Re: RE: RE: [ozmidwifery] homebirth costs
Hi Mary, If midwives actually ask for this larger payment, would women still want to have their services? I think women still want their services, but Sydney midwives are way out of some mamas price range. Women now have an income from the Government that would pay for the midwife, but many parents see this as a payment to relieve the mortgage, clear debt or buy a big TV. Or, some women use that money so they can stay at home longer with their new bub. For my sis, in sydney, it was a choice between having a very much wanted homebirth and only being able to stay at home with her bub for 6 weeks or birthing in a birth centre and being able to stay at home for 6 months. the money from the government, despite what some people may do with it, is a generous offer to help out with the costs of staying at home with a new baby. It seems that in Sydney, midwives prices have gone up whenever the baby bonus has gone up. I think it is really sad that women in Sydney have to pay more and use more of that money when women allover the rest of the country get to have a homebirth and also have the benefits of reduced stress levels because of the leftover baby bonus they receive. I think midwives are worth it if a woman so desires, but I don't see how come Sydney midwives are worth s much more?? Abby xo -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
Re: Re: RE: [ozmidwifery] homebirth costs
Hi Barb, I think it's wonderful that you had such an amazing birth and wish for all women to have such an experience. From my understanding, many Sydney midwives ask their clients to come to them not vice versa. So a lot of their care is not midwifery care at home, rather it is out of their home until the final weeks. I'm not sure about all midwives, but this seems more common place now in Sydney. And, you get paid $4000 to have a child these days. Midwifery care at home? It's a bargain. I find it very interesting that people see you get paid to have a baby. I was under the impression that the baby bonus was given to help mums to be able to afford to stay home longer from work, or upgrade their car if they need more space, or buy car seats, slings, good food for nourishment while breastfeeding etc. The only women I know that can afford to spend that whole $4000 on midwifery care are the women that didn't need that money in the first place. The women that choose to spend the whole amount even though they can't afford it, because they have no other choice in Sydney, have no benefits from the baby bonus for living expenses with a newborn. There is no bargain if you can't afford it. I understand the value of midwives and continuity of care and midwifery care at home, but why should women in Sydney and NSW be paying that much more?? Nobody has answered that question. I'm not questioning the value of midwifery care, more why Sydney midwifery care is so much more 'valuable' in the dollars and sense kind of way? Love Abby xo -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
Re: RE: [ozmidwifery] homebirth costs
Abby, I think the cost differences may be partly due to a limited number of midwives available in NSW to be at homebirths. Those that do seem to need to travel far distances for some of the women. Most I know do antenatal and postnatal in the woman's home and if they are driving 80+kms each way would be quite expensive for petrol and wear tear on their cars. We also need to consider that women, of which I have met 2 recently, who have spent $8000- $1 out of their own money, because they did not have private health insurance, to employ a private obstetrician. For this they get to wait 2-3 hours at the doctor's rooms for a 10minute visit, no time to ask questions, no postnatal other than the 6 week checkup, an increased chance of an induction of labour, an epidural, leading onto the caesarean for failure to progress, maternal exhaustion etc, and in one case the ob did not even make the birth. I certainly would be more than happy to pay $4000 for a midwife to come to me and have my baby at home. I also understand that some of these midwives will accept full payment after the birth, and some women will choose to take up this option and use the baby bonus for this, whilst other women will pay amounts throughout their pregnancy and a balance after the baby is born. Sonja - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Thursday, November 16, 2006 2:19 PM Subject: Re: RE: [ozmidwifery] homebirth costs How come there is such a big difference? I mean, that is a really BIG difference!! Love Abby Mary Murphy [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Same in WA. MM _ Approx $2000-$2500 here in SA I think, from what I know anyway. -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe. -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
Re: Re: RE: [ozmidwifery] homebirth costs
Didn,t someone previously say that the cost of living in NSW is more expensive, well that also goes for the midwives not just the women birthing. Midwives have families/lives /mortages etc. Cath - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Saturday, November 18, 2006 10:46 PM Subject: Re: Re: RE: [ozmidwifery] homebirth costs Hi Barb, I think it's wonderful that you had such an amazing birth and wish for all women to have such an experience. From my understanding, many Sydney midwives ask their clients to come to them not vice versa. So a lot of their care is not midwifery care at home, rather it is out of their home until the final weeks. I'm not sure about all midwives, but this seems more common place now in Sydney. And, you get paid $4000 to have a child these days. Midwifery care at home? It's a bargain. I find it very interesting that people see you get paid to have a baby. I was under the impression that the baby bonus was given to help mums to be able to afford to stay home longer from work, or upgrade their car if they need more space, or buy car seats, slings, good food for nourishment while breastfeeding etc. The only women I know that can afford to spend that whole $4000 on midwifery care are the women that didn't need that money in the first place. The women that choose to spend the whole amount even though they can't afford it, because they have no other choice in Sydney, have no benefits from the baby bonus for living expenses with a newborn. There is no bargain if you can't afford it. I understand the value of midwives and continuity of care and midwifery care at home, but why should women in Sydney and NSW be paying that much more?? Nobody has answered that question. I'm not questioning the value of midwifery care, more why Sydney midwifery care is so much more 'valuable' in the dollars and sense kind of way? Love Abby xo -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe. -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
Re: RE: [ozmidwifery] homebirth costs
As a result of all this information, I spoke with a woman who wants a second homebirth, her first she was charged the cost of fuel to get to her for visits etc. I mentioned $2500 and she was taken aback. She said to me , Ï understand you need to cover costs but truly I think she has no real idea of the true value. This woman lives a 11/2 hour drive from me and said she will shop around. I wished her luck. It is difficult asking for money, and difficult getting a response such as this where effectively they did not pay previously, Cath - Original Message - From: Mary Murphy To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Saturday, November 18, 2006 1:42 PM Subject: RE: RE: [ozmidwifery] homebirth costs How come there is such a big difference? I mean, that is a really BIG difference!! Midwives have always worked altruistically and undervalued their services. It takes an enormous emotional step for midwives to believe they are worth it. If midwives actually ask for this larger payment, would women still want to have their services? And then again midwives want women to be able to afford their services. Women now have an income from the Government that would pay for the midwife, but many parents see this as a payment to relieve the mortgage, clear debt or buy a big TV. It is more complex than just putting up the fees. MM Approx $2000-$2500 here in SA I think, from what I know anyway. Same in WA. MM
Re: RE: [ozmidwifery] homebirth costs
I have found this topic quite an eye-opener, particularly as someone who hopes to practice independently after finishing my degree. It makes me feel sad that midwifery is so undervalued that midwives are only expected to be allowed to recoup costs and nothing else. Midwifery is a passion as well as a profession. Just because midwives feel passionate about their profession shouldn't mean that they have to operate a charity, nor should they be expected to. It is up to the government to pull up their socks and start offering better midwifery models and funding rather than midwives providing it at their own personal expense. Cheers, Sam. As a result of all this information, I spoke with a woman who wants a second homebirth, her first she was charged the cost of fuel to get to her for visits etc. I mentioned $2500 and she was taken aback. She said to me , Ï understand you need to cover costs but truly I think she has no real idea of the true value. This woman lives a 11/2 hour drive from me and said she will shop around. I wished her luck. It is difficult asking for money, and difficult getting a response such as this where effectively they did not pay previously, Cath - Original Message - From: Mary Murphy To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Saturday, November 18, 2006 1:42 PM Subject: RE: RE: [ozmidwifery] homebirth costs How come there is such a big difference? I mean, that is a really BIG difference!! Midwives have always worked altruistically and undervalued their services. It takes an enormous emotional step for midwives to believe they are worth it. If midwives actually ask for this larger payment, would women still want to have their services? And then again midwives want women to be able to afford their services. Women now have an income from the Government that would pay for the midwife, but many parents see this as a payment to relieve the mortgage, clear debt or buy a big TV. It is more complex than just putting up the fees. MM Approx $2000-$2500 here in SA I think, from what I know anyway. Same in WA. MM -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
Re: RE: [ozmidwifery] homebirth costs
How come there is such a big difference? I mean, that is a really BIG difference!! Love Abby Mary Murphy [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Same in WA. MM _ Approx $2000-$2500 here in SA I think, from what I know anyway. -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
RE: RE: [ozmidwifery] homebirth costs
How come there is such a big difference? I mean, that is a really BIG difference!! Midwives have always worked altruistically and undervalued their services. It takes an enormous emotional step for midwives to believe they are worth it. If midwives actually ask for this larger payment, would women still want to have their services? And then again midwives want women to be able to afford their services. Women now have an income from the Government that would pay for the midwife, but many parents see this as a payment to relieve the mortgage, clear debt or buy a big TV. It is more complex than just putting up the fees. MM Approx $2000-$2500 here in SA I think, from what I know anyway. Same in WA. MM
Re: RE: [ozmidwifery] homebirth costs
Hi, I paid about $2200 8 years ago for my home birth. Honestly I can't remember. It was around that - 2 midwives, antenatal and a couple of postnatal visits. Best money I ever spent! As I say, I cant quite remember the money, but I can absolutely remember every detail of that fabulous birth. And, you get paid $4000 to have a child these days. Midwifery care at home? It's a bargain. Barb - Original Message - From: Mary Murphy To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Saturday, November 18, 2006 1:42 PM Subject: RE: RE: [ozmidwifery] homebirth costs How come there is such a big difference? I mean, that is a really BIG difference!! Midwives have always worked altruistically and undervalued their services. It takes an enormous emotional step for midwives to believe they are worth it. If midwives actually ask for this larger payment, would women still want to have their services? And then again midwives want women to be able to afford their services. Women now have an income from the Government that would pay for the midwife, but many parents see this as a payment to relieve the mortgage, clear debt or buy a big TV. It is more complex than just putting up the fees. MM Approx $2000-$2500 here in SA I think, from what I know anyway. Same in WA. MM
