[Lash]

I just found out, ecstatically that my insurance does cover midwives (Nurse Midwife only) and does cover a birth center. I"m not sure yet if they cover that same Nurse Midwife at a homebirth yet cause its Saturday and I can't call and ask, but I do know when I look up Midwives, it lists the individual and not the actual centers that employ them so MAYBE they do cover the midwife and care less about where it happens.

So here is the dilemma. The midwife for homebirth that I LOVE and ADORE and comes highly recommended and seems to be a great fit is about $3200 total. We can most likely afford that and will just save and pay as we go. Another JM'er used her for her homebirth and raves about her as well. She is not a nurse midwife but here are her credentials

# Certified Professional Midwife,
North American Registry of Midwives
# Licensed Midwife in Texas
# North Texas Midwives, President
# Association of Texas Midwives, Region 5 representative
# Graduate of ATM Midwifery Program
# CPR for the Healthcare Professional, AHA
# Neonatal Resuscitation, AHA/AAP
# Trained Breastfeeding Educator, TDSHS
# Bachelor of Arts, Texas Woman's University
# Continuing education conferences & workshops[/b]

Here is her site (the JM'er has her birth story posted there as well under Allison and Baby Reid)

http://barefootmidwifery.com/default.aspx?a=a


I DO know that my insurance will cover a birth center birth at this place. The Nurse Midwife also comes highly recommended and is considered highly empathetic and warm and respects wishes- I hear she has the medical knowledge but doesnt come across as "medical" and cold. Alot of women on Mothering gave her great recommendations and she might still do homebirth (she also does VBACS). Her Birth Center is in the town where I work, so meetings are conveniant BUT... ITS NOT A HOME BIRTH!!

These are her credentials

Jean Sala, MSN, CNM,
Jean is a board certified nurse-midwife through the American College of Nurse Midwives. She received a Bachelors Degree in Nursing (1983) and a Master of Science Degree (1988) from the University of Texas at Houston.

After practicing nursing for over 10 years in labor and delivery, newborn nursery and high-risk obstetrics, Jean followed her calling to empower women through the birth process and earned her certificate in Nurse-Midwifery through Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas in 1994. She is a certified neonatal resuscitation instructor from the American Academy of Pediatrics and The American Heart Association. She is also a certified breastfeeding educator. Jean is also an instructor for the Birthing From Within child birth education program, as well as a basic CPR instructor. Her 20 plus years experience include hospital, birth center and homebirths.

Jean is fully backed by OB/GYN physicians and they are available 24 hours a day should her patients need a physician's care.

Jean opened Inanna Birth and Women's Care with her business partner Lynne Pewterbaugh in 2006 with a desire to empower women and their families through the birth experience.[/b]

So what are your thoughts?
http://www.inannabirth.com/index.html

[ShannonMVT]

That's a tough choice! It's too bad the midwife you really love isn't at the birthing center. Honestly, I'd probably go with the birthing center but that's just me. I wish I could do that. Our insurance supposedly covers birthing centers, but the closest one that is covered is in Dallas. Umm...no.

[Lash]

How far is Dallas for you and which one is it? Of course I"m in Dallas

[ShannonMVT]

I'm in the Houston area so that's too far for me. I don't remember which one it was in Dallas.
It's kind of dumb because I KNOW there are birthing centers in the Houston area so I don't know why they aren't covered. But I really love my OB so I am okay with using her.

[Lash]

Wow I am way surprised that they dont cover Houston! Houston is so much bigger than us!! That just floors me and I hate that for you. Seems like someone needs to bring that idiotic fact up with the IN company

[ShannonMVT]

I am pissed at my insurance company anyway. They denied coverage of my progesterone suppositories. The cash price is $144 for 3 weeks supply. I only care because of the principle of it though. This just shows how different I am a year later, because I did not bat an eye at the cost. That's cheaper than 1 follicle scan at the RE's office. After thinking about how we'd afford IVF, if it came to that, this feels like a frickin bargain. Still, the insurance company is stupid.

Anyway, sorry I derailed your topic there. *back on topic*

[Lash]

No its not a derail at all, its completely applicable. Its crazy what is and isnt covered and where is covered. I cannot believe they wont pay for progesterone!!

[ShannonMVT]

What's odd is that they did pay for it with my last pregnancy! I don't know if that's because last time they justified it by saying my progesterone was low (not tested this time) or if they are just denying it because it is through my RE and they are considering it "fertility treatment". I'm going to call them to ask why it was denied and see what they say.

[soImarriedAnerd]

*calling my insurance now to find out what mine covers*

[**Jenn**]

That's a tough one. If it were me I would have to go with the birth center simply because it's too dangerous for me to have a home birth. If I could have a homebirth I would do that definitely, even if insurance didn't cover it. It's worth the cost to me and $3200 is not bad AT ALL! I had Liam in a hospital with an OB and I still ended up paying $1500-$2000 for his birth because of things my insurance at the time didn't cover (and I didn't have pain meds or anything to jack up the price) . I loved my birth center birth, but you're right, it wasn't home. I didn't like having to stay there the 12 hours after birth (I had to because I was GBS+ and I hemmorhaged badly) and I just wanted to be in my own bed with my family. Regardless of what you choose, they both sound like very great and qualified midwives and I'm sure you'll have a great birth experience. I just don't want to see you give up your homebirth dream because of a little money, I know how excited you are about it and how much research you've done. So my vote is GO FOR IT!

[soImarriedAnerd]

Well my insurance is getting back to me...one says they cover one says they don't.
But we talked about it also. We decided it means enough to us to pay the for the home birth out of our pocket if we have to.
So I guess the question would be how much does it mean to you? Will you be ok having a birthing center birth? Will you be ok NOT having a home birth?
I HATE that we even have to ask ourselves these questions and that the STUPID insurance companies don't just allow us the choice.

[Oriyan]

I think you should do whatever you and your wallet is comfortable with.

I would LOVE to do a home birth, but i dont think my neighbors in my complex are going to enjoy me screaming at 2am LOL. That and DF said he'd feel more comfortable with me in a hospital. Which is fine because the hospital near us is very pro-midwife use and pro-only "getting involved" when you have issues. So no IVs, no drugs, i can walk around, etc. (ANd private rooms!)

[Mars]

Tough call!

I'm going to a birthing centre because it's closer to the hospital than where I live.

If it was a financial decision I would say that if you can afford to cover the costs of the home birth comfortably and you feel better about that option, then go ahead. If however, the costs may be a stretch for you, then you could use the birthing centre since it's covered by the insurance.

What about having this midwife act as your doula and that way she'd be present at your delivery? Would the birthing centre allow that?

[thepinkleprechaun]

Honestly if my insurance covered this I would be going to a birth center! There is one near us but it costs $3900 and the midwife is only $2500. I decided that there really isn't that much difference, because you don't have drugs, you can have a water birth, it is a home-like place instead of a hospital room, etc.

BUT, you don't have to clean up afterwards or worry about renting a tub or anything.

I am SUPER pissed at my insurance because they only cover birth centers for military dependants, NOT active duty, which is the biggest piece of bull crap I have ever heard and I am just going out of my mind over that whole thing.


In any case, you should go to the birth center and check it out, see how you like it before you make a decision. If you DO like it I would totally go with that, because it's basically the same diff, but with more money in your pocket!

[ShannonMVT]

I am SUPER pissed at my insurance because they only cover birth centers for military dependants, NOT active duty, which is the biggest piece of bull crap I have ever heard and I am just going out of my mind over that whole thing.[/b]

Omg, that would PISS ME OFF! How evil!