Yes, I think I was about $700 out of pocket 3 years ago.
But the financial cost is not the only cost. Epidurals do often require further intervention - in my case labour was slowed so DS went into distress which meant forceps which meant tear which meant episotomy which meant stitches and pain for weeks. Plus I blame my haemorrhoids on pushing with an epi and not being able to properly feel what was going on (and/or from pushing while lying down as the epi lowered my bp and I was unable to lift my head or sit up). I also now know that I would never have gone 8 more hours as they told me at the time they convinced me to have an epidural I didn't really want. Even with the delayed labour I was fully dilated within 2 hours. If I knew then what I know now, I would never have had the epidural. I have sinced birthed without one and wow, what an amazing difference. It was SOOO much better second time and I recovered immediately with no painful stitches or feeling like I'd had an op.
Sorry to go off topic, but to me, the increased risk of intervention and the results of that are the more important "cost". They hurt way more than the financial cost.
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