Maternity Care Costs: The 3 Major Factors

Health care services for new mothers and children — from labor and delivery to childhood immunizations — account for $1 out of every $5 that large employers spend on health care.¹ And with most women working until late in a pregnancy and returning soon after giving birth, much of their prenatal and postpartum time is spent in the workplace. That’s why high-quality maternity care not only keeps your employees at their best — it helps you get the most out of your health care investment.

Two out of three first-time moms work during pregnancy. Out of these women, 82% keep working until within a month of their due date, 59% go back to work within three months, and 80% return to the same employer.

Why are maternity care costs so unpredictable?

Overall, maternity claims are one of the most common and expensive health care costs for businesses.² But on top of medical costs, there are indirect costs to consider — like unexpected time away from work and short- and long-term disability — that can come up during or after pregnancy. Then there’s the unpredictability of costs. According to Business Insider, the average cost to have a baby in the U.S. is $30,000 when factoring in care provided before and after pregnancy.³ But when complications arise — such as pre-eclampsia or a premature birth — costs can quickly spiral into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.⁴

Consider this: Same procedure, wildly different costs. Hospital costs for uncomplicated vaginal delivery range from $3,296 to $37,227, whereas C-sections cost between $8,312 and $71,000.

Hidden factors that can drive maternity care costs include lack of prenatal care, high C-section rates, and lack of postpartum screenings. Hospital costs are $1,000 higher for women who don’t get prenatal care. C-sections cost 50% more than vaginal births, and C-sections have seen a rising rate in recent decades. Postpartum depression affects both men and women, yet many care plans lack proper screenings and treatment.

Understanding the major factors impacting cost

1. Early prenatal care
Women who receive early, comprehensive, and continuous prenatal care and preventive screenings are more likely to have healthy pregnancies. They also incur $1,000 less in hospital costs than women who don’t get prenatal care. Prenatal care is instrumental in managing complications. This is important because maternal hospital stays for women with complicating conditions cost about 3 times as much as those for women without complications.⁶

2. C-section rates
Cesarean births are abdominal surgeries — they increase recovery time, extend hospital stays, and cost approximately 50% more than vaginal births.⁷ Since all surgeries carry risks, the least invasive option is preferred — but there has been a significant increase in C-section deliveries over the past few decades.

Taking steps to lower C-section rates has become an important global health initiative. Researchers at Harvard Medical School and the Stanford University School of Medicine estimate that the ideal rate for births by C-section is around 19% — but the U.S. national average is still 32%.^8,9

3. Postpartum depression screenings and treatment
Maternity care also remains important after babies are born. Postpartum depression is a serious problem that affects 1 in 7 new mothers.¹⁰ It can begin shortly before or any time

after childbirth and affect every aspect of a woman’s life — including her ability to be present and engaged at work. Without treatment, postpartum depression can last for months, even years. It can also have compounding effects on other health issues. And new moms aren’t the only ones who can suffer from postpartum depression. Studies show that 1 in 10 men experiences paternal postpartum depression (PPPD), and that the incidence of PPPD is relatively higher in the 3 to 6 months after birth.¹¹

Postpartum depression affects 1 in 7 moms and 1 in 10 dads. Emotional health is an important component of maternity care. Regular screenings for postpartum depression should be part of every new parent’s care plan, so we can connect new families who are struggling with the care and support they need.

The benefits go beyond cost savings

The more that businesses understand the unpredictable costs of maternity care — and the factors driving those costs — the more they can serve as advocates for their employees during such an important life event. Ultimately, quality maternity care translates to business benefits beyond just savings on health care costs.¹² Your employees feel valued when they receive quality care, and your business will benefit from increased engagement, lower turnover, and a healthier, happier workforce.

About our expert

Kari Carlson, MD

Kari Carlson, MD, is a doctor of obstetrics-gynecology at Kaiser Permanente Redwood City Medical Center. She joined Kaiser Permanente in September 2003. Dr. Carlson has an undergraduate degree in American history from Princeton University and attended medical school at the University of California, Davis. She completed her residency at Kaiser Permanente in Santa Clara.