Finding out that you’re pregnant can put one in a whirlwind of emotions. After all, there’s nothing more surprising than being a parent for the first time. Initially, all you can think about is the moment when you can finally hold your baby in your arms, but sooner or later, other stressing factors can come creeping up—maternity costs, for one.
If you’re planning to have baby or are still yet to take a pregnancy test, you’ll want to make sure that you are well-equipped for the oncoming expenses that you will face sooner or later. It’s no fallacy that having a baby in the United States isn’t cheap, but being aware of the costs can best help you prepare for them ahead of time.
The Price of Pregnancy
How much do you really have to shell out to deliver a baby in the U.S.? The truth is: There is no firm number to give. The price for prenatal healthcare and delivery can vary radically and will depend on many different factors, such as where you live, whether you have an insurance, whether you have any complications, or the type of birth – vaginal birth or Caesarean section – you end up with.
To give you an idea, an entire pregnancy up to the actual delivery can range from $9,000 to $250,000 without insurance, more or less. It sure is quite a range, but know that the costs of having a baby can vary from family to family.
Your Type of Birth
Whether you get a vaginal delivery or a C-section can mean a huge difference in your hospital bill, which can amount to an average difference of $1,900 to $2,600. According the numbers given by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, the average price of vaginal births can reach up to $2,600 without complications while C-sections can cost up to $4,500.
Unlike a vaginal delivery, a C-section is considered a major operation, which involves higher morbidity and mortality instances, longer hospital stays, and therefore, more dollars spent. However, a vaginal delivery can become expensive if complications are involved. If a vaginal delivery requires an operating room procedure, delivery can cost families and insurance companies roughly about…
