Know the costs associated with pregnancy and childbirth in India

Expectant parents need to weigh several variables, including pregnancy complications and hospitalization costs

- Jash Kriplani

There is nothing far greater than the joys of parenthood. And it is not quantifiable either. However, pregnancy and childbirth are a costly affair in India: Blame it on the rising costs of hospitalization and medicines.

The journey of a parent starts with the confirmation of pregnancy. And therein begins the first of the numerous visits to hospitals till the baby is born. Choosing a gynaecologist is the next big step. That mostly depends on the popularity of the doctor. This is followed by regular scans and consultations with the gynaecologist, who will also have studied to be an obstetrician-doctors who provide care during pregnancy, childbirth, and post-partum (the period after childbirth).

It is usually in the third trimester of pregnancy, that most couples finalize the hospital where the child will be born. That, to a large extent, depends on their chosen gynaecologist. Some gynaecologists have their own maternity homes, while others offer consultations or practice at three or four hospitals.

The costs of hospitalization depend on several factors, right from the hospital size, location and its reputation, to the labour ward there, the type of delivery-Caesarean or normal, type of room to recuperate post-delivery, facilities such as neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), availability of other specialists such as paediatricians, and medical packages including nursing and doctor fees, etc. The more facilities a hospital has, the more options it can include in its healthcare packages. Hospitalization costs also vary across the country. The costs in tier-1 and metro cities are much higher than that in smaller towns.

Mint spoke with some parents to understand how they finalized their hospitals and how much they paid in hospital costs at the time of delivery.

Metro charges