Starting a Family in the Philippines

So, you’re thinking about starting a family in the Philippines? We understand there are a lot of things for you to consider, and the last thing you want is to run out of money. So we have broken down the expenses you might have through the three trimesters of your pregnancy.

By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of the costs of having a baby in the Philippines.

First Trimester: Approximately PHP 20000

Some of the associated costs:

Overall pregnancy costs in the Philippines: PHP 20000

Monthly check-up: PHP 600-1500

Supplements: PHP 300-3000 per bottle

Like anywhere, prices vary greatly during the first trimester of pregnancy in the Philippines. This is due to a number of different factors, such as health condition, which healthcare provider you use, how much prenatal care is required or any complications that may arise.

Ultrasound and diagnostic tests. These can include blood or urine tests, screenings for various conditions, pregnancy ultrasound scans. These can add up quickly, with the price for an ultrasound being roughly between PHP 1,000 and PHP 4,000. In some cases, depending on the type of test or facility, the cost can be even higher. That said, you are likely to get a much cheaper price than this at a public hospital, ranging from around PHP 500 to PHP 2,000. As you can see, if you’re diligent in your research, there are plenty of options.

Prenatal check-ups. Prenatal care early in pregnancy helps to monitor the health of both you and the baby. It can contribute to reducing potential complications, which can reduce the overall healthcare costs of your pregnancy. You may have a lot of prenatal check-ups during the first trimester of your pregnancy. When it comes to public hospitals and government health centres, some prenatal check-ups are offered for free under certain programs. On the other hand, private clinics and hospitals may charge consultation fees that can go as high as PHP 2,000 per visit.

Vitamins and Supplements. Doctors are likely to recommend a lot of these, and the price is usually between PHP 500 and PHP 2000 per month.

Other Expenses

Ideally, everything will go smoothly, and you’ll be able to smoothly start your family and enjoy Philippines life. But there is always the possibility that individual health conditions will lead to extra expenses. These can include things like medication, specialised consultation or extra prenatal care that extends beyond the usual care.

Second Trimester: Approximately PHP 20000

Some of the associated costs:

Supplements: PHP 300-3000 per bottle

Maternity clothes: PHP 7000

Tests: PHP 5000

This is the middle stage of your pregnancy, and it is roughly between the 13 and 28 week period. Whilst you will likely have adjusted to many of the changes to your body and the fatigue will have largely subsided, there are still many challenges and costs that come with this stage of pregnancy.

You will have to visit the doctor more often, as well as purchase maternity clothes. Should there be no complications, you will likely have the same number of supplements as the first trimester, but other expenses can arise. For example, your doctor might recommend a pap smear, blood tests or ultrasounds, which can cost PHP 5000.

Third Trimester: Approximately PHP 160000

Some of the associated costs:

Giving birth: varies greatly

Crib: PHP 3000

Clothes: PHP 3000

Bedding: PHP 2000

Accessories: PHP 5000

Stroller: PHP 4000

Care products: PHP 15000

At this stage, you’ll want to be even more certain your expenses are under control, because you don’t want any extra stress leading into your birth.

Your body will come under significant strain, which can lead to bleeding, other discharges, abdominal aches, and many other symptoms. As such, there are likely to be many extra expenses during this period. At this stage, you’ll need to start buying accessories like baby clothes, a stroller and a crib.

While this is easily the most expensive period of your pregnancy, the costs can vary wildly depending on how you give birth.

Overall Costs When Starting a Family in the Philippines

Overall, a painless normal delivery will likely cost somewhere between PHP 50000 and PHP 120000. The range is explained by differences in costs depending on room type, how long you stay or how much extra care you require. If you choose to do a normal delivery in a maternity hospital, the costs will be around PHP 25000, but this could be a much more difficult physical process. As always, these costs vary drastically depending which package and facility you select.

The costs of caesarean section delivery reflect the range in price. The cost for a C-section in a public hospital ranges from around PHP 15000 to PHP 70000. In some cases the costs can rise even higher, depending on which hospital and whether there are complications.

In private hospitals and healthcare facilities, the cost of childbirth is usually significantly higher. So much so, that normal deliveries often grow as high as PHP 50,000 to PHP 200,000. Furthermore, a C-Section in a private hospital can be as much as PHP 500,000 or more, which again depends on the location, the fees at the facility itself, and potential extra healthcare requirements.

We highly recommend you be as thorough as possible when considering all your childbirth options. Given the prices vary so greatly, you can end up with a much larger bill than you were expecting by the end of your stay. So find out as much information as you possibly can before making a decision where you would like to give birth.

Starting a Family in the Philippines: Post-birth Costs

Some of the associated costs:

Food and post-natal vitamins: PHP 4000

Diapers and baby wipes: PHP 1000

Checkups and vaccinations: PHP 2000

Clothes: PHP 2500

Hopefully by this point your body can start recovering, you and your newborn baby are healthy, and your finances are under control. There are, however, still several costs you’ll need to consider.

You will likely need to buy a lot of vitamins for you and the baby. Then there will be care products like baby wipes and diapers. You’ll need to pay for a number of checkups and even for vaccinations. And then there are the clothes. These can add up to a lot of money, given how quickly babies grow out of them!

On average, you will spend around PHP 15000 and PHP 20000 on your newborn for the first 12 months after giving birth. Of course, these are just estimations, and costs can go much higher than these. As such, you want to make the most of your money. In order to do this, transfer money to the Philippines with e-Pocket.

Reducing Costs

Of course, there are ways to get some of your costs reduced. Health coverage can make a significant difference to the overall costs. For example, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation – or PhilHealth, allow for partial coverage or even full reimbursement of some prenatal services. Additionally, there are a number of maternity care packages and programs in the Philippines that can reduce overall costs. Different packages are offered by different hospitals and healthcare providers, so it is advantageous to do your research to find the best prices and care possible.

Hospitals for Starting a Family in the Philippines

In general, you can expect a far less expensive birth process in a public hospital in the Philippines. Most individual costs associated with private hospitals are far more expensive. These include doctor’s fees, hospital fees, medications, laboratory tests, and many other related costs. You can find out more about this here.

Some government hospitals offer free or heavily subsidised services for childbirth and newborn care, especially for low-income families. However, there might still be nominal fees or additional expenses for certain services or items. Nonetheless, there are many government welfare programs in the Philippines that can assist you with finances.

Since healthcare services and costs can change over time, it’s best to inquire directly with the specific public hospital or healthcare facility regarding their services, packages, and associated expenses for newborn care in the Philippines. This will provide the most accurate and updated information for expecting parents. Whilst the quoted prices will usually be estimates, if you compare them across a number of different health facilities, you give yourself the best chance of finding the best price. And if you are contemplating your child’s education in the Philippines, it’s vital to acquaint yourself with the educational environment, which encompasses schools and universities. For more details, read our blog: Education in the Philippines.