Services & Fees

At Avenir Life we provide midwifery care at home throughout the antenatal period, birth, and for up to six weeks postpartum.

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A visit will typically involve checking on you and your baby by performing an abdominal palpation, listening to the baby’s heartbeat, blood pressure checks, and other tests like blood tests will be performed if required at certain stages throughout your pregnancy. During visits your midwife will also discuss any concerns as well as your wishes and requirements for your pregnancy, birth and postnatal period.

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We follow the ACM guidelines for consultation and referral, so there may be some situations where it is necessary to consult with another medical professional. If we believe this is required, we will consult with you first to gain your consent.

During labour and birth, our main role is to ensure the safety of you and your baby. We do this by listening in to the baby regularly and completing observations. Labour can present a lot of sensations and occasional challenges, so we will work with you using many different techniques to ensure that you are as comfortable and coping well. We will aim to support you and hold your birth space wherever possible.

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As private homebirth midwives we don’t have access to pharmacological pain relief, but we can offer non pharmacological options such as heat packs, TENS, warm water immersion along with other options. Water birth is an option for those women who are seeking it.

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It is a professional requirement for us to work in collaboration with your GP and the hospital you are booked into. We will request your consent to share information with your hospital regarding you and your baby’s wellbeing as part of the collaboration process. To meet our professional responsibilities and the requirements of our MIGA insurance policy we are required to work within the framework of the Australian College of Midwives National Guidelines for Consultation and Referral. This guideline lists circumstances in which, if they arise, we might recommend or refer care to a relevant health practitioner or health service during pregnancy, labour, birth or the postnatal period. We will always have two midwives to attend planned homebirths as this is a legal requirement.

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Antenatal Care

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Initial Visit - Meet your midwife and discuss your questions and needs. 40 Minutes - Bulk Billed

Booking in visit (12-13 weeks) - This secures your place with your chosen midwife. A full history is taken and routine antenatal check up is done

16 weeks - antenatal check

20 weeks - antenatal check

24 weeks - antenatal check

28 weeks - antenatal check plus midwifery care plan completed

32 weeks - antenatal check

34 weeks - antenatal check

36 weeks - antenatal check plus birth plan

38 weeks - antenatal check

40 weeks - antenatal check

41 weeks - antenatal check if needed

42 weeks - antenatal check if needed

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Birth Support

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We ask that you call your midwife once labour has commenced and you would like them to attend. They will be present with you until your baby is born and you are comfortable, settled and have fed your baby and birthed your placenta.

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If transfer to a hospital is required, your midwife will stay with you as a support person only. We currently do not have visiting rights to any hospitals so we can not provide clinical care in that setting. 

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Please note there is currently no professional indemnity insurance for labour and birth in a home setting for any midwives in Australia. 

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Postnatal Care

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Postnatal visits will occur on day 1, 3, 5 and 7 after your baby arrives and then weekly until 6 weeks postpartum.

 

On-call availability

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Your fees include on call availability which is 24 hours a day. While your midwife is available at any time we ask that unless it is urgent you try to keep your contact inside of usual business hours.

Our midwives will always try to plan time off around times when a birth is not anticipated. We do this by not taking bookings two weeks before or after a planned holiday period. While we do this, birth is unpredictable and sometimes you may still go into labour when your midwife is on holidays. If your primary midwife is unavailable, we will provide you with a backup midwife for the time your midwife is away.  

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Unforeseen circumstances

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An appropriate backup midwife will be provided in the event of serious illness, accident, death, or any circumstances in which your primary midwife is unable to attend you.

Avenir Life midwives retain the right to withdraw their services in any situation that arises where we feel our ability to provide safe care is compromised or our own personal safety is compromised. We can provide a referral to another care provider if it is requested.

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You maintain a right to cancel our services at any time, however you remain responsible for any fees owing for services already provided.

 

Fees 

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Home birth package - $6000 (break down listed below)

$1000 non refundable deposit 

$1500 pregnancy management fee (28- 30 weeks)

$3500 birth fee (includes use of our birth pool subject to availability as each midwife has one pool.) 

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Hospital Birth package - $5500 (break down listed below)

$1000 non refundable deposit 

$1500 pregnancy management fee (28-30 weeks)

$3000 birth fee

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Silver package details 

Our 3-session physiotherapy package is suitable for any kind of birth plan and is tailored specifically for expectant mothers to provide personalized support through pregnancy and into the postnatal period.

Session 1: Pregnancy Support (valued at $220)

Focus on understanding and adapting to your body's changes during pregnancy with evidence-based exercises and strategies for pelvic floor health.

Session 2: Birth Preparation (valued at $205)

Prepare for childbirth with personalized movement, massage, mind, and body techniques, empowering you for a confident birthing experience.

Session 3: Postnatal Recovery (valued at $205)

Navigate your postnatal recovery with care and practical advice for any arising pelvic health concerns* and return to exercise, ensuring a healthy recovery for your mind and body.

*Incontinence, prolapse, sexual pain, scar healing, rectus diastasis separation, constipation. Please note, if any of these conditions arise during pregnancy, they will be addressed timely by your physiotherapist, giving your body the best chance of a smooth recovery.

Once you have paid for your bundle, we will be in contact to organize your appointment dates. If you would like in-home visits, an extra $30 travel fee will be added for each visit.

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Gold package details 

Our comprehensive 5-session physiotherapy and massage package is uniquely designed to nourish mothers on their journey from pregnancy through to the postnatal period. This package includes three physiotherapy appointments dedicated to pregnancy support, birth preparation, and postnatal recovery (for full details see Basic Pregnancy and Postnatal Package) with the added benefit of two massage therapy sessions to nourish your pregnant and postnatal body.

Pregnancy and postnatal massage therapy are specifically aimed to reduce any pregnancy-related pelvic, back, and leg pain, or any ongoing niggles post-birth associated with caring for your new little one.

What is included:

3 x Pregnancy / Postnatal Physiotherapy Appointments (we recommend two during pregnancy and one postnatal) (valued at $630)

2 x Pregnancy / Postnatal Remedial Massage (60 mins each) (valued at $220).

Once you have paid for your bundle, we will be in contact to organize your appointment dates. If you would like in-home visits, an extra $30 travel fee will be included. If you wish to upgrade your massage, we can also organize this for you.

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A $1000 non-refundable deposit is paid within 48 hours of booking into our service to secure your chosen midwife and the remainder of your fees must be paid in full by 37 weeks gestation. We require your deposit and GP referral before your booking in visit can happen. We will set up a weekly or monthly payment schedule for regular payments of these fees. Payment plans may be available upon request. All antenatal and postnatal visits will be bulk billed if you have a medicare card and GP referral. Your package fee includes; your midwife on call for your birth, medical equipment, birth pool and all paperwork. TENS machines and any required medications are to be covered at your own expense. You will also be expected to provide any specific equipment you would like for your birth space including towels and sheets.

*Return birth clients will receive a $500 discount on their package.

*Fees listed above are the total out of pocket cost for all of your pregnancy, birth and postpartum care that falls within the inclusions of the package which is listed above

*Medicare rebates are only available if we have a referral from your GP referral and your medicare details on file.

*You will usually have around 8-10 visits in both the antenatal and postnatal period depending on your needs.