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Maternity Costs You Should Expect

By Colleen McGuire HealthCare Writer

Colleen McGuire HealthCare Writer

Colleen McGuire is an independent consultant who has spent most of her career writing about healthcare and the health insurance industry. For fun she blogs, travels and takes a lot of pictures along the way.

Updated on November 8th, 2021

We want to help you make educated healthcare decisions. While this post may have links to lead generation forms, this won’t influence our writing. We adhere to strict editorial standards to provide the most accurate and unbiased information.

New and expecting mothers have a lot to plan for and enough to worry about.

We put together this guide on average costs and tips to consider.

We cover prenatal care, breastfeeding services typically covered by health insurance, and average childcare expenses across the nation. 

Expected Costs with Prenatal and Pregnancy Care

Prenatal ServiceAverage CostsCoverage Tips
AmniocentesisWithout insurance, these tests usually start about $1,000 and can go up to $7,000.
If your doctor considers it medically necessary, contact your insurance provider to double-check. You will likely be responsible for a copay or a co-insurance fee.		A procedure that removes a small amount of amniotic fluid and is meant to identify if the baby has a chromosomal issue or genetic disease.
Doctors ask for it later in pregnancy, between weeks 15 to 20. It’s usually covered especially in women over 35.
Birthing classes$0-200 per class depending on insurance status.Without health insurance, you’ll pay somewhere between $50 and a couple of hundred dollars per class.
With insurance, you may pay nothing.
Cell-Free Fetal DNA Testing$0-$400 depending on insurance coverage, the laboratory used, and the number of conditions screened for.
For those uninsured, prices can range from 400-$2,000.		A blood test is done after 10 weeks of pregnancy to determine if the baby has a chromosomal anomaly. Insurance plans are not required to cover this test, so double-check your coverage.
Cesarean section (C-section$7,500-$25,000C-section costs also differ dramatically by state ranging from $7,500 to $14,500. With complications is can reach over $25,000.
Chorionic Villus SamplingMost plans cover it, fully especially for women over 35. But assume nothing, and check with your plan to be sure.
Without insurance, rates range from $1,400-$5,000.		This test of the placenta can detect chromosomal anomalies and genetic diseases like cystic fibrosis, Tay-Sachs disease, and sickle cell anemia. It is performed at 10 to 13 weeks of pregnancy.
Glucose ScreeningThe cost typically runs between $25 and $50 without insurance.This screening is usually conducted in the second trimester to test for gestational diabetes. It is usually covered but check your plan to be sure.
Maternal blood screening (genetic testing)The cost of genetic testing varies from under $100 to more than $2,000.
For newborn screening, some plans cover part of the total cost, but most charge a fee of $30 to $150 per infant.		Genetic testing costs depend on the nature and complexity of the test.
For newborn screening, costs will differ by state.
Monthly CheckupsIn preferred provider organization (PPO) plans, members are typically required to pay a small co-pay for the check-ups.
However, if you are in a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) and haven’t met your steep deductible, you will have to pay the full billed amount each month.		During your first and second trimester, you’ll have monthly check-ups with your doctor to monitor your weight, blood pressure, and urine.
Prenatal vitaminsIf insured, your doctor may prescribe them which requires a co-pay.
If uninsured, look to pay between $10 and $20 for a one-month supply.		Experts recommend taking prenatal vitamins containing folic acid to prevent issues such as birth defects.
Routine Lab WorkThese costs will depend on your insurance plan and where you live but generally routine blood work for pregnancy can run between $50 and $200.During check-ups, doctors will draw blood to screen for birth defects, infections, your blood type, and Rh status.
UltrasoundsFetal ultrasounds cost $309 on average without coverage.
Some insurance companies pay the full bill; others pay no more than 60%of the cost.		Ultrasounds typically occur between weeks 16 and 20 of pregnancy. Earlier ultrasounds might be done to determine the viability of the pregnancy.
Vaginal DeliveryCosts vary around the nation, from $7,507 in Arkansas to $17,556 in New York.
For a vaginal delivery with complications, your bill may be $14,000 to $25,000 or more.		In general, California and northeastern states are pricier.

Breastfeeding Benefits Covered by Insurance

Product/ServiceIs it covered?Notes
Breast PumpYes, with zero copays.The law doesn’t specify coverage of a specific type of pump. Check with your plan in advance to find out which types and brands are covered.
Your health insurance plan must cover the cost of a breast pump. It may be either a rental unit or a new one you’ll keep. Your plan may have guidelines on whether the covered pump is manual or electric, the length of the rental, and when you’ll receive it (before or after birth).
Pumping Supplies (bottles, milk storage bags, nursing bras, tubing)It depends.For many women, these will be out-of-pocket expenses.
Lactation Counseling / EducationYes. Specific plans require consultants to be in-network.Counseling services must be covered for the duration of breastfeeding. Insurers must share up-to-date information about breastfeeding counseling providers who participate in their plan networks. [Note: if a plan can’t provide counseling services in-network, your plan must allow you to obtain services from an out-of-network provider at no cost.]
Workplace Accommodations (sufficient break time, private space)YesThe break time afforded to women who need to pump may be unpaid; the private space can’t be a bathroom.
Milk Shipment and Transport ServicesIt depends. Check with your employer or plan provider.Some employers offer milk shipment services through Milk Stork or FedEx. Ernst & Young has provided breast milk shipping for years, and last year, IBM, Accenture, and Twitter added it.
Pasteurized Donor MilkRarely. It can be situation-dependent.In several U.S. states, Medicaid will pay for donor milk from approved milk banks.

Infant and Child Care Expenses by State

StateInfant
Base-quality		Infant
High-quality		Toddler
Base-quality		Toddler
High-quality		Preschooler
Base-quality		Preschooler
High-quality		Family child care
Base-quality		Family child care
High-quality
Alabama$12,400$24,700$9,800$19,500$8,600$15,400$9,900$24,100
Alaska$17,300$38,300$15,600$29,400$12,200$22,300$10,900$37,000
Arizona$15,400$25,200$11,800$19,500$9,400$15,000$13,000$24,100
Arkansas$13,800$23,400$10,600$18,100$8,800$13,900$12,600$24,500
California$21,400$37,300$16,700$28,700$11,900$21,800$15,200$37,900
Colorado$17,400$29,000$14,300$22,400$12,000$17,100$14,300$27,800
Connecticut$20,500$40,900$20,500$40,900$12,700$24,000$15,100$42,400
Delaware$16,800$32,400$11,700$25,300$10,700$19,700$13,800$29,900
District of Columbia$24,500$31,200$24,500$31,200$16,500$20,800$16,900$28,100
Florida$16,400$26,900$9,500$21,000$8,400$16,300$11,900$26,600
Georgia$12,200$27,000$9,400$20,900$8,000$16,000$13,100$29,900
Hawaii$20,300$25,700$15,900$19,900$11,500$15,200$15,600$22,300
Idaho$12,000$24,000$10,400$18,800$8,700$14,600$10,700$22,700
Illinois$14,200$33,600$12,200$25,900$11,000$19,800$13,400$35,000
Indiana$15,700$24,900$11,500$19,400$9,800$15,000$11,400$24,300
Iowa$16,500$26,400$13,100$20,600$11,400$17,800$12,000$25,000
Kansas$15,500$32,000$11,900$20,000$9,300$15,100$14,000$27,000
Kentucky$14,300$27,800$9,800$21,200$9,000$15,900$13,700$29,200
Louisiana$10,000$23,800$8,300$18,400$7,400$14,100$11,900$25,500
Maine$19,500$30,100$16,900$25,900$11,700$17,300$14,200$28,500
Maryland$24,500$39,100$15,700$24,300$12,200$18,400$12,100$32,000
Massachusetts$24,100$41,100$20,400$34,500$13,200$21,900$15,900$38,800
Michigan$13,600$27,200$11,700$21,000$10,500$16,100$13,200$27,000
Minnesota$19,900$30,000$14,300$23,100$12,000$17,600$14,900$28,900
Mississippi$13,200$22,500$11,000$17,500$9,300$13,600$9,200$23,400
Missouri$17,400$27,100$11,700$21,000$10,600$16,200$8,400$27,500
Montana$12,900$25,900$11,100$20,100$9,300$15,500$12,600$25,100
Nebraska$14,300$27,500$14,300$21,200$11,100$16,100$11,400$28,200
Nevada$13,300$31,000$10,900$24,100$9,700$18,600$12,700$29,800
New Hampshire$13,800$31,500$11,300$24,400$10,100$18,800$12,700$30,000
New Jersey$17,500$35,000$17,500$27,200$13,700$21,000$17,000$35,900
New Mexico$12,700$25,900$9,800$20,000$9,000$15,400$13,100$28,400
New York$22,500$35,400$17,600$27,600$13,800$21,300$16,400$36,200
North Carolina$13,900$25,000$12,500$19,400$8,800$14,900$14,000$24,800
North Dakota$13,700$29,700$10,900$23,000$8,100$17,600$9,800$27,200
Ohio$12,700$28,000$11,700$21,700$9,200$16,700$12,200$27,500
Oklahoma$15,800$23,300$10,600$18,100$8,900$13,900$11,200$24,600
Oregon$19,000$36,200$16,500$31,200$11,600$21,300$13,000$37,200
Pennsylvania$17,200$31,200$13,700$24,300$10,800$18,800$12,300$31,700
Rhode Island$19,500$39,600$15,400$30,600$12,600$24,600$10,500$40,400
South Carolina$13,600$22,900$10,600$17,900$8,900$13,900$12,000$22,500
South Dakota$9,700$23,200$9,700$18,100$9,700$14,000$12,500$21,600
Tennessee$16,800$24,800$13,200$19,200$10,800$15,500$11,300$24,600
Texas$15,000$24,900$9,800$19,300$8,600$14,800$15,100$26,300
Utah$16,600$27,600$12,000$21,500$9,500$16,700$9,400$27,000
Vermont$20,900$29,800$18,100$25,700$12,500$17,400$14,600$28,500
Virginia$19,000$30,700$12,800$23,700$11,600$18,200$11,300$31,600
Washington$20,500$35,100$14,700$27,100$12,400$20,600$13,800$33,700
West Virginia$16,400$27,500$11,000$21,000$9,900$15,700$13,100$28,300
Wisconsin$16,600$28,600$13,200$22,300$10,400$17,200$8,900$26,400
Wyoming$15,000$29,300$15,000$25,400$9,800$17,500$8,000$27,900
Base Quality: Programs meets minimum licensing standards.
High Quality: Programs are better resourced with lower teacher-child ratios and more education planning time.
Source: The True Cost of High-Quality Child Care Across the United States. americanprogress.org. Accessed November 4, 2021.

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About Colleen McGuire

Colleen McGuire is an independent consultant who has spent most of her career writing about healthcare and the health insurance industry. For fun she blogs, travels and takes a lot of pictures along the way.