76. The True Cost of Birth: Why Investing in Personalized Midwifery Care Is Worth It

Curious about how investing in personalized midwifery care can not only transform your birth experience but also be worth every dollar in a system where having a baby comes with a hefty price tag? Today, we’re breaking down the financial side of birth and why the right support is priceless.

In this episode, we will cover:

• The benefits of investing in home birth families trust for a safe and empowering birth experience.
• Why personalized midwifery care can make all the difference in creating a confident birth journey.
• How evidence-based midwifery supports holistic birth preparation and natural pain management...
• … and a whole lot more!

If you’re ready to discover why investing in home birth and compassionate midwifery care is worth it, then this episode is for you!

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👋 WHO AM I?

Welcome, friends! I am Beth, a certified nurse midwife, doula, and childbirth educator. My philosophy is rooted in autonomy, informed decision making, and positive mindset to help expecting parents plan for a beautiful, stress-free birth. I am here to provide value to YOU through tips and practical advice, either to guide you through pregnancy or to help you prepare for childbirth, postpartum and beyond. There’s no fluff here - only info that adds to your positive experience and saves you stress and uncertainty.

Transcript

Welcome back to episode 76 of Your Birth Bestie podcast. Today, we’re talking about something really important: the true cost of birth.

So maybe you’ve been wondering, “Is home birth really worth the investment?” Or maybe you’ve heard people say, “Midwifery care is too expensive, and insurance won’t cover it.” Or even, “Hospital birth is just what you do— becuase it’s covered, so why pay out of pocket for something different?”

I want to break down the real costs of birth—and not just financially, but also emotionally and physically—and why investing in personalized midwifery care can be one of the best decisions you make for yourself and your baby. Let’s dive in!

First, let's talk about some of the biggest misconceptions about birth costs.

Myth one that we've all heard is that "home birth is only for hippies and also for risk takers."

In reality, home birth is not about rejecting modern medicine and declining everything for the sake of refusing. It’s about choosing a more personalized, evidence-based approach with a skilled provider who values your autonomy and ensure you are at the center of your care. That is why I named my practice Family Focused Midwifery, because individualizing care and allowing families to take control of their experience, for me, is the number one prioirty. Also, research supports that planned home birth for low-risk pregnancies is a safe option, with lower intervention rates. Home birth is not just for a certain stereotype of person, it's much more that that!

Myth twho is that "midwifery care is too expensive and insurance won't cover it."

In reality, and depending on where you live and what your insurance situation is, yes, midwifery care can be an out-of-pocket expense, but let's break that down:

The average hospital birth in the U.S. costs between $10,000 and $50,000, depending on location, interventions, and length of stay. And even with insurance, many families still pay thousands in deductibles and unexpected bills. There is a wide range of what you could expect, but when looking up this information, seems the average is around $3,500 out of pocket for expenses.

The average home birth with a midwife in the US costs around $5,000 which would include prenatal, birth, and postpartum care—with fewer surprise costs as this is discussed early on.

Many midwives offer payment plans or accept HSA/FSA funds, making the investment more manageable for families.

So when we compare total costs, home birth might seem like a bit more out of pocket initially (maybe not, like I said insurance and circumstances are variable) but it can actually be more affordable in the long run. Plus, the big thing with ome birth is you’re getting individualized care and continuity that hospitals don't offer or at least that I have never seen or heard about compared to the care of a out of hospital midwife, I've seen both sides! 

But like I said, I wanted to dive deeper into cost, becuase it isn't just about money. So let’s talk about the emotional and physical costs of birth and how different care models impact your experience.

For hospital birth, many families who birth in hospitals describe feeling rushed, pressured into interventions, or even ignored in their care. I have seen the fear mongering time and time again and the quick appointments and lack of personalized care is a huge reason I transitioned to being a home birth midwife even though the beginning of my career was in the hospital system. Hospital births are known to have higher intervention rates which can lead to unnecessary medical procedures, further increasing risks for complications like C-sections or postpartum trauma. Birth trauma is so high, largely because of the sytem of maternity care and it's focus on efficiency and profitability, rather than focusing on connection and individualized care. 

On the other side, is home birth midwifery care. Families who choose home birth with a midwife often experience less stress, fewer interventions, and greater autonomy. Instead of the typical 10 or 15-minute prenatal visits which made me cringe when I was a midwife training in the hospital, out of hospital midwifery care includes hour-long, in-depth visits where we discuss everything from nutrition to birth planning to emotional preparation. There is no rush, everything is customized to you and your needs.

I cannot tell you how many families I have worked with that have birth trauma from a previous birth in the hospital where they felt unheard and pressured into interventions, decide for their next birth to have a home birth. They have said that afterwards being able to compare the two experiences, at home they felt in control, safe, and truly supported—sometimes even telling me they never would have thought birth could be the way they experienced it, because they hadn't seen it for themselves before. That’s the power of investing in personalized care.

So, when we talk about the “cost” of home birth, what are you actually paying for?

You're getting time and relationship-based care – I believe that midwifery care isn’t transactional. It’s 100% personal. And with out of hospital midwifery care, you’re getting comprehensive, holistic support throughout your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journey. It's truly an experience that is customized to your needs and values, we don't try to fit you into a box and standardize your care.

You're also less likely to need intervention for your pregnancy or birth. Hospital births often come with interventions like encouraging inductions, epidurals, and C-sections—which can add to your bill, your recovery time, and stress. So much of your experience is mental and emotional, and the care you receive in pregnancy and birth matters. With midwifery care, you reduce the likelihood of unnecessary interventions that decreases the monetary cost of services that add up during birth and after, but also the mental load of it all.

And like I kind of mentioned too, the postpartum period is just as important as birth itself, yet I can say with confidence that hospital-based care leaves families without adequate follow-up. You've seen the care schedule and how many visits are scheduled before baby is born, but then only one visit at 6 weeks?! This is definitely a poor example of supporting women compared to out of hospital midwives providing several in-home postpartum visits, breastfeeding support, and mental health check-ins. Having that connection with someone who cared for you prenatally and all through labor and birth, continue care into the postpartum period and assist with that transition is so special.

And this brings me to the last piece of this conversation if you’re considering home birth but worried about the financial aspect, I wanted to share a few ideas when considering the cost.

First, break down the costs between hospital and home birth expenses including deductibles, facility fees, and interventions. Make sure you understand your insurance coverage and what services would and wouldn't be covered.

Ask local midwives about their payment plans available. Many midwives allow you to pay over time rather that in one lump sum. Finding a midwife early so you can plan for these expenses over 9 months can be extremely helpful. And also comparing different midwifery services, packages, and costs local to you to find the best fit for your situation and what you're looking for.

Check HSA/FSA eligibilty. You may be able to use these accounts to cover midwifery care, so asking about those benefits is something to consider.

And then lastly, prioritize what matters. Birth is one of the most life-changing events you’ll experience. Choosing care that aligns with your values and supports your well-being is an investment in you and your baby. I like to sometimes think of this in comparison to investments in wedding photographers when you get married. This is another huge life experience and milestone with cherished memories, and people are less likely to hesitate about the cost of the tangible photos of their perfect day, than planning for their birth. The mindset is often that we'll just figure it out and make the most out of the cheapest option sometimes, but when you think of your satisfaction and outcome in the short term of birth and meeting your baby, and then even more long term with how you feel physically and emotionally and transitioning into this new role or adding a baby to your growing family, it feels like a nobrainer to do it your way. 

The cost goes deeper than the monetary value and if you're considering home birth, it does take some reflection to decide what the best choice is for you. I know for me and my own home birth it was something I was determined to do because it was the best fit for me and financially had to plan to make it possible.    

So, of course if you ask me if investing in midwifery care worth it? I’d say—100%. When you choose home birth, you’re not just paying for a service. You’re investing in your autonomy, your safety, and a deeply personal birth experience that prioritizes you and your baby.

If this episode resonated with you, I’d love for you to subscribe to the show and take a few seconds to leave a 5-star review! 

Thank you for tuning in today and contiue to trust your body, trust your birth, and know that you are fully capable of making the best decision for your family. See you next Tuesday everyone!