Random Inflation Note - Cost of Child Birth.
According to Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, depending upon various factors, the cost to bring a child into this world can range from about $7,000 to $18,000.
While cleaning out my grandfather's house, my mother found a receipt for her birth among old records.
The total cost in 1943 to birth my mother was $94.00.
I found an inflation calculator to help me rationalize how much money that was in 2006 US Dollars.
What cost $94.00 in 1943 would cost $1123.39 in 2006.
Apparently, from what my mother told me, a relative helped birth her, and he stated that during delivery, he was very concerned that they would lose my grandmother. Apparently, she bled very much, and the relative was not sure during the process that he could keep her from losing too much blood.
I attribute this comment to a vague idea that my mother's birth was not textbook. So, given complications, if she was born today, I'd estimate that it would run about $10,000.00.
So, what's with the extra $8,000 - $9,000?