Giving birth in South Africa can be an expensive business, as you'll need to pay your gynecologist (or midwife) and the hospital.
Government Hospitals: Depending on which one you go to, it should be free of charge for delivering your baby. However, you'll have to bring your own supplies such as towels, pillows, nappies, toiletries, pads, and even food and fluids at times.
According to data from medical aid schemes, the average cost of a natural birth in a private hospital is around R25,000, including two to three days spent in hospital. If your baby is delivered by Caesarean section, the cost jumps to between R38,000 and R44,000.
Migrant mothers are asked to pay between R250 and R400 for antenatal checkups. Natural births in hospitals cost between R5 000 and R8 000, and caesarean sections cost as much as R25 000.
Prenatal care is provided free at public health clinics. Find out more about prenatal care or contact the Department of Health on 012 395 8000.
The South African Constitution states that everyone is entitled to basic healthcare whether they are a South African Citizen or not. This means that Foreign nationals have the right to free basic health care and only pay when they need more than primary healthcare.
You will give birth either in a labour ward or at a birthing centre. Care during the pregnancy and birth is mostly free.
About birth in public hospitals
Public hospitals are run by government, unlike private hospitals, which are run by private organisations. In the public hospital system, your pregnancy and birth care are mostly free. Public hospitals are an option for all pregnant women, including women with high-risk pregnancies.
Emergencies aside, you're looking at a price range of about R16 000 to R46 050 depending on the birth method (figures based on Medi-Clinic Southern Africa estimates from 2016). If, like many South Africans, you cannot afford private healthcare, you are more than entitled to government health care. Who knows?
Indonesia and the Philippines both have relatively low costs. In Indonesia, the average cost of delivery is $1,837 and in the Philippines, it's $2,122, according to Pacific Cross International.
The expensive reality of hospital costs
For caesarean-section moms, your first day will cost almost R13 000. If you're planning to stay a little longer and need the nursery, the cost is just over R3 000 extra per day.
According to MiWayLife customer experience head Madikana Kekana, first-time parents in South Africa spend, on average, around R100,000 a year to raise a child. She also noted that a nursery can cost R5,000 or more for furniture, a baby-changing station, and related equipment.
Babies do not always arrive when expected. To make sure your hospital is ready to admit you, visit the pre-admission centre at the hospital as soon as possible, at the latest 48 hours before your expected delivery date, to confirm your booking.
Average Cost of Childbirth in the US
Giving birth costs $18,865 on average, including pregnancy, delivery and postpartum care, according to the Peterson-Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) Health System Tracker. Health insurance can cover most of that cost. But what if you don't have health insurance?
Semi-private and private maternity wards may or may not be covered by your medical aid plan. If not then you will have to pay a little extra in cash to secure your bed in these wards. However, if you do not have medical aid then you will have to pay a large deposit or even the entire delivery package fee upfront.
Registering a birth
Once the child's birth has been registered, an unabridged birth certificate is issued free of charge, usually a day or so after the registration application has been submitted.
Do you have at least $20,000 in savings? First, you'll probably have to pay some out-of-pocket expenses for your pre-natal care and delivery, even if you have insurance. A normal pregnancy typically costs between $30,000 and $50,000 without insurance, and averages $4,500 with coverage.
The Peterson-Kaiser Family Foundation Health System Tracker estimates the average cost of pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care for Americans with insurance is $18,865. Nearly $3,000 of that is paid for out of pocket1 even if you have health insurance.
Types of payments include: Newborn Upfront Paymentlaunch – a lump sum payment per child. Newborn Supplementlaunch – up to 13 weeks per child. Parental Leave Paylaunch – up to 18 weeks while you take time off work to care for your newborn baby.
Birth/Labour Services
Mothers can deliver at fixed clinics or Midwife Obstetric Units (MOUs), which are run by midwives in the community for primary healthcare patients. If complications arise during birth then they will be transferred to a hospital up the line.
If you're both doing well, you'll usually be ready to go home somewhere between 6 and 24 hours after birth. You may need to stay a bit longer if: you've had an emergency caesarean section. you or your baby need extra care.
Caffeine is a chemical found in many foods and drinks, including coffee, tea and cola. It affects the nervous system and can cause irritability, nervousness and sleeplessness. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, consuming up to 200mg a day is safe for your baby.
A: There is no known safe amount of alcohol use during your pregnancy or when you are trying to get pregnant. There is also no safe time for alcohol use during pregnancy. Alcohol can cause problems for your baby throughout your pregnancy, including before you know you are pregnant.