The United States saw the lowest birthrate since 1979 in 2023, the year I had my fourth child. I call him my “spite” baby. We already had three, and my husband was pushing for a fourth. I thought I was done — until a doctor at UCLA dramatically suggested I get a hysterectomy due to a cyst she worried was cancerous.

When I pushed back and said I thought removing my uterus was a little extreme, her response was, “Well, I see on your chart here you already have three kids. It’s not like you’d want any more.” 

Four months after my cyst removal was cleared and I was given the “cancer-free” go-ahead, we got pregnant with our fourth. I was a “geriatric pregnancy” and totally fine to birth naturally at home; the cost was covered by our Christian health share plan, an option not covered by many mainstream insurance companies. The average out-of-pocket cost for a natural vaginal birth in an American hospital is over $2,000.

Not every family can support four children, or even the replacement rate of 2.1. President Donald Trump wants to change that.

The Trump administration is considering a $5,000........

© Washington Examiner