My Midwives Shepparton and Echuca director Andrea Quanchi said the number of her clients seeking home births had risen to equal those choosing hospital births.
“There’s definitely been an increase, it’s 50-50 among our clients at the moment,” she said.
“Interest in home births has risen every time COVID-19 restrictions have changed and more and more people are looking for other options, because the world doesn’t feel safe.”
However, Ms Quanchi said the trend hadn’t translated to Echuca.
“I haven’t had many enquires from Echuca but many women may think I have gone and it’s not available any longer,” she said.
“Women can’t choose something they don’t know exists and this is the major problem for rural women.”
After her four eldest children were born in hospital, Echuca mother Renee Thompson chose home births for her next three pregnancies.
“Everything is at your own pace and just being in your own bed afterwards, with no travel involved and your kids are around if they choose to be with you,” she said.
“The possibilities are endless.”
As her pregnancies were low risk, Mrs Thompson said she had the same security at home with two midwives as she would in hospital.
“They’ve got all the ability to help if something does go wrong,” she said.
“If you’re at a low risk then the ability to have a gorgeous birth is immense, I’ve had fantastic experiences.”
Mrs Thompson said she didn’t actively share she was planning to have a home birth because of the stigma associated with it.
“In the past, home birthing was seen as a hippy thing, with doctors saying it’s too dangerous,” Ms Quanchi said.
“But that’s not supported by evidence.”
Opting for a home birth through My Midwives doesn’t come cheap — the average cost is $6000, with some rebates available through Medicare.
However, Ms Quanchi highlighted this covered 10 months of care before the birth, six weeks of care after, and the cost of two midwives during the birth.
“So when you break it all down, it’s not that much,” she said.
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