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Natural Birth
Tash13
member
Birth Center/ Home Birth Questions
Tash13
member
Small back story since I'm new to this board:
With my first pregnancy, I was with an OB until I was about 32 weeks until I realized that a: I really, really disliked my OB (she laughed at me when I said I wanted a natural birth and just told me "a lot of women want that. we'll see what happens") b: a midwife was covered by my insurance. The only midwife office in my network delivered at the local hospital. At the time, that was fine since the hospital didn't have shared rooms and was very natural birth friendly. I ended up with an amazing birth with no meds.
Actual Questions (a lot, sorry):
So, now my H and I are going to start trying to #2. We have since moved from the area that my last MW was so now I'm contemplating how I would like to handle my next pregnancy/birth. All of the hospitals in my area (that I know of) have shared rooms and are not natural birth friendly. Therefore, I'd like to do a birthing center or home birth. My question is, at what point did you start with your MW? When you were TTC? Did/do they do your exams at the birthing center, your home or their own office? If you are doing a home birth, are your postpartum check ups at their office or your home? Is your home birth covered by insurance? If so, did you find him or her through a service or through your insurance provider? Basically, any info would help or a website if you have one. Thanks ladies!
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Re: Birth Center/ Home Birth Questions
I just transfered from an OB to a Midwifery/Birth Center at 28 weeks. All my prenatal exams are at the birth center, and are covered "in-network" by my insurance. They also provide well-woman exams, etc. I found the birth center through recommendations from friends. To find a birth center in your area go to: https://www.birthcenters.org/find-a-birth-center/
If I had been pregnant with one, I would have delivered at a birth center. It used to be out of network with my insurance, meaning I would have had to pay 40%. It's now in-network (insurance change) and would have been covered at 80%.
Even paying OOP, though, it would have been cheaper than paying 20% at a hospital (last time cost me about $5k b/c of a short NICU stay. 2 OOP maxes, 2 deductibles) The birth center was $4500 total for all prenatal and delivery.
I think all of your questions will have a lot of different answers.
I switched to a Birth Center at my 28 week appointment. I was using an OB before that and while I really liked my OB I didn't think I would get the natural birth experience I wanted with her. I found my Birth Center through this website: https://www.birthcenters.org/find-a-birth-center/ Then we called our insurance company to make sure they were considered in network and they were.
I have gone in to the office for all of my appointments. They do one home visit two days after the birth, but all other visits are in the office. They will do birth center, home or hospital births and we are doing a birth center birth.
I plan to stick with them for all of my care from this point on. I love them!
I've used a MW in the hospital for my other deliveries and will be having a HB this time. I started seeing my MW around 11 weeks. I'm in a strange situation, because my MWs are 1.5 hours away from me (that is the closest I could find). I have to drive there for my monthly prenatals. At the 36 week appt they will drive to me for a home visit. They will also come to me for my postpartum checks.
As of right now, my homebirth is not covered by my insurance, but it is applied to my out-of-network deductable. My MWs will help me file paperwork after the birth and I am hoping that we may be able to get some of the costs covered at that time.
My total cost for the birth is $3000 plus $300 for tub rental and the $70 birth kit. That is less than I paid out of pocket for my last hospital birth (born in January and my deductable had just started over). That $3000 covers the cost of two midwives and an assistant at my birth, all of my prenatal and postpartum care.
My question is, at what point did you start with your MW? When you were TTC?
Called their office for a consult when I knew I was pregnant (about 5 weeks). Was scheduled for the actual consult at 7 weeks, committed to working with her, and had my first exam appointment split between 9 weeks (blood work) and 11 weeks (physical exam).
Did/do they do your exams at the birthing center, your home or their own office?
I am doing a homebirth. My MW has privleges at an area hospital - so the choice is up to the pregnant woman whether she wants to do a homebirth or deliver in the hospital with the MW's assistance. Regardless of what she chooses, all pre-natal appointments are done in her office, which is similar to a standard medical office.
If you are doing a home birth, are your postpartum check ups at their office or your home?
In her office. I am also required to take the child to a pediatrician within 24 - 48 hours after birth. Some pediatricians in the area will come to your house instead, but the one I chose I will need to drive the baby to 48 hours after birth.
Is your home birth covered by insurance?
Yes - it is covered the same as any other medical procedure. I have a $1200 deductible and then I have a 20% co-insurance. The entire homebirth will be $3500, with pre-natal appointments included in that fee. Unfortunately, that will be billed at the time of birth, and since I am due late January, I will have to pay the deductible all over again. That is okay - since I have met the deductible for this year, the lab work I get done is being covered at 80%.
Fees not covered by insurance: birth assistant ($650) and water tub ($100). Both of these we put on our HSA account.
If so, did you find him or her through a service or through your insurance provider?
No, a friend of mine whom has done 2 home births sent us a list of homebirth midwives in the the greater metropolitan area. When I saw this woman's name, I remembered reading an article in the Citypaper in which she was interviewed and it had really impressed me. Her office is close, so we decided she was the one for us regardless of insurance. Turns out she is an in-network provider with most of the major insurance carriers in the area.
You are a lucky lady. That's awesome!
I am giving birth at a birth center. My care is covered by insurance, but the facility fees are not. So it ends up being about $2500 out of pocket. The midwife group also does well woman care, so while I did not start going to the birth center until I was pregnant, they do see patients at all stages from puberty to menopause and beyond. I plan to continue to go there for my care between and during any future pregnancies.
To answer some of your other questions about the birth center experience, all my exams are at the birth center. They also have an ultrasound machine there for the 20 week anatomy scan. One of my favorite things is that one of the midwives will come to my home for the first postpartum check up.
I had a homebirth. I was new to the area (we conceived shortly after getting married) so I had no dr. here. I knew I wanted a CNM for pregnancy/birth. DH suggested a homebirth (4 of the 5 kids in his family were homebirths). To be fair, I said I would research it.
I googled homebirth midwife for my area and only one popped up. I met her for the first time around 8 weeks. I loved her. And by that time I was comfortable with the idea of a homebirth, after much research. So we went for it.
Most appts. occured at her office (2 miles from our home). However, the 36 week appt. (for my CNM) is always at your house to be sure you are ready. They lasted about an hour.
PP check-ups for me occured at home. Usually, they occur in her office. But since we live so close to her office/home, she decreed it was easier for her to come to us than for me to pack up baby and come to her.
It was partly covered by insurance.
FWIW, my homebirth was absolutely amazing! I would (barring complications, of course) do it again in a heartbeat!
Baby #1: switched from OB to CNM for planned homebirth at 27 weeks. all exams were at the birth center. found the local practice online through google search. very highly recommended as well.all covered by insurance.
Baby #2: couldn't go back to CNM practice because I ended up wtih a c/s. knew i didn't want another hospital birth, so researched, interviewed and selected a CPM before ttc. found her online through internet search. asked friends for recommendations and got recs from local birth professionals. interviewed 5 or 6 CPMs and selected the one i felt most comfortable wtih. insurance coverage was not an issue for me, staying out of the OR and having a pleasant birthing experience was WAY more important. my insurance paid less than 2% of my prenatal and birthing costs (altogether about $3750).
She is a wonderful blessing to many women in our church family!!
What an amazing gift to give someone!
Since we're both in the tri-state area and have the same insurance, would you mind asking your MW if she knows anybody in Long Island or Queens that also works with Oxford (or is just good and I can handle the insurance questions)? I'd really appreciate it.
My question is, at what point did you start with your MW? When you were TTC?
I had scheduled an appointment to see her with my 1st pregnancy, but had to cancel to do m/c. I have another appointment to see her (1st time) this tuesday, the 9th. I will be 5 weeks 4 days ish.
Did/do they do your exams at the birthing center, your home or their own office?
There are no birthing centers in my province. She does exams in her office which is in her home. 1-2 weeks before your due date (I believe) she does an at home visit.
If you are doing a home birth, are your postpartum check ups at their office or your home?
They are in her office, which is 35 min away.
Is your home birth covered by insurance?
I live in BC, Canada and midwifery is paid for by the government here. I don't have to to through insurance.
If so, did you find him or her through a service or through your insurance provider?
I found her by doing my own research, insurance companies here cover drug costs only and have nothing to do with childbirth.
Wow. How awesome!