Babbles
Costs after childbirth
I'm pregnant and due to give birth to a girl at the end of this year. I know that the hospital stay for the delivery will cost me €313. We've saved up a decent amount in our savings account so we don't need to worry about that. The baby's room and the necessary items are already taken care of.
Are there any other costs after the birth that we should keep in mind?
Like an epidural (I really want to have a natural birth, but you never know), that doesn't seem to be free...
Greetings,
Anneke
Replies
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marieke Guest #2
It didn't cost me anything at all, not with either of the boys. But I live in the NL, maybe it's different in BE. Does it also depend here on how you're insured etc.? The first time I gave birth at home, but the placenta didn't come out, so I had to go to the hospital. The second time I did have a medical indication. Also, our youngest was quite big, so he had to stay in the hospital for another 24 hours (and I did too). I didn't need any pain relief both times. But I've never heard of anyone having to pay for that.
No crazy costs otherwise. In the future, childcare costs if you want to go back to work, that's quite substantial in the NL. -
N. Coppola #3
Hey Anneke,
I think it's pretty cheap that it'll only cost €313.
You should definitely keep in mind that it might end up costing a lot more!
And yeah, with epidurals you never know beforehand if you'll actually use it or not. In Belgium it's definitely paid for, and it cost me around €300!
I had to save up beforehand to be able to pay for everything, also because I really wanted a single room (just for the privacy, and a young mother is already so exhausted, and I know I wouldn't be able to handle sharing with another woman and a crying baby). But I do understand that not everyone can afford that. -
trotsemama #4
If you live in the Netherlands, you'll also get some reimbursement for postpartum care. This is 4 euros per hour out of pocket.
As for the rest, you'll probably find out after the baby is born that you might still need some extra stuff.
If you want to breastfeed, you might need a pump for the first few days. You can borrow it from the home care service, but you do need to buy the "hygienic" parts separately.
Hopefully, this info helps you out a bit. -
kruimel #5
@marieke in the Netherlands, you have to pay for a hospital birth if you don’t have a medical indication... so if you indeed start at home and then still need to go to the hospital, you have an indication and it’s therefore 'free'..
Not sure if maybe it comes out of your own deductible..
Xkruimel -
Anonymous Guest #6
Huge thanks for your replies!
I live in the Netherlands and don't have supplementary insurance.
I'm giving birth in the hospital, and this won't be for medical reasons, hence the 313 euros.
Is that cheap, yes @N.Coppola? Menzis gave me that figure, so I hope it doesn't suddenly go up.
By the way, I don't necessarily need to stay in a single room, that's not a big deal for me.
@trotsemama thanks for the info on postnatal care. About 4 euros per hour. We probably won't get the max. hours of postnatal help, but indeed important to keep that in mind.
I really want to breastfeed, so the info here is very helpful! @trotsemama @kruimel
Eventually, you get the bill for the home birth sent to you, how quickly can I expect this in my mail?
More experiences/info are always welcome... -
Anneke1 started this #7
Sorry, forgot to add my name. The response from 'Anonymous' is actually from me! -
kruimel #8
Hihi, unfortunately, I can't help you with your last question. Not pregnant yet and no baby yet either!
Xkruimel -
N. Coppola #9
Yeah, I think it's pretty cheap, since a large part of the mutual insurance is reimbursed (health insurance). I do get why you don't want a single room, but outside of that room you'll probably have to pay for... say, if they have to do an episiotomy or you get torn, or if you have a C-section (which you unfortunately don't know beforehand). They also have to take care of you for that...
Actually every day, in my case, I didn't have enough milk, so I got formula milk...
But for the second one, I know better, I'll buy it myself because wow, you pay through the nose at the hospital! Even for painkillers etc...
I got my bill almost 2 months after giving birth. -
Anonymous Guest #10
@N. Coppola, I found this really helpful, so thank you so much for your reply. I'd rather save too much money than too little! All the extra costs that come with it... -
hartje #11
In the Netherlands, a hospital birth is around 300 euros, as you said. I also chose this option here, and everything was included, like food and drinks for me and my husband after the birth. If you have tearing, you're simply stitched up, and I think an epidural is included too. It didn't cost me anything extra. Not even when I had to stay overnight due to bleeding that occurred later.
Wishing you lots of success!
Love -
Anneke1 started this #12
The anonymous comment was from me, I forgot to mention my name again. I'm new to this site.
@Hartje, thanks for your reply! So most of it was included for you... Did you have a basic insurance or supplementary? -
trotsemama #13
Some insurance plans do indeed have a package that covers maternity care. But like with Menzis, you can have supplementary insurance but still have to pay the 4 euro deductible.....
If I remember correctly from the first one, you get the bill for maternity care in the mail after 6 weeks. I don't know about the hospital because I had a medical indication and now again. My friend told me, by the way, that hospital prices have gone up quite a bit. According to her, it's now higher than 313 euros. Maybe a tip to inquire about that.
You can choose how many hours of maternity care you want, up to a maximum of course. We had 4-hour care for the first one. So in total, that was 28 hours. It was the first and the parents also helped us with household chores. Now for the second, we're going for the maximum because we already have one running around.
With the intake, you can choose the maximum and after the birth decide if you really need it. You won't pay anything extra. For example, if you chose 40 hours but after the birth you find 30 hours enough, they'll adjust it... If you choose a low number of hours right away, you can't change it upwards...
What a hassle it all is, huh hihi -
wwwiets Guest #14
That's right, I just got the bill for maternity care in the mail. I gave birth 6 weeks ago. And I have supplementary insurance, so I pay 4 euros per hour.
You're also right to take into account that you'll probably end up needing some extra stuff you didn't have enough of. Always something!
Good luck with sorting everything out! -
N. Coppola #15
Oh my, our neighboring countries are cheaper than Belgium again! -
hartje #16
Anneke1, I think I had the second-highest insurance, and I had to pay €4 per hour for postnatal care. -
trotsemama #17
Haha N. Copppola. Maybe you pay less per month to the health insurer. It seems like the Netherlands is quite expensive with that.......
That's right, Hartje. With my insurer, it doesn't matter how high my coverage is; I still have to pay those 4 euros per hour anyway. -
kruimel #18
I asked CZ about it, and it's included there..
At least if you have an additional insurance for Families, SuperTop, or Excellent!
xKruimel -
N. Coppola #19
@ Trotsemama,
I have hospitalization insurance through work, and I think I pay almost €30 a month for it (I don't know it by heart), plus the health insurance fund (mutualiteit) around €18 a month.
It's a lot if you have other things to pay, but better this than having to hand over a large sum at the moment! -
trotsemama #20
@ N. Coppola
Oh, reading your story, what a luxury in Belgium!! So for about 48 euros per month you're insured???
Here in the Netherlands, we pay 106 euros per month for basic insurance. Then you can upgrade your coverage and pay separately for dental care. You quickly end up at 130 euros per month per person over 18. On top of that, we have a 350 euro deductible. This means you pay your own medical costs up to 350 euros until you reach that amount. Additionally, there are co-payments for certain things, like contraception pills, etc.
As a family with children under 18, you're out 260 euros a month for sure. You usually hit that 350 euro deductible pretty quickly. So that's 700 euros a year for the two of you, plus the mandatory co-payments hehe.
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