Birth mother expenses, also known as living expenses, are the court-approved payments provided by adoptive families t to help cover pregnancy-related costs. A mother may be eligible for living expenses to help pay for items such as rent, utilities, transportation, food, maternity clothes, a cell phone, and more.

What Are Birth Mother Expenses?

Birth mother expenses are acquired by the mother who will give birth to your future child. These may include maternity related medical costs, temporary living expenses, counseling fees, attorney fees, travel costs acquired to and from the hospital, and more.

Most birth mothers will have some form of insurance to cover medical expenses during their pregnancy and after giving birth, However, if this is not the case, the adoptive parents will need to pay these expenses. Medical and hospital costs may start from the day the woman gets pregnant until the baby is delivered.

What Expenses Are Adoptive Parents Responsible For?

In Michigan, adoptive parents are responsible for the following pregnancy-related expenses:

• Medical or pharmaceutical expenses for the birth mother
• Medical or pharmaceutical expenses for the child related to either his or her birth or an illness
• Counseling for the birth parents
• Living expenses through pregnancy up until six weeks after the baby is born. These may include things like food, rent, utilities or maternity clothing
• Any traveling expenses necessary for adoption

Financial assistance for a birth mother’s temporary living expenses depends on where she resides. Living expenses are usually limited to housing, utilities, food, and maternity clothing and equipment. You may also be required to provide financial support during the birth mother’s recovery after delivery.

Why Are Birth Mothers Entitled to Living Expenses?

Living expenses allow the birth mother to subsidize her income and provide her with, in most cases, much needed financial assistance during her pregnancy. Many birth mothers work full-time jobs, which means when they must take time off to give birth, their finances suffer. Living expenses help a mother take care of her essential needs so she can focus on her child.