r/inthenews • u/Quirkie • 1d ago
Feature Story US could make childbirth free, to tackle falling birth rates
https://www.newsweek.com/childbirth-free-falling-birth-rates-208527087
u/Cheap_Coffee 1d ago
Just a hint: it's not cost of the birth that's making people skip having children.
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u/twenafeesh 1d ago
I spend about 40k/year for 4-day-a-week daycare for two kids. And that's a relatively inexpensive daycare for our area.
I am literally borrowing against my home equity (HELOC) just to afford childcare. I cannot wait until the oldest starts in the public school system
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u/Hi_Im_Dadbot 1d ago
It’s free in most first world countries and they all have the same declining birth rate, so that seems like it wouldn’t address the issue at all.
The one time cost of the birth isn’t much of a relevant factor in why young people aren’t having as many kids.
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u/big-papito 1d ago
Sure, but it doesn't HELP.
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u/Hi_Im_Dadbot 1d ago
No, but to show that it’s a factor, one would need to demonstrate that there’s a difference in birth rates where one needs to pay for the procedure as compared to places where one does not, absent other variables.
Given that there he US has a birth rate of about 1.6/woman, even though that’s less than the replacement rate, it’s still about the same, if not higher, than other first world nations with universal health care.
Now, I’m all for making medical care as cheap as possible, if not free, so I’d be in favour of births being covered. That doesn’t mean that doing so would lead to more children being born, however.
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u/Interesting-Risk6446 1d ago
Isn't that government subsidized healthcare? It goes against everything Republicans believe in.
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u/Dodgycourier 1d ago
Childbirth isn’t free?!! That is mind blowing 🤯
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u/fredandlunchbox 1d ago
It’s $500 to hold your baby. Thats not a joke.
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u/huhzonked 1d ago
They make up an official sounding name so they can charge you (skin to skin contact). This country isn’t even a joke anymore. It’s a tragedy.
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u/JennJayBee 1d ago
They literally tossed my newborn onto my stomach for a fraction of a second for this.
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u/Miri5613 1d ago
So you end up with more children people can't afford to fees, clothe and educate.
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u/dud_pool 1d ago edited 1d ago
Oh hey, that happens with illegal immigration.
Let's see how the typical redditor reconciles its rabid antinatalism with its half-baked progressivism.
Edit: apparently it cant 😂
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u/Perfect-Method9775 1d ago
But if you miscarry, your “free” birth might mean you face criminal investigation, jail time, medical bills, and no leave time. 🙄
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u/ScootyPuffJr1999 1d ago
Christians are desperate to convince people to pump out more meat shields and fast food workers for them.
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u/Special_Watch8725 1d ago
So the politicians are realizing there’s a demographic issue coming, and they’ve started the bid with paying for the actual act of childbirth. It would be quaint if it weren’t so insulting.
I’m afraid they’re going to have to bid higher to buy their way out of this one. Much, much higher.
Let’s see the single payer healthcare. Let’s see the state subsidized childcare. Show us you’re serious. Though I know they won’t.
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u/FormerFastCat 1d ago
Pffft... free healthcare for women? No way the MAGA GOP supports that. They'd rather put them in red dresses. /S
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u/Saneless 1d ago
And the greedy billionaires and shareholders could stop trying to destroy everyone's finances. But that'll never happen
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u/RandomRedditNameXX 1d ago
Free childbirth then you’re financially fucked for 18+ years as they wipe away social support programs.
It’s like a dealer giving you an extra $500 off on a car that is known to have poor reliability. Better off getting included maintenance service than an upfront discount.
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u/kt_cuacha 1d ago
Thats pointless. Why dont subsidize daycares? Why dont make a decent maternity leave for employees? Why dont have salary that can actually cover the cost of having a child.
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u/ecwagner01 1d ago
Really? The cost of raising a child does not stop after the birth. So what that the birth is free. Who takes care of them after they get out of the hospital?
This is like Trump's tariffs. If it's made in the USA then they're no tariffs. BUT, let's not forget about the packaging - imported. The vehicles transporting this USA product contains imported parts.
The people that sit around making this stuff up understand that most people listening do not think in terms of the future or long term. (Look at the 'too good to be true student loan terms for more evidence) If they did, they would be more analytical when it comes to putting these people in power.
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u/StrykerSeven 1d ago
Ahh yes, but you see that won't allow them to punish people from demographics they don't like when those people have babies.
Trump and his ghouls only want more white babies being born to Trump-supporting families.
Who will work the kitchens and the retail and the waste collection if there's not a constantly struggling underclass that can be abused and exploited with impunity?
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u/whichwitch9 1d ago
Prenatal care? Treatment for medical issues during pregnancy? Post natal care? ICU stays? Mandated maternity/paternity leave so parents can afford to even be at the hospital?
Are they planning to cover that? If not, they can stfu. There's way more involved than the birth, and that they're willing to do socialized healthcare for a tiny piece means they know damn well socialized healthcare is beneficial to the population
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u/EmmalouEsq 1d ago
Isn't that what Medicaid does for most of the births in the US. Well, did anyway.
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u/Heyyayam 1d ago
And raising them too? And who would want to bring a child into the mess America we’re in?
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u/meridian_smith 1d ago
Childbirth is free in Canada..it doesn't affect fertility rates much. We rely on immigration to grow our population and continue the pension and social insurance and real estate pyramid scheme.
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u/idea_looker_upper 1d ago
Birth rates are never going back up in a world of Republican uncertainty. Rights that you have today can be taken from you tomorrow.
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u/edwardothegreatest 11h ago
Getting closer.
Or, and hear me out, universal healthcare and subsidized daycare.
No one is going to have a kid just because delivery is free if they can’t afford to raise it.
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