Pregnancy and birth cost without insurance
The median cash price for Vaginal birth is $4,276.40 across 277 US hospitals that publish a self-pay price. Most hospitals (the middle 80%) charge between $2,103.54 and $6,447.30.
Pregnancy care is billed in several parts: the delivering clinician's global fee (59400 for a vaginal birth, 59510 for a cesarean, 59610 for a vaginal birth after cesarean) covers routine prenatal visits, the delivery and postpartum care, while the hospital stay, anesthesia, lab tests, ultrasounds and the newborn's care are billed separately. The most important price fact is that the global fee in the table is not the total cost of having a baby.
Collected Sep 25, 2026 One price per hospital, from each hospital's own price file
Pregnancy and birth prices by type
The state table uses 59400, the global fee for a vaginal delivery. Ultrasounds are priced per exam (76801 first trimester, 76805 standard later scan, 76811 detailed anatomy scan, 76817 transvaginal), and prenatal blood work includes the obstetric panel (80055) and cell-free DNA screening (NIPT, 81420).
| Procedure | Hospitals | Most charge | Median | Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-trimester ultrasound Pregnancy ultrasound before 14 weeks, through the belly, one baby · code 76801 | 1,422 | $135.26–$1,026.80 | $465.25 | $106.81median 4.4× |
| Pregnancy ultrasound Pregnancy ultrasound after 14 weeks, one baby · code 76805 | 1,408 | $141.31–$1,046.52 | $504.87 | $106.81median 4.7× |
| Detailed fetal anatomy scan Detailed fetal anatomy ultrasound, through the belly, one baby · code 76811 | 1,106 | $234.50–$1,306.09 | $607.82 | $243.77median 2.5× |
| Transvaginal OB ultrasound Transvaginal ultrasound during pregnancy · code 76817 | 1,422 | $117.81–$920.66 | $410.85 | $106.81median 3.8× |
| NIPT prenatal DNA test Prenatal cell-free DNA screen for trisomy 21, 18 and 13 (NIPT) · code 81420 | 703 | $385.00–$2,677.62 | $950.75 | $759.05median 1.3× |
| Prenatal blood panel Obstetric blood test panel · code 80055 | 736 | $53.16–$586.07 | $196.40 | $47.81median 4.1× |
| Vaginal birth Vaginal delivery, including prenatal and postpartum care · code 59400 | 277 | $2,103.54–$6,447.30 | $4,276.40 | — |
| C-section Cesarean delivery, including prenatal and postpartum care · code 59510 | 259 | $2,517.53–$9,102.28 | $4,748.00 | — |
| VBAC delivery Vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC), including prenatal and postpartum care · code 59610 | 214 | $2,109.10–$7,970.66 | $5,061.03 | — |
| Limited pregnancy ultrasound Pregnancy ultrasound, limited (heartbeat, position, fluid) · code 76815 | 1,438 | $111.42–$730.98 | $367.29 | $106.81median 3.4× |
| 1-hour glucose test Glucose challenge test (1-hour glucose after a sugar drink) · code 82950 | 1,384 | $9.02–$111.80 | $35.15 | $4.75median 7.4× |
| Glucose tolerance test Glucose tolerance test, 3 samples · code 82951 | 1,443 | $19.22–$208.28 | $77.60 | $12.87median 6.0× |
“Most charge” is the middle 80% of hospitals (10th to 90th percentile), so one mistyped line in a hospital file cannot stretch it. Each hospital counts once, at its lowest outpatient cash price for the code. “Medicare” is Medicare's 2026 national base rate for the same service outside a hospital stay, including the patient's share (the hospital outpatient, lab or hospital clinic rate); “median 3×” means the median cash price is three times that rate.
Vaginal birth: median by state
States with at least two hospitals, cheapest median first. Pick a state for its pregnancy and birth prices and cheapest hospitals.
- Tennessee$1,777.38
- Indiana$2,345.00
- Kentucky$2,345.00
- New Hampshire$2,404.98
- West Virginia$2,615.00
- Texas$2,680.40
- Nebraska$2,743.00
- Missouri$2,939.25
- Maine$3,016.68
- Vermont$3,184.80
- California$3,220.00
- Michigan$3,808.80
- Pennsylvania$3,815.00
- Maryland$4,097.50
- Wyoming$4,184.59
- Montana$4,476.40
- Iowa$4,552.00
- Illinois$4,574.70
- New York$4,665.94
- Wisconsin$4,890.60
- Connecticut$5,277.00
- Idaho$5,277.00
- Washington$5,452.93
- Massachusetts$5,511.16
- Ohio$5,593.08
- Oregon$5,668.80
- Minnesota$5,754.27
- Florida$7,067.00
- Alaska$7,310.67
Paying cash: what to do
- Ask the hospital whether it offers a self-pay maternity package for the delivery stay, and what it excludes, such as an epidural, a cesarean or newborn care.
- Apply for Medicaid as soon as you know you are pregnant; pregnancy coverage often has higher income limits than other adult coverage, and it can sometimes start retroactively.
- Ask both the clinician and the hospital for a Good Faith Estimate that lists the expected codes for delivery, anesthesia and newborn care.
Questions
How much does it cost to have a baby without insurance?
The total combines the clinician's global fee in the table with the hospital's labor and delivery charges, anesthesia, lab tests and ultrasounds, plus the newborn's care, which is billed on the baby's own account. A cesarean or complications add more, so ask for estimates from each provider.
Can I get Medicaid if I'm already pregnant?
Yes, you can apply at any point in pregnancy, and states often cover pregnant people at higher income limits than other adults. Most states also extend postpartum Medicaid coverage for 12 months after birth.
Is NIPT required?
No. NIPT is an optional screening test offered during pregnancy, and a positive result needs confirmation with a diagnostic test. Ask the lab for its self-pay price before the blood draw, since genetic labs often set a separate cash price.