can anyone tell me if you can ask for a home birth? I plan on(if not already), being pregnant soon (if mother nature is on my side) and I was wondering what is involved, costs ect ?
2006-12-21 02:07:10 · 10 answers · asked by brunelscooby 4 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
If you are having a healthy, low risk pregnancy, then you are a candidate for a homebirth. You'll need to find midwives in your area who attend homebirths. If you have trouble, do an online search for midwives in your state. You can also try contacting La Leche League Leaders in your area, doulas or childbirth educators to ask for names of local homebirth midwives.
In my area, a homebirth with a Certified Nurse Midwive tends to run between $2000 to $3000, depending on if you need things like antibiotics in labor, if the MW charges a separate fee for an assistant to attend the birth with her to care for the newborn in the first few hours post-partum, etc. (I suppose a Direct Entry Midwife might be less expensive but I don't know.) You'll need to buy a birth kit which will probably run $20-$40 and includes things like gloves, cord clamp, chux pads, etc. If you want to rent a birthing tub, that would be another expense.
My third was a home waterbirth and I would never do it any other way! It was relaxing, romantic, amazing and empowering!
2006-12-21 02:13:53 · answer #1 · answered by momma2mingbu 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can certainly ask. The response you will get will vary depending on where you live. There are quite a lot of home births taking place in Scotland now, which didn't used to be the case.
If you are in the UK and you are offered a home birth it won't cost you anything.
If it's your first baby, you might want to consider the Domino scheme, where you are looked after at home by midwives, but go into hospital for the actual birth. You can go home as soon as you like afterwards.
Good luck! Hope it works out the way you want.
2006-12-21 02:12:59 · answer #2 · answered by mcfifi 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you can ask for it but not all midwifes offer the service and you have to meet certain conditions to minimise risks to you and baby. This doesnt cost anything, just like a hospital birth (in the uk) unless you go for a private midwife who works for herself, she will charge but im not sure of the costs but she will look after you from day 1 until after the birth which is nice as you can develop a bond with them.
I believe you can find names of private midwifes on the internet otherwise your local gp or midwife centre should be able to point you in the right direction
Then the only things you need are what you want for the birth i.e. birthing pool etc but the midwife will bring the gas and air. keep in mind you can not have an epidural with a home birth so once you are there thats it really unless there are complications.
good luck.
2006-12-21 02:11:30 · answer #3 · answered by bebishenron 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Depends what country you are in. If you are in the UK, you can ask for a homebirth and provided there are no complications with your pregnancy, you can have one. It doesn't cost anything as it's under the NHS (unless you opt for private midwives).
One midwife will be with you for much of your labour then shortly before you give birth another midwife comes along to help.
Afterwards, they clear up and tuck you in bed with your little baby. There are lots of good websites out that that outline the pros and cons, but it's not any riskier than having your baby in a hospital.
2006-12-21 02:12:18 · answer #4 · answered by Ricecakes 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We did ours with a midwife, most around us are $3000. Some insurance companies will pay for it, depending on the level of training and the level of certification. Most midwives have a sliding scale as well, or a percentage off if you pay completely by 35 weeks.
We were lucky in that we found a rural midwife who was a lot cheaper, she is actually a paramedic who decided to become a midwife after delivering enough babies in the back of her ambulance!
I love homebirths and will never go back to the hospital for one. Having people tell me how my body was working and when to push and when to not push is just too annoying ;-)
2006-12-21 02:30:43 · answer #5 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In the UK, assuming you have a straight forward pregnancy, with no labour complications anticipated, you're entitled to a home birth on the NHS. However, there will be several factors that come into play, for instance the views of your individual and local midwives, staffing levels at your local hospital etc. Speak to your midwife about it when you eventually meet her - most that I've spoken to seem fairly receptive to it, wherever practical
2006-12-21 02:13:49 · answer #6 · answered by Clare G 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
www.homebirth.org.uk explains all of this, very useful website.
Good luck, I am desperately trying to get a home birth but have been told my area is too understaffed. Our plan is now to hold out during labour until someone arrives. I don;t see why I should have to go through the trauma and risks of a hospital birth.
2006-12-21 02:38:20 · answer #7 · answered by Isabella 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have heard of a lot of people doing this with a midwife, but I have no idea how much it costs.
Good luck!
2006-12-21 02:10:48 · answer #8 · answered by Garrett's Mommy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pamela Anderson did it with a mid wife at home... good luck.
2006-12-21 02:29:05 · answer #9 · answered by Mrs.Neville 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is scary and make sure you will be able to handle the pain of the birth and on TLC at 2 pm there is ababy story
2006-12-21 02:11:49 · answer #10 · answered by Baby Girl 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋