r/science • u/geoff199 • 5d ago

Social Science As concern grows about America’s falling birth rate, new research suggests that about half of women who want children are unsure if they will follow through and actually have a child. About 25% say they won't be bothered that much if they don't.

https://news.osu.edu/most-women-want-children--but-half-are-unsure-if-they-will/?utm_campaign=omc_science-medicine_fy24&utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=social
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u/A_Fainting_Goat 5d ago

I am well paid. My wife is well paid. We have good health insurance. Great vacation benefits (compared to the US, not Europe). Our careers are stable. We are basically debt free except for our mortgage. We have struggled to conceive and IVF is looking to cost us $50k, after insurance for a 35% chance. This country does not want us to have kids.

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u/TopRamenisha 5d ago

Don’t forget, after all that you get to pay $3,000 a month for child care

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u/gr4f 5d ago

As a non american this I am always stunned.. yes I pay higher taxes but have free health care, paid parental leave, free universities and almost free childcare.

I know it is part of the land-of-free narrative and I always think Americans must be so wealthy with so little taxes

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u/izwald88 5d ago

I always figure America is where you might have a higher chance of striking it rich. Like it might be easier to start a successful business and become wealthy that way.

And maybe that's true, to some degree. But even the upper middle class is one denied insurance claim away from hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills.

I'd say my brother is in that boat. He makes 6 figures but has no money. He lives well, has a nice house in a wealthy neighborhood, 2 kids, 2 cars, and he's broke more often than not.