Possible Medical Costs

What costs could be incurred during my pregnancy

Maternity care is provided free of charge by midwives and GPs. However, you may be charged for the following:

A negative pregnancy urine test
Care provided by a private obstetrician
Care provided at a private maternity hospital
Some tests at a private laboratory
Ultrasound scans
Childbirth education classes
Transfer from home to hospital or from one hospital to another in an ambulance
Any service if you are not a New Zealand citizen or do not have permanent residency

If your caregiver recommends any tests or treatments ask if these are free.

Further Information:

You can find out more about pregnancy, labour, birth and parenting by:

Talking to friends and family
Reading books and magazines
Watching videos on the subject
Going to childbirth and parenting classes

Birthing Options available to you:

You would need to discuss these options with your LMC as part of your care plan:

Possible locations for giving birth include:

Home
Attended by:

An independent midwife of your choice

Birthing unit/small maternity hospital
Attended by:

An independent midwife of your choice or
A GP and hospital midwife or
A hospital team of midwives

Private maternity hospital/Large maternity hospital
Attended by:

An independent midwife, or
An independent midwife and private obstetrician, or
A GP and hospital midwives, or
A private obstetrician and hospital midwives, or
The hospital team

In some areas of New Zealand not all of these options may be available.

If you have chosen to give birth at home, in a birthing unit or a small maternity
hospital and complications occur you will be transferred to a large maternity hospital.

This article is intended to provide general information in summary form only.
The contents do not constitute medical or professional advice and should not be relied on as such.
Specialist medical or professional care and advice should always be sought from your medical or professional adviser for your particular circumstances.