Although most women living in urban areas may opt for a hospital setting with a gynecologist and obstetrician overlooking the delivery, there is a growing trend among mothers to give birth at home or opt for a water birth and use the services of a midwife. It was a common practice in the past and is once again favoured by some mothers who wish to be in familiar surroundings, with the support of family and friends at hand. However, one has to consider the financial implications of having a home birth or delivery by a midwife. It really depends on what type of hospital cover you are looking at – medical aids pay for a midwife and homebirth but a hospital cash back plan does not cover home births.
Midwives for Childbirth
Gone are the days where a midwife was an older woman in the community with years of childbirth experience. These days midwives are trained healthcare professionals, usually nurses, who are even recognised and paid by medical aids. If you are on medical aid, even if it is only hospital cover, your scheme will pay for the services of registered midwives. It is important to select your midwife carefully and ensure that he/she has a valid practice number that is issued by the Board of Healthcare Funders )BHF) if you wish to have the homebirth covered. It is also prudent to discuss the aspect of home birth and midwife cover with your medical aid just to verify that it is covered within your hospital plan.
It is important to choose a home birth with a midwife for the right reason. Remember midwives are also available for hospital births. Sometimes home birth at the hands of a midwife is considered as a cheaper option to private hospital births. If money is the reason, then mothers need to be aware that any situation may arise that requires hospitalisation for mother and/or child. Without a medical aid or cash in your hand, a government hospital will be your only option. Remember that there is no hospital plan for already pregnant women which will cover home birth costs if pregnancy was pre-existing at the time you joined the scheme.
Home Birth to Hospital Birth
While a home birth has been the norm for generations, and is still the only option in outer lying areas, women in urban areas may be a bit more apprehensive about the prospect. It is important to speak to a midwife with a good track record of home births in your area. The fact of the matter is that complications can arise during childbirth, irrespective of the setting. However, with a home birth, the essential specialist medical services are not always at hand to deal with problems. Emergency medical services may be put on standby and skilled midwives may be capable of dealing with the situation, but only up to a certain point.
Sometimes it is necessary to change your plans at the last minute and opt for a hospital birth, either just before going into labour or midway through delivery. While your medical aid hospital plan only will pay for the costs associated with hospitalisation and necessary procedures, it is important to get authorisation from your medical aid at least 48 hours in advance. Keep your options open and inform your medical aid as early as 6 months into your pregnancy, if not earlier, so that they are aware of the upcoming childbirth. Whether it is for a midwife and home birth or a hospital birth, getting pre-authorisation can expedite the entire admission procedure when you need to be hospitalised.
Home Birth Baby Complications
Complications can arise, not only for the mother but also for the baby. It is therefore important to bear this in mind and get pre-authorisation should your newborn need to be rushed to a hospital for specialist medical care. Remember that medical aids immediately cover the newborn at birth but parents are required to complete all the formalities with the scheme soon after the birth. If you have notified your medical aid of your upcoming delivery, then the medical aid will be prepared to cover your baby for their medical care. Therefore even if you are doing a home birth, notify your medical aid ahead of the time about the soon-to-be-born child dependent on your medical aid cover.
Neonatal ICU (intensive care unit) is for newborn babies who need specialist medical care, either for premature babies or congenital conditions. Care within the neonatal ICU is very expensive and you can never be sure as to how long your baby may need to remain within the unit. It is therefore best to ensure that you have your medical aid prepared for these eventualities even if you cannot foresee any problem on the horizon. Whether you have a full comprehensive medical aid or just hospital cover, you and your baby are covered in the hospital for complications or other eventualities related to childbirth if a home birth at the hands of midwife does not go according to plan.