Old Hospital Bills Show Just How Cheap Having a Baby Used to Be

Stumbling upon old documents like grocery lists, army papers, or family scrapbooks can offer a fascinating glimpse into what life used to be like for previous generations. Recently, a new trend on social media has sparked interest as people share their parents’ and grandparents’ hospital bills from when they were born. The most eye-popping part? Just how inexpensive having a baby used to be.

In today’s world, the cost of childbirth can be staggering. Hospital bills can total thousands of dollars, often with hidden fees that are nearly impossible to predict. One infamous example is a Utah couple in 2016 who were charged $40 just to hold their newborn son after a c-section delivery.

@krazysarai in case you were wondering how much it costs to have a baby💀😅 #birth #baby #hospital #hospitalbill #pregnancy #fyp #momtok ♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys – Kevin MacLeod & Kevin The Monkey

Contrast that with the past, and the difference is shocking. Old hospital bills from the 1950s and ‘60s show much simpler, cheaper charges. For example, one bill from the 1950s totaled only $10.75 after insurance for multiple days in the hospital—complete with oxygen and an incubator. Adjusted for inflation, that would be just over $100 in today’s money.

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