Step 1. Private Midwifery or PFHB?
In Victoria, we have private midwives (either working as individuals or within a group) or PFHB (publicly funded homebirth).
This is a summary of key differences.
Choose what model suits you best....
Step 2. Contact midwives or the PFHB ASAP
You may be eligible for a PFHB program - please be very aware, although it is a Medicare funded model there are significant risks to consider, the biggest perhaps being that you can be 'risked out' of the program at any time.
You can contact them directly.
The criteria are usually not well evidence based and are based on the lowest possible risk that the hospital system will take.
This works for some, but not all.
Check out the criteria below for each current PFHB program:
Sunshine Hospital Joan Kirner Women's and Children's
Geelong Barwon Health Hospital
Heidelberg Mercy Hospital
Coming soon:
Casey Hospital Berwick
Step 3. Book any additional supports eg. doula, photographer, student midwife etc
Birthhub.info has a fantastic list of Melbourne area based birth workers. Otherwise feel free to ask on the HBV facebook group.
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