Money Monday is here again, hope we had a great weekend and treated our husbands and significant others to a relaxing Father’s day yesterday.

To all the dads reading this – HAPPY FATHER’S DAY, thank you for all you do for us.

Today we will be looking at The Cost of Delivery – be it Spontaneous Vaginal Birth (SVD) or Assisted or Cesarean Section. Let’s get right into it, shall we? You find out you are pregnant and the last thing that will come to mind is labour and delivery, trust me. You will be planning dresses and shoes the baby will wear, the things you want to buy, all the fun you will have with your baby, oh and don’t forget the hairstyles you will fix on the little one, whew, but nothing about the final step to bring the baby out, lol. Who wants to think about pain???

So you wake up or are going about your day and start feeling a lot of pressure and pain in your waist, back, or lower abdomen, as if you need to use the bathroom ASAP, you can’t seem to get comfortable in any position and you are sure something is wrong so you rush to the hospital and Dr. says you are in labour, now what?

Let’s go back a bit and take a look at your options and bill. Generally, most women give birth via SVD, and mostly in the hospital, they have been attending antenatal care, unless there is an emergency or accident or you traveled or you requested a transfer. You will have had a talk with your midwife on approximately how much everything will cost and also a contingency plan for emergencies – like having an emergency C-section, circumcision of male babies, ear piercing, baby being treated for jaundice or stay in NICU, etc.

The cost varies from hospital to hospital and how long you stay before and after delivery but on average Spontaneous Vaginal delivery

( SVD) can cost anywhere from GH 300 cedis ( some Government Hospitals) upwards. I paid Gh 200 Cedis some 9years ago and this was even with free delivery at a government hospital. Some private hospitals charge as much as GH 4000 to GH 8000 cedis for SVD.

C-section can range, on average, from Gh1000 cedis (Some Government Hospitals) to anywhere between GH 5000 – 9000 Cedis or more – in many private hospitals in Ghana, this may or may not include the drugs/disposables used, may or may not include feeding of the mother during the stay so be sure to clarify from your hospital, please do not assume.

You might prefer to go for antenatal at a private hospital for the one-on-one care, less people, time, etc. but may not be able to afford the delivery cost there, Inform your Dr. or Midwife ahead of time so they can discuss the various options available to you, the hospitals they refer to and the doctors who will handle you at the referred hospital. You can even visit the referral hospital, just to familiarize yourself with the place and some nurses or the Drs. My Obgyn, for instance has a system in place where you can pay for your delivery bill in installments from when you start antenatal clinic, and they sometimes even give discounts. Ask you healthcare provider, you never know what help maybe available for you.

Photo credit: pexels-jonathan-borba

You may have been told everything is going smoothly throughout your pregnancy so it’s highly possible you will have a vaginal delivery, so you plan your GH 1000 cedis to cover bills and any incidentals but please include another GH 1000 or more if you can as you never know how delivery may go. Like I always say, ALWAYS HAVE A BACKUP PLAN, in fact have a backup to your backup plan. No one prays for emergency C-section, but when it comes up, then you know its life or death and that is not when you go arguing with your doctor because you are not financially prepared for it, PLEASE DON’T ARGUE with the Dr. or Midwife trying to do their job and ensure the safe delivery of mother and baby.

Some tips:

• Find out from your hospital cost of delivery at your first appointment. Ask and switch if the cost is too much for you, don't wait till the last minute.

• Budget and save for it

• If you are covered by insurance, call your insurance provider and find out what is covered and what is not and make provisions accordingly. Some may cover up to GH 5000 for C-Section and GH 4000 for SVD, so you may need to top up or otherwise if your hospital charges more. If you are covered by two cards - your company's private health insurance and say the NHIS or your spouse's office will take some of the cost, let the hospital know ahead of time so arrangements can be made with respect to billing.

• Attend a hospital you can afford, or seek a referral to a government facility if possible. Many people do this, and many private hospitals refer to government hospitals, do not feel shy to ask your Dr. or Midwife for a referral. CUT YOUR COAT ACCORDING TO YOUR SIZE.

• Refrain from making unnecessary requests that will increase your bill, like asking for a private room, unless you have budgeted for it. It costs more and you will be there max 3 days

• Have a birth plan in place, discuss with your doctor, husband or partner and any other family member who will be present.

• Know what is what, don’t just agree to everything because the lady on the next bed asked for it. Painkillers are cheaper than an epidural and they both take the pain away. Ask for or have your partner speak up for you when in the labour ward, it is your right.

• The hospital is NOT a hotel, DO NOT extend your stay unnecessarily.

• Ensure you pack your hospital bag and have it at a good place, if your partner or family can't find it, they may have to make last minute purchases which may cost more, especially in the hospital

Being prepared will save you a lot of headaches and frustration. Start now for a smooth journey.

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