New Mom's Lesson About Giving Birth in US Stuns: 'Too European for This'

Newsweek

4 days ago

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A mother of newborn twins has sparked a viral conversation after sharing her theory on why fertility rates in the United States are reaching historic lows.
Emily Fish, 36, from Ohio, posted a TikTok video (@_e_fish_) on July 17 reflecting on her recent birth experience and the bills that followed. Her clip, which has racked up over 831,000 views, offers a personal lens on the broader national trend of declining childbirth.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that the general fertility rate in the U.S. declined by 3 percent in 2023, hitting an all-time low.
Fish says that the reason people are having fewer children might not lie in personal lifestyle choices, but in something more tangible.
"Maybe it's because the cost of having a baby in America is over six figures, and that's just to get through the hospital and back home," Fish said in the video.
Fish can be speaking to the camera while holding one of her babies.
Fish can be speaking to the camera while holding one of her babies.
TikTok/@_e_fish_
'They've Already Been Billed More Than My Student Loans'
The financial platform Credit Karma says that raising a child is now more expensive than ever. A 2017 study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated the cost of raising one child to age 17 at $233,610 for a middle-income family. Adjusted for inflation, that figure jumps to $318,949 for a baby born in February 2025.
Fish gave birth to twin daughters five weeks ago via a scheduled C-section at 37 weeks, after a pregnancy that required intensive monitoring due to fetal growth concerns. Starting at 22 weeks, she had twice-weekly appointments, leading up to her delivery and four-day hospital stay.
Fish's insurance was billed a total of $120,527.51, though she personally paid $2,788.70 out of pocket. "I am very fortunate; I have great insurance, and I have a low deductible," she said.
Each of Fish's newborns was also billed separately—Baby A at $15,124.55, and Baby B at $14,872.55.
"So I guess there was some sort of sibling discount," Fish said. "They're not even able to blink yet, and they've already been billed more than the total cost of my student loans," she added.
One of the most-surprising charges came when she experienced a headache at seven months pregnant. Although Fish's blood pressure was only slightly elevated, she said the hospital tested for preeclampsia, monitored the babies' heart rates, gave her two extra-strength Tylenol pills, and performed blood work. The bill? $9,115.
Delivery and postpartum care alone came to $65,665.50.
"I'm very grateful for the experience that I had and great insurance, but I know, for a lot of people that live in America, that is simply not possible," Fish said. "I probably would have had to file bankruptcy," she added.
Americans Rethink Parenthood
Indeed, money is on many Americans' minds when considering starting a family. A Pew Research Center survey of 770 adults aged 18 to 49 found that not having children made it easier to afford the things they want, pursue hobbies, save for the future, and even advance in their careers or maintain a social life.
The survey also found that the most-common reason for not having children was simply not wanting them. Sixty-four percent of women under 50 cited that reason, compared to 50 percent of men.
TikTok Reacts
So far, the video has garnered over 180,000 likes and more than 6,100 comments—many from shocked viewers outside the United States who expressed disbelief at the high costs.
"In the UK you pay for parking and that's it," said one user.
"That's wild. So having children is only for the rich in the U. S.?" asked another.
"The world is so over populated too like. it's O.K. if some people don't want kids," said a third commenter. Fish replied, "I agree—people can choose without judgment. But raising a family should be financially accessible for those who want that life."
One comment read: "I'm too European for this."
Newsweek is waiting for @_e_fish_ to provide a comment.