Average Cost of Childbirth in 2004: A Comprehensive Overview

The birth of a child is a one-of-a-kind experience. It is not a free one, however. Hospitals (or midwives, for parents who choose to give birth at home) can charge thousands of dollars to deliver a baby.

Cost

• The average cost for prenatal care and the delivery of a child in a hospital was $7,600 in 2004, according to the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Almost all of that cost came from time spent in the hospital.

Factors

• One of the biggest factors that can affect the cost of childbirth is whether a mother has a cesarean section. C-sections account for some 45 percent of the $79 billion in hospital childbirth expenses that were billed in 2009, Sentient Publications reports.

Alternatives

• Childbirth can be considerably less expensive if new parents consider alternatives. The price of giving birth at home, as of 2010, ranged from $1,500 to $3,000, most of which is taken up by the cost of the midwife, according to the Home Birth Guide website.