A friend of mines wife just had a baby a couple weeks ago. Normal delivery, wife stayed in hospital 48 hours. Cost: $20,000. Friend's hearsay is that 45% of that $20 K was for the doctor's and hospital's malpractice insurance. Don't know if it's true or not, but an astonishing price IMO. My kids total cost was $1200 each in 76 and 79, and I had no maternity insurance at the time and paid out of pocket.