C-sections tend to cost significantly more than vaginal births, and each type of intervention, from induction to epidural, comes with its own separate charge. Hospitals also generally charge for room and board, more for each additional day at the hospital.
Although being afraid of childbirth is natural and understandable, it is important to know that a C-section can be painful and have many risks. Overall, vaginal birth requires less recovery time, has fewer risks, and a shorter hospital stay. This makes it the ideal choice for a healthy pregnancy.
Even though labor and vaginal birth can be hard work, they are generally easier on a woman's body than a cesarean. Recovery after vaginal birth is usually shorter and less painful than after a C-section, and allows the woman to spend more time with her baby.
Babies born vaginally are thought to have an edge over those born via cesarean section. They pick up bacteria from their mother's birth canal, which scientists believe helps protect them from asthma, obesity, and other health issues as they grow older.
Rising rates of often unnecessary C-sections may lead to increased overall costs. “Among our 2016 and 2017 pooled sample of people with employer-sponsored insurance, average spending per vaginal birth nationally was $12,235. Average spending per C-section, in contrast, was $17,004,” the researchers said.
Item 16519 covers birth by any means including Caesarean section. If, however, a patient is referred, or her care is transferred to another medical practitioner for the specific purpose of birth by Caesarean section, whether because of an emergency situation or otherwise, then Item 16520 would be the appropriate item.
Several Factors Explain Variation in the Cost of Childbirth
Because C-sections are a more intensive surgical procedure, they are typically associated with longer, more expensive admissions.
Complications and unforeseen changes to the patient that result in extended stays or more medical care raise costs. The cost of a C-section delivery is much higher than the cost of a vaginal birth. The average cost of a C-section without complications is $22,646. And complications would cause the price tag to inflate.
Vaginal delivery has a lower chance of scarring, severe bleeding, reactions to medications, and long-lasting pain. Since the mother is healthier and more active, the possibility of breastfeeding early on is more.
Natural childbirth benefits babies in their gut: In the long run, babies born through a caesarean section are more prone to asthma, allergies and infections. Without natural birth the babies miss out on the good bacteria present in the mother's body. This plays a major role in the immune system of the child.
Painless normal delivery or delivery with labor analgesia (Epidural) is a technique where very specific concentration of drug is used. Although the drug reduces the pain, it maintains the ability to push your baby out through the birth canal.
In some situations, a C-section is not only preferable but mandatory—situations involving conditions like placenta previa, in which going into labor would precipitate life-threatening hemorrhaging, or cord prolapse, which can cause the death of a baby if a C-section is not performed in a manner of minutes.
C-section: Cons
A C-section increases the risk for post-delivery ailments such as pain or infection at the incision site and longer-lasting soreness, according to the U.K.'s National Health Service.
Vaginal delivery
It's the most preferred and most common way to deliver a baby because it carries the lowest risk (in most cases). A vaginal delivery occurs most often between weeks 37 and 42 of pregnancy. A vaginal delivery has three stages: labor, birth and delivering the placenta.
Children born by elective caesarean are calmer, researchers have found, exhibiting fewer behavioural and emotional problems than those born normally. They are much less likely to suffer from problems like anxiety, aggression and attention disorders, according to the Chinese study.
The greatest benefit of an epidural is the potential for a painless delivery. While you may still feel contractions, the pain is decreased significantly. During a vaginal delivery, you're still aware of the birth and can move around.
However, recovery from a cesarean delivery is generally more painful. “[It] is a lot more painful, longer, and often more difficult than recovery from a vaginal birth because it is a major abdominal surgery,” Teen explains.
In the U.S., the average cost of a vaginal birth is $13,024, including standard predelivery and postdelivery expenses such as facility fees and doctor fees. A cesarean section (C-section) is much more expensive, costing an average of $22,646 including standard predelivery and postdelivery expenses.
Australia's caesarean section rate was higher than the OECD average over this time and ranked 27th out of 34 OECD countries in 2017, with a rate of 33.7 per 100 live births (ranked from lowest to highest) (OECD 2019). In 2020, 37% of all women giving birth in Australia had a caesarean section (AIHW 2022).
As a public patient in a public hospital, C-sections will be fully covered under Medicare. In a private hospital, surgery for a C-section can cost over $10,000 on average, although estimates do vary.
A C-section might be recommended for women with certain health issues, such as a heart or brain condition. There's a blockage. A large fibroid blocking the birth canal, a pelvic fracture or a baby who has a condition that can cause the head to be unusually large (severe hydrocephalus) might be reasons for a C-section.
In Australia, pregnancy care in a public hospital or birth centre is free because it is covered by Medicare, which covers Australian citizens and some visitors to Australia.