*Expenses don’t end at childbirth, one husband laments
*’What I expected would be ₦180,000 exceeded ₦1 million’
*Experts warn rising charges are driving unsafe births, maternal deaths
For many expectant mothers in Nigeria, childbirth is no longer just a medical journey, it has become a financial ordeal. Soaring hospital bills, hidden charges and difficult decisions force families to choose between delivering safely in the hospital or turning to risky alternatives, including home births. Across both public and private health facilities, the cost of antenatal care, normal delivery and Caesarean Section (CS) has climbed sharply. In this special report, mothers, families and healthcare experts speak on the rising cost of bringing a child into the world and what it means for maternal health in Nigeria.
By Chioma Obinna
