So you and your partner have decided or found out that you are going to start a family. Congratulations!
Now is the time you start thinking about the cost of having a family and raising a baby.
It may sound scary at first but with the correct research, you will be prepared both mentally and financially for what is about to be the best life-changing experience that will ever happen to you.
One question that you may have been thinking about is how much does a midwife cost?
In this article
Finances
Getting finances in order seems to be a task that every adult has to face at some point in their life. This is even more important when you are about to become parents.
It is no shock that having a baby in the US is costly but there could be alternative ways you can keep the costs down and stay within your budget.
The main way many families do this is by considering having their baby in a midwife-led team. This seems to be less pricey and can help alleviate those money worries in the beginning.
Prices for midwives can vary depending on your location and the packages they offer. As a guide, many can range from $2000 right up to $6000.
Midwifery care is slightly different to an obstetrician and for this reason, many health insurance companies may not cover you for midwife-led care, so be careful and always check with your insurance to see if this is a possibility.
What Is A Midwife?
Midwives are clinically and medically trained nursing professionals. Their main role is to help with low-risk vaginal deliveries as well as assisting you throughout your pregnancy.
These angel-like humans have helped deliver babies for years and many families have found they build a close connection and bond with them.
It is common for midwives to be out in communities visiting women at home and in hospitals. So no wonder they seem more caring and less clinical.
Midwives must be legally licensed and certified to practice in the US and have set regulations made by the US state to ensure the safety of mom and baby.
They have the authority to provide women with some pain-relieving drugs during birth but not all drugs are available to you without the guidance of an obstetrician.
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Their role as primary caregivers is to assess and monitor you and your pregnancy, discuss your options as to whether you will need further intervention in order to have a safe delivery.
Many people prefer the midwife-led experience and this can be down to the fact they are known to help deliver babies in a range of different settings not just in hospitals, so if home birth is what you are looking for then a midwife may be your perfect choice.
Duties of a Midwife
Midwives provide a range of different services. Here are a few of the typical services listed below:
- Prenatal care to mom – examinations of general health.
- Care to unborn baby – Examining fetal growth, health, and position.
- Routine tests and screening
- Emotional support throughout your pregnancy – putting those fears as a distant memory.
- Delivering the baby and placenta vaginally.
- Administering or providing localized drugs during labor.
- Infant checks after your baby are born.
- Emergency first aid if required for the baby.
- Postpartum support for mom and baby.
- Breastfeeding and lactation support.
- Performing births at the location choice of mom.
There are many more things that a typical midwife may include but as you can see the list of what a midwife does during your nine months is well paid for!
What Packages Are Available?
With anything in life, there are always packages that seem better than others, this is no different when having a baby.
Standard Care Costs
When going through pregnancy every mom-to-be wants to hear that they are ‘low risk.’ If that is the case then this could be the care package for you.
Included would be the cost of a professional midwife, all visits to the midwife, labor, birth, and newborn assessments. Many also include home visits after you have delivered just for reassurance and to see how your little one is doing.
The standard care can cost anything from $2000 to $6000 as we have said above and it does depend on the state in which you live. This does not include any emergencies or visits to the hospital so be aware you may need to factor that into your budget.
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Hidden Costs
Make sure you take note of what is included in the package you choose as many moms have found that there have been extra costs on top of the package fee. Paying for extras will depend on the facility where you give birth.
Some moms found themselves left paying extra for any additional staff that may assist the midwife and also any routine supplies that may be needed. It is found that these costs could bump up the price by $3000. So ensure that you do your homework when choosing your care package!
Ultrasound Screening
Having an ultrasound scan can be the most exciting thing for you and especially for your partner. Let us not forget them in this whole scenario.
You are feeling all these changes but having an ultrasound can make the experience even more real for you both. Booking these may be seen as an extra cost to the standard package you have looked at.
But they are vitally important as they can identify any problems with your growing baby and can help medics follow your pregnancy and determine whether you are a low-risk pregnancy.
These screenings and extra tests can cost up to $1000 but for many insurance policies, these costs may be covered as they are seen to be routine tests.
Where Do You Give Birth?
This question can be answered by you as the mom to be, however, there are many factors that can persuade you to choose one over the other.
If you choose a Birthing Centre you will find that it is primarily run and led by midwives. These centers are typically used in low-risk pregnancies and have a limited amount of equipment.
Taking this into consideration if an emergency was to arise then the midwives would arrange for you to be taken straight to a hospital for doctors to assess you and determine the safest course of action for you and your baby.
Home Births are becoming more common amongst women who prefer their own surroundings and less of a medical setting. A midwife will be present in your home for the labor and aid you through the stages but the choice of pain relief is significantly reduced.
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The same as a birthing center if an emergency arises then a trip to the hospital will be arranged.
It is also important to check with your chosen midwife about the costs involved if she is called out of hours – as babies are notorious for being born in the early hours.
We all know the real boss in all of this is your baby, so there will be no telling whether it will be an early morning call.
The final option for your birth could be in Hospital. Now even though it may not be your first choice remember that your health and that of your baby is always paramount.
If you end up being transferred it is important that you check if your midwife is allowed to take primary care of you. In some cases, the hospital staff will take over and your midwife will be present but only as an aid to the medical staff.
The Final Thought
If the thought of having a baby seems to be out of your financial reach please don’t be disheartened. Having a family can be costly but overall there are ways you can pay for all of the medical tests and ensure your needs are being met throughout the whole process.
Finance schemes like Private insurance, Medicaid, and medicare are all ways you as an expectant mom-to-be can look at to help fund your medical bills.
The benefits of choosing a midwife-led pregnancy are totally dependent on the risk factors involved during your nine months. Choosing midwife-led care can not only be cheaper but they are often able to provide you with a far more personal labor and delivery.
If you are looking at your next steps them make sure you enquire which is the best financial package for you. Private insurance, Medicaid, and medicare can provide you will all the information as to what is included and covered in the packages.
Only after speaking to your provider will you be able to start planning for the rest of your pregnancy and ultimately plan for any extras that may arise during your journey to becoming a family.
