Cost of Having a Baby in the Philippines (2016 Update)

Written by Marc Adrian Illustration by Michelle Leong

Congratulations for that little bun in the oven, that cute little bundle of joy that’s sure to bring indescribable happiness to your family in just a few months. A baby is always a blessing, and it’s always something to be thankful for. But once the initial shock has worn off and the mini celebrations are done, it’s time to get down to business. That’s the business of preparing financially for all the things that come with having a baby.

Prenatal Checkups

Most prenatal checkups are not covered by your company’s HMO, so you normally have to pay for them yourself each visit. Consultation fees vary depending on the doctor and the hospital or clinic. One visit can cost you about ₱450 to ₱1,000. Monthly visits are required for pregnant women to make sure that both mom and baby are in the best physical condition. Aside from the checkups, the mom may also be required to take prenatal vitamins and supplements to build up for any deficiencies she may have which could cost around ₱2,000 to ₱4,000 depending on the brand of the meds.

Ultrasounds and Scans

Ultrasounds are usually performed during the first trimester of the pregnancy. It costs about ₱1,400. If you have a high-risk pregnancy, or if you’re suffering from diabetes, you may be required to get more than one ultrasound.

You may also be advised by your doctor to have a congenital anomaly scan, also called a mid-pregnancy ultrasound scan, between your 18th and 20th week. This scan will be able to check if your baby is developing normally and also confirm your due date. Scans like this normally cost around ₱2,000 to ₱5,500.

Normal Delivery and Caesarian Section

The biggest expense in the whole pregnancy journey is the day mom will give birth to baby. A normal delivery will cost much less than a caesarian section, and the price will also depend per hospital. Private hospitals normally charge around ₱40,000 to ₱50,000 for a normal delivery, and ₱80,000 to as much as ₱250,000 for a caesarian section. If you have initially availed of the normal delivery package but have to go under emergency C-section that will be an additional of ₱50,000 to ₱80,000, depending on the hospital you have chosen.

The Medical City in Pasig offers an ₱80,000 all-in maternity package. St. Luke’s Medical Center Global City offers packages that range from ₱40,000 to ₱100,000 for normal delivery, and ₱70,000 to ₱170,000 for caesarian section.

Miscellaneous

Of course, there will be plenty of miscellaneous expenses throughout the whole pregnancy, and a lot more once the baby comes out. That includes prenatal vitamins and health supplements for mom, as well as nice and comfortable maternity clothes, and breastfeeding supplies if mom will be breastfeeding the baby. You also need to shop for baby clothes, feeding bottles, sterilizers, cribs, baby carriers, car seats, and strollers, just to name a few.

Once the baby comes out, both mom and baby will have to see the doctor for monthly checkups and vaccinations until baby turns a year old. That will be around ₱1,800 to ₱5,000 per vaccine, per visit, depending on which hospital you go to.

Not to mention family planning sessions you may have to attend, as well as birth classes and parenting workshops. There’s also baby’s christening to think about, and baby’s first photoshoot. If you wish to celebrate baby’s monthly birthdays, you also will need to set aside money for balloons and cakes.

There will be more birthday celebrations, and kiddie play groups as they grow older. Before you know it, it’s time for them to attend a big school. Having a baby does not come cheap at all, but you can start preparing well in advance so you will not get overwhelmed financially. You can start shopping around for good maternity packages that will fit your budget. You can even take out a salary loan application to help you plan and pay for everything in advance in affordable monthly installments.