Source: Huffington Post
According to the International Federation of Health Plans, the United States is the most expensive place on the planet to have and raise a child.
The average cost for giving birth to a child in the hospital in the US is more than $12,000 and for a C-section $16,000.
Moreover, the largest portion of the cost happens in the two days following the actual birth of the baby. This is because clinics encourage check-ups that are not always necessary.
These costs vary across the states, however. For example, in Alabama a C-section is $13,000 and in Alaska it can be up to $26,000.
Additionally, families in the US face obstacles in the workplace when seeking parental leave, which is not always paid. In addition to paying for the actual costs of raising a child — food, clothing, education, etc, the costs for delivering a baby are nearly unrealistic for many low-income and even middle class families.
Read Full Story: Huffington Post