Mum raises home birth cash with crowdfunding
A pregnant Spanish woman has set up her own crowdfunding site as a way of covering the cost of her own baby's home birth, something that isn't included in Spain's public health system.
“I had my first baby in a private hospital, it was a bad experience,” says Barcelona-based Cristina Moe.
“My second child was born at Sant Joan de Déu (public hospital), that time it went really well.”
This soon-to-be mother of three has seen enough of Spain’s hospitals to now want to freely opt to give birth in the comfort of her own home.
Unfortunately for her and other mothers who think the same, neither the Spanish state nor the country’s private health insurance companies cover the cost of home-based deliveries.
As a means of raising awareness for her situation and finding a solution to the €2,300 ($3160) bill she’ll have if she does go ahead with the home-based procedure, Moe tried first with popular crowd funding website Verkami.
When they rejected her plans, the determined mum decided to go ahead with the plan of her own accord.
Using her personal blog as a platform to start from, Moe began an online raffle in which she offered other mothers the possibility of winning useful baby products in return for a donation.
“My friends and family haven’t really shown that much support for my ideas,” Moe told Spanish daily 20 minutos.
“It’s other home birth mums, mothers’ associations and maternity stores who have really given their all.”
So far, she’s managed to raise €1,000 from donations ranging from €5 to €100.
Once she reaches the €2,300 figure, she’ll be able to afford to hire the services of Neixer a Casa, the only company offering full home birth assistance in Spain.
“It’s cheaper than giving labour in a hospital” Moe explains with regard to the average €3,000-€6,000 an average hospital birth costs Spain’s social security.
“I consider myself a home birth activist and think that apart from raising money for my baby’s birth through the online raffle, I’m also raising awareness.”
SEE ALSO: Italian region offers €800 rewards for home births
Barcelona is the city in Spain with the highest number of home births, which still only make up 0.39 percent of the total.
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“I had my first baby in a private hospital, it was a bad experience,” says Barcelona-based Cristina Moe.
“My second child was born at Sant Joan de Déu (public hospital), that time it went really well.”
This soon-to-be mother of three has seen enough of Spain’s hospitals to now want to freely opt to give birth in the comfort of her own home.
Unfortunately for her and other mothers who think the same, neither the Spanish state nor the country’s private health insurance companies cover the cost of home-based deliveries.
As a means of raising awareness for her situation and finding a solution to the €2,300 ($3160) bill she’ll have if she does go ahead with the home-based procedure, Moe tried first with popular crowd funding website Verkami.
When they rejected her plans, the determined mum decided to go ahead with the plan of her own accord.
Using her personal blog as a platform to start from, Moe began an online raffle in which she offered other mothers the possibility of winning useful baby products in return for a donation.
“My friends and family haven’t really shown that much support for my ideas,” Moe told Spanish daily 20 minutos.
“It’s other home birth mums, mothers’ associations and maternity stores who have really given their all.”
So far, she’s managed to raise €1,000 from donations ranging from €5 to €100.
Once she reaches the €2,300 figure, she’ll be able to afford to hire the services of Neixer a Casa, the only company offering full home birth assistance in Spain.
“It’s cheaper than giving labour in a hospital” Moe explains with regard to the average €3,000-€6,000 an average hospital birth costs Spain’s social security.
“I consider myself a home birth activist and think that apart from raising money for my baby’s birth through the online raffle, I’m also raising awareness.”
SEE ALSO: Italian region offers €800 rewards for home births
Barcelona is the city in Spain with the highest number of home births, which still only make up 0.39 percent of the total.
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