel hopeless about the complication of the process of setting it all up. any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Romana]

You could try these:

Region 7: Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz

Cindy Bacon, LM, CPM
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
831-462-6575
[email protected]
www.tribalbabies.com

Kate Bowland, CNM
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
831-476-6755
[email protected]

Karen Ehrlich, LM, CPM
Felton, CA 95018
831-335-9388
[email protected]

Kathe Gibbs, LM
Santa Cruz, CA 95065-9713
831-440-0800
[email protected]
www.fullcircle-midwifery.com

GAIA Midwifery & Fertility Services
Natalya Lukin, LM, CPM
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
831-427-2554
[email protected]

Laura Maxson, LM, CPM
Ben Lomond, CA 95005-0112
831-336-0961
[email protected]
www.homebirthsantacruz.com

Sunshine Tomlin, LM, CPM
Felton, CA 95018
(831) 335-3211
[email protected]
www.sunshinemidwifery.com

From the website: http://www.californiamidwives.org/?page_id=13#region7

They should be able to help give you a little information with their clients' success (or lack thereof) of getting insurance to pay for part of the cost of the birth. They may also have sliding scale fees or payment plans or other arrangments that might make OOH birth more possible for you. Good luck! Hope that helps.

ETA: You can also look for doulas in your area by checking www.dona.org and then talking to them about how to find a midwife. Usually anyone working in the natural birth community knows of someone who could help you out.

 

[JamieCatheryn]

If there are no in-network providers you might be able to appeal coverage with them when you pick a midwife, at the least you should get a good % covered out of network. Absolutely call a doula for references, she'll have seen how your local midwives do things and know just who to recommend. Ask yourself if you want one who is more hands-on in guiding you in labor or who will sit in the corner most of the time and just be there in case of trouble.

Set up a meeting asap with anyone who can work you in who comes well recommended. See if she's a good fit for you. There are great questions to ask in a sticky topic at the top of this forum.

You'll need to order birth supplies very soon, most MW's will give you a list or send you to site they have a custom kit set up on for the gloves, gauze, sterile stuff, chux pads, etc. Additionally you'll want labor comfort supplies (lotion, massage stuff, heat and cold packs of some kind), drinks and snacks, lots of towels, and receiving blankets at home.

 

[SaraFR]

I don't know about the laws where you live but in NY there is some requirement that if no in-network provider can provide a needed service then the insurance company needs to cover an out-of-network provider at the in-network rate (or something like this). I think it's called an in-network extension of benefits, or something like that. Someone I know got this a few weeks ago since no in-network midwives provided homebirth, they approved her out-of-network midwife at the in-network rate. It might be worth speaking to the insurance company and see if your state has similar requirements.

 

[MegBoz]

ITA with PP.
I've also read that here in MD, Mamas have had success by NOT ASKING!

They just have the MW submit the bill to the insurance as the "provider." They never even address the fact that it was an HB. One Mama said, "My insurance company is probably still waiting for the facility bill from my HBAC."

 

[naturalmama09]

Well, I just spoke to my insurance provider. And they said since she is not in network or preferred or whatever, that they will only pay a small portion of it. What do I do? We can't afford this....

 

[JamieCatheryn]

Talk to the midwife anyway, see what options she offers if any (sliding scale, delayed payment plan, barter for services?) and what her other clients have done to handle the insurance companies. You might have to get financially creative to make it happen, but entertain every possibility however remote.

There is also the option of birthing unassisted, though you have to be comfortable doing it without a professional to help, just not being able to pay one isn't reason enough to go for that.

 

[naturalmama09]

I am so mad about this! Why is it that some stupid insurance company can dictate to us when and how to have OUR babies?! Arrrggghhh.
They shouldn't be doing this to us or anyone else. How can I fight this, not just for us, but for everyone else that is being put through this nonsense?
What advocacy groups are there or where should I PICKET?!

: I'M SO MAD!!! Whew. okay. that helps a little to vent. but seriously ladies, there has got to be more we can do to regain control of our own childbirths - we should be revered and taken care of, for being the life givers we are, not pushed around and made to jump through a bunch of hoops. Where's the gratitude for bringing life into the world?! I better go pick on my husband to make myself feel better, or I'm gonna get so mad I'm gonna put myself into early labor.

 

[Romana]

 

[MegBoz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by naturalmama09 What advocacy groups are there or where should I PICKET?!

Check out CIMS - in my siggy.

If you help promote The Birth Survey, we'll bring transparency to maternity care... and from there, hopefully more Americans will take notice that it is both expensive & low quality - so things should start to look up.

I think the thing that ticks me off the most about insurance companies balking at HB is that they are for-profit companies always out to make a buck! IT's SO MUCH CHEAPER than a hospital stay - you'd think they'd jump all over it to cover it vs. hospital birth.

 

[Comtessa]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MegBoz One Mama said, "My insurance company is probably still waiting for the facility bill from my HBAC."

Too bad you can't invent a facility code for your living room. Then maybe the insurance company could send you a check to pay for cleaning the blood out of your carpets.

:

 

[naturalmama09]

I'M HAVING A HOMEBIRTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just went and talked to a midwife that we were just able to find last night and I called her and we met this morning. She is going to set up a payment plan with us and I'm actually going to have the homebirth I always dreamed of! OMG I have never been this overjoyed and excited in all my life! I posted another thread in here not to long ago about how I felt like I just didn't have the energy or strength to get through this labor this time around. What a difference in how I feel now!! I cannot wait to give birth now! I'm so excited!!!

 

[DoomaYula]

:

Congratulations. You will love it!

:

 

[BethandLC]

Quote:

Originally Posted by naturalmama09 I'M HAVING A HOMEBIRTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just went and talked to a midwife that we were just able to find last night and I called her and we met this morning. She is going to set up a payment plan with us and I'm actually going to have the homebirth I always dreamed of! OMG I have never been this overjoyed and excited in all my life! I posted another thread in here not to long ago about how I felt like I just didn't have the energy or strength to get through this labor this time around. What a difference in how I feel now!! I cannot wait to give birth now! I'm so excited!!!

I totally get your excitement mama!

:

 

[naturalmama09]

YAaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyy! Thanks ladies!!

:

 

[Belle]

Quote:

Originally Posted by naturalmama09 I'M HAVING A HOMEBIRTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just went and talked to a midwife that we were just able to find last night and I called her and we met this morning. She is going to set up a payment plan with us and I'm actually going to have the homebirth I always dreamed of! OMG I have never been this overjoyed and excited in all my life! I posted another thread in here not to long ago about how I felt like I just didn't have the energy or strength to get through this labor this time around. What a difference in how I feel now!! I cannot wait to give birth now! I'm so excited!!!

: Yeah! congrats! I'm so glad that you get to hb. You're going to love it!

 

[SaraFR]

Congrats!

 

[2+twins]

Congratulations! I'm so excited for you!