Having a baby may indeed be "a blessed event," as Lucy and Ricky once put it. However, between health insurance and unexpected medical fees and other associated costs, it can be an extremely stressful time as well. According to a five-year study conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan Health Von Voigtlander Women's Hospital, nearly one-quarter of pregnant and recently pregnant women said they were unable to afford necessary health care, and three-fifths reported concern about paying medical bills. Additionally, more than half of the women surveyed expressed general financial anxiety around monthly bills and housing costs. A recent survey from Quote Wizard by Lending Tree pegs the average nationwide cost for childbirth at $11,687, with child care not far behind at $10,075. Throw in the costs of health insurance at $5,227, and the numbers are daunting enough. Pregnancy website The Bump, however, says delivery costs and prenatal care can sometimes add up to more than $250,000. Tests like chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis can all increase the bill, even with insurance coverage. Geography plays a big role in those costs. Quote Wizard took a look at the average cost of health insurance, child care, and both vaginal and Cesarean deliveries for people with and without insurance in order to find how much it costs in each state to have a baby. Even though some states may be less costly than others, the price tag for childbirth may still be hefty enough to discourage potential parents. "You look at it, anecdotally, the cost of other countries and the United States, even in the least expensive states, is paying significantly more," said Nick VinZant, one of the co-authors of QuoteWizard's study. "This is with health insurance, for the most part; if you don't have health insurance, you could be paying three times more. I certainly think that we have reached the point where people are having to make a choice not to have children, because they can't afford it." See our slideshow above for the most (and least) expensive states in the U.S. for childbirth, and click here for the full report.

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Richard Binder

Richard Binder, based in New York, is part of the social media team at ALM. He is also a 2014 recipient of the ASPBE Award for Excellence in the Humorous/Fun Department.