In the US, couples spend an average of $30,000 on one day that won’t impact their future.
Couples also spend an average of $3,000 on one day that WILL impact their and their family’s future.
A wedding on average costs $30,000 in the US.
A hospital birth on average costs $19,000.
96% of hospital births are mostly covered by insurance, leaving an average of $3,000 out of pocket costs.
The average out of pocket cost of a home birth in the US is $4,650.
Yes, you’re reading this correctly- home birth and hospital birth costs are nearly the same.
But that’s not the point of this post. My point is to show you that in our culture, we are willing to spend 5-6 times more on ONE day that, although important, doesn’t leave a lasting impact on our future.
But when it comes to childbirth, we settle for the cheapest option, or whatever insurance can cover.
We dedicate months and even years to save up for a wedding, but we refuse to set aside money every month to save up for life changing, life impacting celebration of the birth of new life.
And if your insurance does fully cover hospital birth, why would you settle for an experience that isn’t supportive of physiological birth, and even endangers the process, you and your baby?
Why would you rob yourself of a transformative experience?
Is potential lifetime trauma worth the free hospital stay?
Prioritize, plan ahead, and save up for an experience that respects the physiological process of birth, you and your baby.
An experience that supports your transition from maiden to mother and your baby’s transition out of the womb.
An experience that welcomes your baby into this world gently, lovingly, and peacefully.
A respectful birth experience is worth investing into.
Here are some ideas of how you can invest into your desired home birth:
- Set aside money monthly if you plan to have children in the future. It is NEVER TOO EARLY to save!
- Cancel unnecessary subscriptions, skip the coffee runs and the eating out to put that money instead towards birth.
- Set up a payment plan or barter with your birth attendant.
- Ask for money at your baby shower instead of a registry.
You don’t get a redo of your childbearing years. It is worth putting all of your time, energy and finances into the birth experience that you want.
Your baby doesn’t get a redo of their birth experience.
You are not the only one who is affected by what happens during the labor process. Your baby experiences it too.
Your baby can experience a traumatic process or they can experience a gentle, peaceful process.
Your experience will affect you for the rest of your life and it will affect your baby for the rest of their life.
The right care is worth every penny. There is no other financial investment in life that is as valuable and important as this one.
Invest your time, energy and finances to unlearn, to educate and to prepare yourself and your partner for a journey that is transformative. Invest into the right care if you want perinatal support. Get creative. Work hard. Trust me, it will be worth it in the end and it will *feel* worth it in the end.
