childbirth

As politicians grapple with declining birth rates, the financial burden of giving birth in America — where privately insured families face out-of-pocket costs of nearly $3,000 on average — has captured widespread attention. Last month, when news broke that the Trump administration was considering $5,000 baby bonuses for new parents, comedian Taylor Tomlinson captured the national frustration: “That’s like spritzing a volcano with a water gun.” A recent viral TikTok showing one mother’s $44,000 hospital bill shocked viewers worldwide, underscoring the uniquely brutal pressures facing American families.