How Much Does Pregnancy, Childbirth and Postpartum Care Cost?

You have your birth plan prepared and the perfect baby name picked out. But how about preparing for the expenses around pregnancy and childbirth? It may not be as fun as shopping for a crib or picking out nursery colors, but it’s important to know about these medical costs so you’re not totally blindsided.

The costs can be hefty even with insurance: Sarah, a mom of one in Texas, has a high-deductible plan and paid about $6,800 for a C-section. Briana, a mom of two in Texas, shelled out $3,800 for a vaginal birth with an epidural. “I had zero complications and still got hit with over 12 different itemized bills afterward,” Briana shares. And the bills can be much higher without insurance.

So how much does it cost to have a baby—with and without insurance? Suffice it to say, it’ll set you back! The good news is, with careful budgeting and planning, it’s very possible to bring baby into the world without going broke. Ahead, learn what you need to know about the costs of prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care and more—straight from the experts.

How Much Does Prenatal Care Cost?

Prenatal care includes a variety of services: regular monitoring of your blood pressure and weight, checks of baby’s heartbeat, basic guidance on planning for birth, ultrasounds, glucose screenings and prenatal testing. If you have a high-risk pregnancy, you’ll need even more testing and monitoring.

Prenatal care cost without insurance

Particularly if you don’t have insurance, all of this can come at a high cost. Without insurance, one prenatal appointment can run from $90 to $500—and most pregnancies require 10 to 15 visits, says Andrew Gosselin, CPA, a personal finance expert and senior contributor at Save My Cent. Expect to pay $2,000 to $5,000 total—at the higher end if you’re high-risk or experience complications.

Prenatal care cost with insurance

Most insurance plans are required to cover prenatal care, but that doesn’t mean it’ll be completely free, says Gosselin. “You’ll usually pay some amount out of pocket until you hit your deductible. After that, insurance tends to cover most of the costs,” he says.

Assume you’ll foot at least some of the bill for items your insurance company doesn’t consider medically necessary, like 3D ultrasounds, certain supplements, prenatal classes, and some tests or specialist visits.

For a pregnancy with no major complications, plan to spend $1,000 to $2,000 with insurance, says David Kindness, CPA, a tax expert and personal finance writer at BestMoney.

During her pregnancy, Briana paid $1,100 out of pocket for prenatal care. That included Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) ($350), a secondary read of an anatomy scan ($120) and a glucose test ($35). “The glucose screening was cheap, but I still had to pay for it out of pocket because of how my deductible worked,” Briana says. “It all adds up fast even with decent coverage.”

How Much Does Delivery Cost?

Giving birth is stressful enough on its own, but the hospital bills can definitely make you do a double-take. “Without insurance, it’s steep,” says Gosselin. Expect a “bundled charge that covers the whole experience from admission to discharge,” he says. This includes the labor room, medical staff, supplies, medications, some postpartum monitoring and baby care during the first few days.

Vaginal vs. C-section expense?

Without insurance, a vaginal delivery can cost between $18,000 and $32,000. So how much does a C-section cost? The procedure and subsequent hospital stay will run you $32,000 to $51,000, says Kindness. In general, a C-section is up to 40 percent more expensive, says Zohaib Sunesara, a certified parenting coach, co-founder of the Cuddle Pixie parenting platform, and father of one in Texas.

How much does delivery cost you with insurance?

Even with private insurance, expect a big hospital bill, Gosselin warns. The average out-of-pocket cost for giving birth with insurance is around $2,800 to $4,500—toward the higher end for a C-section—says Kindness.

According to an Instagram poll on @TheBump, 72 percent of our readers spent under $5,000 out-of-pocket to give birth, while 22 percent spent between $5,000 and $10,000, 4 percent spent between $10,000 and $15,000, and only 2 percent spent over $15,000.

Cost of hospital vs. birthing center vs. home birth?

A hospital birth is the priciest and can cost up to $51,000, particularly if you have a C-section and/or experience complications, says Kindness. Birthing centers charge anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000 depending on whether you have insurance (and most accept insurance). Home births, at around $2,000 to $7,000 (the cost of a midwife and often a doula), are the most economical—but they’re rarely covered by insurance.

How Much Does Doula Support Cost?

Whether you’re planning a hospital or home birth, you may choose to hire a doula for extra support. The cost varies depending on location and provider, says Meghan Doyle, CEO and co-founder of Partum Health. Birth doulas typically charge a flat rate ranging from $1,000 to $3,000, she says. Postpartum doulas charge a package rate or an hourly rate of $35 to $100. Unfortunately, insurance companies typically don’t pick up this expense.

How Much Does Postpartum Care Cost?

“This part’s usually the most overlooked, but it matters,” says Gosselin. Most insurance plans include one follow-up visit for the birthing parent, plus baby’s first check-ups. Anything additional will likely cost more. Briana says her postpartum care included one 6-week checkup, plus a nurse line and support groups.

Of course, you’ll also want to budget for and stock up on some key postpartum essentials.

How Much Does a Lactation Consultant Cost?

A lactation consultant can be a valuable part of your breastfeeding journey. The cost can range from $125 to $500 per visit, says Kristin Revere, CED-L, NCS, a newborn care specialist, doula, and the owner and founder of Gold Coast Doulas in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Health insurance is required to cover this type of care, as per the Affordable Care Act (ACA), points out Doyle. The cost varies depending on whether you use a hospital or in-home consultant and on your coverage plan—make sure to check your coverage details.

Other Expenses to Be Aware Of

There are plenty of extra expenses when it comes to pregnancy and delivery. “Adding baby to our insurance bumped our monthly premium up by $180,” says Briana. Other extra costs can include prenatal vitamins, maternity clothes, childbirth classes, pelvic floor training and unpaid time off work.

Tips to Save Money on Care Throughout Pregnancy, Childbirth and Postpartum

You might feel cash-strapped right about now. Here are some expert tips to help put more money back into your wallet as you embark on the baby journey.

• Choose a PPO health insurance plan. A high-deductible insurance plan might initially seem less expensive. But it can end up costing more than a standard PPO, says Andrew Lokenauth, founder of the TheFinanceNewsletter.com. “If you’re still pregnant, switch to a PPO if you can,” says Briana. “That flexibility post-birth is worth every penny when things come up.”
• Understand your insurance plan. Make sure you understand your plan’s “global maternity fee” structure, adds Briana. “Once we hit that number, most standard care was rolled in,” she says. “So, we timed our second ob-gyn visit with insurance activation to stay in-network. That saved us hundreds.”
• Confirm that all providers are in-network. Before making any appointments, confirm all obstetricians, specialists and laboratories are in-network. Briana chose a pediatrician connected to her delivery hospital, and her newborn’s first visit was coded under the birth (and covered).
• Look for payment plans. Try to negotiate a payment plan with your doctor. Ask whether discounts are available for self- or prompt-pay.
• Stay on top of paperwork. Review each medical bill carefully for mistakes, suggests Kindness. Organize all paperwork so you stay on top of insurance reimbursements.
• Check which “extras” are covered. Investigate benefits through your and your partner’s work. Health insurance and fertility benefits might help cover doulas, massages, pelvic floor therapy and chiropractic care. With a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA), you can pay for expenses like pumping gear or a doula in pre-tax dollars. This helps reduce your taxable income.

The bottom line? The costs of pregnancy and delivery add up. “Becoming a parent is priceless, but not free,” says Sunesara. But with a little bit of preparation, you can manage them—and focus on the exciting parts of welcoming baby to the world.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.