Why Are Hospitals Charging For Skin-To-Skin Contact After Birth?

Skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth, particularly following a cesarean section (C-section), is a crucial practice for both the mother and the newborn. This simple yet profound act involves placing the baby directly on the mother's chest, fostering an immediate physical connection that yields numerous health and emotional benefits.

For babies, immediate skin-to-skin contact helps regulate their body temperature, heart rate, and breathing. It’s especially significant after a C-section, where the abrupt transition from the womb to the outside world can be more jarring compared to vaginal births. This contact also encourages the early initiation of breastfeeding, which is beneficial for the baby's immune system and overall health.

For mothers, this contact releases hormones that promote bonding and can enhance maternal attachment. It also stimulates the release of oxytocin, which helps the uterus contract and reduces postpartum bleeding. After a C-section, where physical and emotional recovery can be more challenging, skin-to-skin contact provides essential comfort and can improve the overall birth experience.

Incorporating skin-to-skin contact into the post-C-section protocol not only supports the physical health of the mother and baby but also significantly contributes to their emotional well-being, laying a foundation for a strong mother-child relationship right from the start.

Why Do Hospitals Charge for Skin-to-Skin Contact?

But for some reason, the Utah couple saw that they were charged $39 for skin-to-skin contact, which is extremely odd considering it doesn’t require any kind of medical intervention. Ryan Grassley, the father, light-heartedly shared this experience on a GoFundMe page to bring some humor to the situation after receiving the hospital bill that itemized this particular charge. Despite the initial laugh, the situation opened up broader discussions on healthcare practices. 

Meaghan Grant, a doula from Toronto Family Doulas, brought an insightful perspective to the conversation with a passionate Facebook post that was widely shared. Doulas support mothers through pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Grant highlighted the complexities involved in facilitating skin-to-skin contact during cesarean operations. She noted that many women experience physical reactions such as shaking or nausea during the procedure, making additional support in the operating room essential.

Ryan Grassley emphasized that his sharing of the bill was not meant to criticize the hospital. In fact, he recounted a very positive experience at Utah Valley Hospital during the birth of his son. The hospital itself explained that the $39.35 charge was not for the act of holding the baby but rather for the additional nurse required in the operating room to ensure safety for both mother and child during the cesarean. This nurse helps maintain a secure environment, allowing the newborn to stay in the OR suite with the mother.

A hospital spokesperson elaborated that the charge covers the costs associated with having an extra caregiver present, which is crucial to maintaining the highest levels of patient safety. This necessity is starkly different from a vaginal birth, where the mother is not restricted by the surgical setting and can more easily initiate contact with her baby.

Grant further explained the logistical challenges in the OR, such as the mother being unable to sit up and having limited movement due to the surgical setup. This makes the role of the additional nurse even more useful, not only for mother and baby safety but also to support any partners present, who might also struggle with the intensity of the situation.

Always ask for an itemized bill, and never be afraid to contact the billing department and demand that your bill be adjusted.

Many People Still Think It’s an Outrageous Charge 

While it makes perfect sense for a nurse to be present for skin-to-skin contact after a C-section, considering the fact that the mother is in a vulnerable position and it’s quite different from holding a baby after delivering vaginally (which doesn’t happen in an operating room), it still feels a bit scammy. It costs $40 for the nurse to just stand there and watch you and your baby bond? Does that also mean you’re charged for every single little “service” the nurse provides for you? Getting you an extra pillow? Fetching some ice chips? Showing your husband how to properly hold and swaddle the newborn baby? 

Hospitals are known for charging insanely high prices for the most absurd things, such as $70 for Advil or $40 for Prescription H. It feels very much like the hospital will do anything it can to find new, creative ways to make a few extra bucks. No matter what kind of elaborate explanation the hospital may have for these charges, it never ceases to make patients (especially new moms) feel icky and taken advantage of – during their most vulnerable moments. 

This is why so many moms are encouraging others to ask for an itemized bill at the end of any hospital stay, even if you have insurance covering the majority of your bill. It’s very likely that there are charges on there that don’t belong. When I shared the screenshot of the Utah couple’s itemized bill on Instagram, my inbox was flooded with hundreds of messages from women who have encountered many mishaps from the billing department of hospitals. One woman said she intentionally brought a pillow, over-the-counter pain medication, and swaddles to the hospital so she wouldn’t be charged for these items during her delivery. She spoke with a few nurses and told them not to bring these items to the room so she wouldn’t have to pay for them. Lo and behold, when she received the itemized bill, she saw that the hospital charged for all of them.

I also heard from multiple women who said that they contacted the billing department and demanded that various charges be removed from the bill after they looked at how much they were charged. In more instances than not, their bill was either significantly reduced (in one case from $25,000 to $1,000) or even wiped altogether. The point is: Always ask for an itemized bill, and never be afraid to contact the billing department and demand that your bill be adjusted. 

Closing Thoughts

Hospitals don’t function like any other business in our country. When you go to a restaurant, a clothing store, or a furniture store, you are presented with the prices of everything before you add them to your cart, so you know exactly what you’re paying. This is not the case at all with hospitals. All the prices are shrouded in mystery, and they will bill your insurance company for virtually anything. This leaves patients feeling confused and taken advantage of. Always advocate for yourself after your hospital visit is over, regardless of whether you’re there for birth or any other health concern.

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