The cost of pregnancy

THE pregnancy test is positive — a baby is on the way. Whether you are ecstatic, depressed or frightened to death, your next question will most likely be — what next?

If you took the test at home then your next move will probably be to make an appointment with the doctor for re-confirmation and a check-up. If you are already at your doctor’s office then you will have to schedule your next visit. This week All Woman takes a look at some of the costs that are associated with pregnancy so at least you can have an idea how much to budget when you are expecting.

One of the first major decisions that you have to make is whether you will go to a private or public hospital to have your baby. Maybe you don’t even want to have it in a hospital, perhaps a comfortable maternity centre is more your style. This decision, is however, dependent on whether you can have a normal vaginal birth or if you will require a cesarean section.

Let us go through some of the options:

a) You can go to your gynaecologist/obstetrician for monthly check-ups and have him or her book you into a hospital and deliver you. It would be wise to put aside at least $1700 for each monthly visit. Say you discover your pregnancy at two months, then you have about 6 monthly visits, two fortnightly visits and maybe another 2 weekly visits. So all your visits should cost you around $17,000 (10 x $1700). Then you can add another $20,000 for your doctor to deliver you at the hospital. If you go to a private hospital like St Josephs in Kingston you pay $18,000 for the use of the hospital’s facilities to deliver. At Andrews Memorial hospital it is about $28,000. It is always wise to have some money put aside in case you need a cesarean section and at both of the previously mentioned hospitals that starts at about $50,000.

Where are we now in terms of cost – About $115,000 ($17,000 + $28,000 + $20,000 + $50,000). In addition to that it is recommended that you do at least one ultrasound during the course of your pregnancy – that starts from around $2000. You also have to budget for blood tests and your stay in the hospital (if it is longer than two days). Put down a few thousands too for miscellaneous expenses such as any complications when the baby is born and so on.

I hope I have not scared you witless because that is only one option.

Now to plan B.

You can go to the clinic at the hospital of your choice instead of going to your private gynaecologist for your regular checks.

At private hospitals like Andrews Memorial each monthly clinic visits cost $1000. Both sometimes offer a package rate where all your clinic visits, blood tests, delivery and ultrasound are included. The package at St Josephs is about $35,000 and $40,000 up at Andrews. If you decide to go to another popular corporate area public hospital like the University Hospital of the West Indies then you pay $600 for the first visit and $300 for subsequent visits. Normal delivery is $11,200 while cesarean is $15,100. Here your cost would roughly be about $40,000 – 50,000. Again you have to budget extra for the doctor, the hospital calls to deliver you (at the private hospitals this is about $2,500 per visit.) The cost of the pediatrician’s visit to check the baby is about the same – $2,500. The main difference between this option and the former is that the hospital appoints the doctor who delivers you. Your personal gynaecologist is out of the picture so there is less expense.

All the stuff that you have to do can be a bit overwhelming especially if it is your first pregnancy. Considering all the options is however crucial especially in budgeting.

If the first two options are way above your pocket then there is plan C.

You can go to any public clinic for your monthly checks.

Clinics like the Waterford Community clinic in St Catherine or the Drewsland clinic in Kingston will charge a first-time registration fee of about $20 – $50. After that you pay $20 or $30 for each successive visit. Blood tests might start from about $250 at these clinics. As the time for delivery approaches you will be sent to do a booking at another popular choice – Victoria Jubilee in downtown Kingston.

Sometimes popularly called the baby factory of Jamaica with an annual deliver of over 10,000 babies, the cost of booking a normal vaginal delivery at Jubilee is $3,500. Cesarean sections are $15,000. So your cost here would be less than $10,000 for normal delivery and maybe about $20,000 for cesarean.

Last but not least there are maternity clinics such as Eve’s Maternity in Spanish Town, St Catherine which offer a $15,000 package. It covers prenatal or monthly visits, vitamins, delivery, and six weeks postpartum (after birth care for baby and mother.)

Please note that all figures quoted here are general costs and are subject to change based on a variety of factors. Also note that St Josephs does not take first pregnancies.

So now you have an idea of costs I hope I did not change your mind about getting pregnant. It just simply means a good bit of budgeting and the truth is no matter the cost, babies are worth every cent.