Need some input please!

[Stacey]

Hi everyone! I am needing a little advice/ input. I am very conflicted at this point between pursuing my CNM vs my CPM so I have been talking to midwives about their experiences. A CPM that I know is encouraging me to stick with the CNM route due to legal and financial issues. One of her main points was that a CNM makes a lot more $ than a CPM. I honestly am not doing this for financial reasons, but now she has me thinking. I am wondering if anyone knows the difference between the cost of having a homebirth with a CPM vs a CNM. My family relies on my income as well as my husbands so I do have to consider this unfortunately. Thanks!

[birthfava]

It varies so much from place to place. In my area the CPMs are charging about 2000 and the out-of-hospital CNM is charging about 4000 (and has less experience).

In other areas it seems the discrepancy is smaller. Insurance reimbursement seems to encourage midwives to raise prices. CNMs often have an easier time (no always) with reimbursement.

[busybusymomma]

I do think CNMs around here do charge more but it's not double like where birthfava lives.

Only you can make this decision-- it's so hard to say where the legal stuff will go and you just have to make the decision that you and your family can be most comfortable with.

If you do go the CNM route, I'd recommend Frontier. There will be some CPMs who would be glad to help you get more OOH birth experience once you're to that point, if you want.

[birthfava]

I think its double where I am because CPMs are still adjusting to being legal and above ground. You'd think that, like with drugs, being illegal would make the cost higher, lol, but the opposite seems to be true for midwives.

[Stacey]

Thanks! I appreciate the info!