11 Least Influential Countdown: No. 7 — Sebastian Hurst
November 10, 2009 at 9:50 pm by Mara Shalhoup in News
With home births facing unnecessary hurdles in Georgia, Sebastian will have to be delivered at a hospital
Welcome to CL’s annual catalog of impotence: the 11 Least Influential. You’ll meet folks who tried to achieve an ambitious goal, but fell short (which happens to be the case with little Sebastian here); people who’ve devoted themselves to a personal mission in near-total obscurity; and ordinary Joes who can’t get anyone to pay attention to them. Every day until the full issue hits the streets on Nov. 11 (tomorrow!), we’ll bring you a new story of failure — some noble and heroic, others abject and pathetic.
Subject: Sebastian Hurst
Failing: Can’t be born at home
Sebastian Hurst hasn’t even been born yet — and yet he’s exhibiting a notable lack of influence. Of course, the root cause of Sebastian’s shortfall is hardly something you’d blame on a young man who’s still seven weeks away from the birth canal.
Like his mother before him — and two of her four siblings — Sebastian was destined to be born at home. Unfortunately, Georgia law makes it far too difficult for women to deliver anywhere but a hospital. In fact, it would cost Sebastian’s mom an estimated $1,600 to give birth at home. Delivering at a hospital, by comparison, is free. And because Sarah Hurst, a 20-year-old Cobb County native who works at a church nursery, subsists on a rather tight income, free is her only option.
“I wanted to be in a comfortable and relaxed environment,” Sarah Hurst says. “I wanted to have a home birth. I wanted to follow in my mother’s footsteps. And all of a sudden I can’t. It was hugely disappointing.”
While it’s perfectly legal to deliver at home, midwifes who specialize in home births must do so under the radar — or run the risk of being fined for practicing medicine without a license. In many other states, however, midwifes can be licensed to oversee home births. As a result, insurance can often cover those deliveries.
Basically, it’s more legit for Georgia moms-to-be to deliver at home without assistance — with no one to administer any medical help whatsoever — than for them to have an experienced and knowledgeable midwife on hand.
To Sebastian and his mother, the predicament contradicts common sense. Typically, either the state or an insurance company covers the bulk of a hospital birth. Why not make room for a cheaper, more natural option — especially when moms are eager for the opportunity?
“Honestly, I think you should have a personal choice,” Sarah Hurst says. “If you feel like it’s right for your baby, it probably is.”
(Photo courtesy Sarah Hurst)
November 12th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
While I like seeing homebirth highlighted for it’s lack of availability in GA part of this articles claim is WAY off for many people. In a lot of situations homebirth is actually less expensive given the radical failure of insurance these days and an entire workforce of underinsured Americans. I just had a hospital birth, unmedicated with no complications, I have what is considered, ‘GREAT’ insurance. My portion – $2200. Not anywhere close to free, in fact $700 more then a homebirth. Free is not an option for most people regardless of home vs. hospital.
November 17th, 2009 at 11:53 am
You do have a choice! If you’re the one paying for it. In your case the taxpayers are paying for it, therefore the choice isn’t yours to make. Be thankful for the hardworking taxpayers that are helping you out instead of finding a reason to complain!