Mama Says

I recently ran into a dear friend who is pregnant and struggling to make a decision regarding her prenatal care and place of birth.  She may have to forego plans for a homebirth because of financial limitations because insurance does not cover prenatal care with a homebirth midwife or the option of birthing at home. Her homebirth would cost around $4,000, which she would have to pay out of pocket, while her insurance would pick up every cent of a $10,000+ hospital birth. 

I firmly believe, without a shred of doubt or waiver, that every single woman who desires true midwifery care, including a birth at home, has the right to this option, regardless of financial capacity.  I believe that the midwifery model of care should be readily available and should be the norm.  Insurance companies should cover midwifery care without a second thought.  Not only would they save thousands of dollars per birth, but there are countless other health benefits to using midwives, including increased rates of breastfeeding which lower healthcare costs dramatically over time.  Countries who embrace this model of care more vigorously than in the U.S. have dramatically lower rates of infant and maternal mortality. The application of this woman-centered model of care has been proven to reduce the incidence of birth injury, trauma, and cesarean section. The Midwives Model of Care is based on the fact that pregnancy and birth are normal life processes. 

Thankfully, there are some insurance plans, including the state insurance plan for low to medium income families, that do cover a portion of the cost of midwifery care and homebirth in our area.  This needs to continue and we need to advocate for all insurance companies to cover midwives providing home birth care so everyone may have the  option of midwifery care.

I believe true midwifery care is far superior to the standard obstetrics or hospital nurse-midwifery care available today.  This opinion is based on my experience as a doula and childbirth advocate, and my personal birth experiences have shaped my beliefs in profound ways.   

I will never forget the hour-long prenatal exams with my midwife Bonne Dunham that covered my baby's physical health and my well being, while also going over my fears, hopes, and concerns.  When she arrived for our birth, I felt her strong and reassuring presence.  Under her care, I pushed my baby out and immediately pulled her up on my chest, and was the first one to touch and hold her.  Bonne gently checked on my baby’s vital signs while she was cuddled in my arms, and we let the cord stop pulsing before cutting it so she got every last drop of what was rightfully hers. Then there were the postpartum visits that occurred one day after the birth, then on the third day, one week, three weeks and six weeks.  I felt fully cared for.  I cried, laughed, and was supported wholeheartedly through the enormous transition both physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  There were certainly hard parts about my births, but there was peace, light, and love that lingered and surrounded us even in the darkest times thanks to the reassurance, confidence, and skill of my midwife.
 
Every woman and every birth is so different.  For some women, homebirth might not be the best option, but every woman deserves the education and information to make an informed decision.  I believe that money should never stand in the way of a woman seeking true midwifery care for her pregnancy and birth.  This is my unwavering belief.

Sarah is the home birthing, cloth diapering, breastfeeding mama of Aliyah and Noah.  She is a doula, community organizer, and a  Mama Says Board Member.