{"id":75461,"date":"2024-08-02T10:00:09","date_gmt":"2024-08-02T10:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/505a12c7f7532b078af9c40a285deb45"},"modified":"2024-08-02T10:00:09","modified_gmt":"2024-08-02T10:00:09","slug":"jd-vance-promotes-family-in-america-amid-birth-rate-drop-fueled-by-several-factors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/jd-vance-promotes-family-in-america-amid-birth-rate-drop-fueled-by-several-factors\/","title":{"rendered":"JD Vance promotes family in America amid birth rate drop, fueled by several factors"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"article-gating gated-overlay\" readability=\"24.690978886756\">\n<div class=\"article-gating-wrapper\" readability=\"28.376199616123\">\n<p>Join Fox News for access to this content<\/p>\n<p>Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account &#8211; free of charge.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-gating-legal tablet-desktop\" readability=\"21.43949044586\">By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News&#8217; <span class=\"waslinkname\">Terms of Use<\/span> and <span class=\"waslinkname\">Privacy Policy<\/span>, which includes our <span class=\"waslinkname\">Notice of Financial Incentive<\/span>. <\/div>\n<p><span>Please enter a valid email address.<\/span><\/p>\n<footer class=\"article-gating-footer\"><span class=\"waslinkname\">Having trouble? Click here.<\/span><\/footer>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"speakable\">As former President Donald Trump continues to brush off any criticisms of his running mate Ohio Sen. JD Vance&#8217;s resurfaced comments from 2021 that &#8220;childless cat ladies&#8221; destroyed American values \u2014 with Trump emphasizing that adults without children are just as good as parents and that Vance strongly values family in his own life given <span class=\"waslinkname\">his tumultuous upbringing<\/span> \u2014 Americans are having fewer and fewer children.<\/p>\n<p class=\"speakable\">Vance himself, the GOP&#8217;s vice presidential candidate, said his comments from three years ago were &#8220;radically&#8221; taken out of context by Democrats.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Describing himself as &#8220;pro-family,&#8221; he also told Fox News&#8217; <span class=\"waslinkname\">Trey Gowdy, host of &#8220;Sunday Night in America,&#8221;<\/span> that he firmly believes &#8220;there are a whole host of people who don&#8217;t have children for a whole host of reasons, and they certainly are great people who can participate fully in the life of this country.&#8221;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"waslinkname\"><strong>PSYCHOLOGISTS REVEAL 7 WAYS PARENTS CAN DRIVE HAPPINESS BY HELPING KIDS FIND THEIR PURPOSE<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>He said Democrats have become increasingly &#8220;anti-family&#8221; and &#8220;anti-parent&#8221; over the years as they cite climate change concerns as one reason not to have children.<\/p>\n<p>Whatever the reasons, in April, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the birth rate in America has dropped to a historic low, decreasing by 3% since 2022. The rate has been on a steady decline since 2014, except for a brief 1% increase from 2020 to 2021.<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/343\/192\/kids-split.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/686\/384\/kids-split.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/672\/378\/kids-split.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1344\/756\/kids-split.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/931\/523\/kids-split.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1862\/1046\/kids-split.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/720\/405\/kids-split.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1440\/810\/kids-split.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/jd-vance-promotes-family-in-america-amid-birth-rate-drop-fueled-by-several-factors.png\" alt=\"split image of a couple with no kids and a couple holding a child\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\" readability=\"7.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><span>The birth rate has dropped to a historic low, decreasing by 3% since 2022, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in April.<\/span> <span>(iStock)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>In recent years, the priorities of young Americans have been changing, including the <span class=\"waslinkname\">desire to have children<\/span>, the data suggests.<\/p>\n<p>Experts say this drop-off could be caused by many factors \u2014 including a heightened focus on career goals, the cost of raising children, a priority on personal liberty and <span class=\"waslinkname\">mental health<\/span>, the fear of an uncertain future and growing fertility concerns.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Career comes first?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Kyle Elliott, a career coach and job search expert based in Santa Barbara, California, told Fox News Digital about a lack of interest in having children among <span class=\"waslinkname\">working professionals<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I am seeing a huge increase in the focus of careers among Americans,&#8221; he said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"pull-quote\" readability=\"8\">\n<p class=\"quote-text\">&#8220;In the past, there were certain expectations in place \u2014 now, the path isn&#8217;t as predictable or expected.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p> <!----><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;They&#8217;re recognizing that it&#8217;s more challenging to balance work and life because their careers are taking up more time.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Many Americans are working 50 to 60 hours per week, according to Elliott.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Trying to balance that is a lot more difficult than it was 20, 10 or even five years ago,&#8221; he said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/343\/192\/iStock-2042565503.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/686\/384\/iStock-2042565503.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/672\/378\/iStock-2042565503.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1344\/756\/iStock-2042565503.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/931\/523\/iStock-2042565503.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1862\/1046\/iStock-2042565503.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/720\/405\/iStock-2042565503.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1440\/810\/iStock-2042565503.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/jd-vance-promotes-family-in-america-amid-birth-rate-drop-fueled-by-several-factors.jpg\" alt=\"business woman with phone and portfolio in office\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\" readability=\"7.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><span>Many Americans today are working 50 to 60 hours per week, which makes having children nearly impossible, one expert suggested.<\/span> <span>(iStock)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Individuals who work extended hours are more likely to meet their career goals and earn more money, he said \u2014 so many find it &#8220;helpful&#8221; to forgo parenting commitments.<\/p>\n<p>Company policies for parental leave and child care also come into play, Elliott said.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"waslinkname\"><strong>EGG-FREEZING IS \u2018EXPLODING\u2019 AMONG SOME AGE GROUPS \u2013 HERE&#8217;S WHAT WOMEN MUST KNOW<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>While some American businesses have improved accommodations for new parents, the U.S. is &#8220;still far behind compared to other countries,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p>When employees return from <span class=\"waslinkname\">maternity or paternity leave<\/span>, they\u2019re often still responsible for child care, Elliott noted, which can be &#8220;really difficult to balance.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/343\/192\/iStock-1144539387.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/686\/384\/iStock-1144539387.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/672\/378\/iStock-1144539387.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1344\/756\/iStock-1144539387.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/931\/523\/iStock-1144539387.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1862\/1046\/iStock-1144539387.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/720\/405\/iStock-1144539387.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1440\/810\/iStock-1144539387.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/jd-vance-promotes-family-in-america-amid-birth-rate-drop-fueled-by-several-factors-1.jpg\" alt=\"Woman sitting with son at table in kitchen\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\" readability=\"7\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"9\">\n<p><span>To recruit and retain employees, one expert suggested that companies should continue providing thoughtful accommodations for families.<\/span> <span>(iStock)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#8220;I think it would benefit both the employee and the employer if organizations provided more accommodations, whether that&#8217;s child care or additional leave or more flexibility, such as remote work or work from anywhere,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I think there&#8217;s a lot of opportunity to better support parents,&#8221; he said, expressing his professional opinion.<\/p>\n<h2>Cost of childrearing<\/h2>\n<p>The cost of having a child can be daunting for some young Americans, as <span class=\"waslinkname\">inflation remains high<\/span> in many U.S. states, the Labor Department has reported.<\/p>\n<p>A middle-income married couple with two children can expect to pay about $306,924 to raise a child born in 2023, according to data from Credit Karma.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"waslinkname\"><strong><u>PREGNANT WOMEN STRUGGLE TO FIND CARE IN \u2018MATERNITY DESERTS,\u2019 NEW STUDY FINDS<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>This estimate is based on a 2017 U.S. Department of Agriculture study.<\/p>\n<p>Cost factors include housing (about 30% of total expenses), food, child care and education, transportation, <span class=\"waslinkname\">health care<\/span>, clothing and other items.<\/p>\n<p>Day care alone could cost up to $17,000 per year in some states, according to 2023 data from the U.S. Department of Labor.<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/343\/192\/iStock-2049570531.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/686\/384\/iStock-2049570531.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/672\/378\/iStock-2049570531.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1344\/756\/iStock-2049570531.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/931\/523\/iStock-2049570531.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1862\/1046\/iStock-2049570531.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/720\/405\/iStock-2049570531.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1440\/810\/iStock-2049570531.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/jd-vance-promotes-family-in-america-amid-birth-rate-drop-fueled-by-several-factors-2.jpg\" alt=\"The cost of child care has become &quot;astronomical,&quot; one expert said.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\" readability=\"6.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><span>The cost of child care has become &#8220;astronomical,&#8221; one expert said.<\/span> <span>(iStock)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>There could also be the added cost of saving for the child\u2019s future, including college planning.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Michele Borba, a California-based educational psychologist and parenting expert, agreed that finances are a &#8220;huge factor&#8221; in terms of two working parents deciding to have a baby.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"waslinkname\"><strong><u>\u2018PANDEMIC SKIP,\u2019 A COVID MENTAL HEALTH PHENOMENON, COULD DELAY MAJOR MILESTONES, EXPERTS SAY<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The cost of child care is unbelievably astronomical, and it&#8217;s unaffordable for a lot of parents,&#8221; she told Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n<p>Years ago, &#8220;you had a <span class=\"waslinkname\">nuclear family<\/span>, or you had a mom who lived next door \u2026 and a lot of times, [people] don&#8217;t have that&#8221; now.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Changing culture and politics<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The American family unit has shifted from earlier generations, as many couples are choosing to get married at older ages and limit the number of kids they have, if any, experts say.<\/p>\n<p>Borba, author of &#8220;Thrivers: The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle and Others Shine,&#8221; emphasized an increased focus on <span class=\"waslinkname\">mental health<\/span> and the need for parents to be mentally strong to raise a child.<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/343\/192\/iStock-1649298939.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/686\/384\/iStock-1649298939.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/672\/378\/iStock-1649298939.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1344\/756\/iStock-1649298939.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/931\/523\/iStock-1649298939.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1862\/1046\/iStock-1649298939.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/720\/405\/iStock-1649298939.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1440\/810\/iStock-1649298939.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/jd-vance-promotes-family-in-america-amid-birth-rate-drop-fueled-by-several-factors-3.jpg\" alt=\"couple holds hands while hiking with children\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\" readability=\"7.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><span>&#8220;We&#8217;re seeing not only a halt in pregnancies, but a halt in larger families,&#8221; one psychologist said about today&#8217;s parenting situation.<\/span> <span>(iStock)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Many Americans do not have a secure support system to help raise a child, the psychologist noted, and single parenting is &#8220;even harder&#8221; for unmarried individuals.<\/p>\n<p>A desire for personal freedom can also play a role in a decision not to have children, she noted.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"waslinkname\"><strong>SOME MOMS ARE MICRODOSING ON MUSHROOMS, TOUTING THE BENEFITS \u2013 BUT RISKS EXIST, SAY DOCTORS<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Jonathan Alpert, a psychotherapist and author based in <span class=\"waslinkname\"><u>New York City<\/u><\/span>, said he believes politics has played a role in people&#8217;s decisions to have children or not.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Patients often cite their reasons as, &#8216;I don&#8217;t want to add to the <span class=\"waslinkname\">carbon footprint<\/span>&#8216; or &#8216;I don&#8217;t want to contribute to overpopulation,&#8217; while others feel great insecurity about the state of the world and say, \u2018The world is too dangerous of a place to raise a child,'&#8221; he told Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/343\/192\/mental_health_counseling.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/686\/384\/mental_health_counseling.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/672\/378\/mental_health_counseling.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/1344\/756\/mental_health_counseling.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/931\/523\/mental_health_counseling.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/1862\/1046\/mental_health_counseling.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/720\/405\/mental_health_counseling.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/1440\/810\/mental_health_counseling.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/jd-vance-promotes-family-in-america-amid-birth-rate-drop-fueled-by-several-factors-4.jpg\" alt=\"girl with professional\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\" readability=\"6.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><span>Parents are often more stressed than their own children, one psychologist noted.<\/span> <span>(iStock)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Among those &#8220;more moderate&#8221; politically, Alpert said, &#8220;they worry about what it would be like to raise a kid in the climate of pronouns, boys competing in girls&#8217; sports, and boys and girls sharing locker rooms.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Other people simply don&#8217;t feel the pressure to have kids as people once did,&nbsp;the psychologist noted. &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;In the past, there were certain expectations in place \u2014 go to school, meet someone, get married, have kids.&nbsp;Now, the path isn&#8217;t as predictable or expected.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Fear of the unknown<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Many adults are also burdened by feelings of <span class=\"waslinkname\">uncertainty about the future<\/span>, Borba said, which can result in a &#8220;doom and gloom&#8221; perspective when considering whether to bring a human being into the world.<\/p>\n<p>Some parents may ask themselves, &#8220;Is this the right kind of place to have a child?&#8221; or &#8220;Should I bring a human into this world when I don\u2019t feel secure myself?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"waslinkname\"><strong><u>SPIKE IN TEEN DEPRESSION ALIGNS WITH RISE OF SOCIAL MEDIA, NEW POLL SUGGESTS: \u2018IT\u2019S NOT GOING ANYWHERE\u2019<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Parenting &#8220;isn\u2019t as relaxed&#8221; as it used to be decades ago, when parents took more of a hands-off approach and there was less emphasis on accelerated development and hyper-safety, according to Borba.<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/343\/192\/iStock-1682624817.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/686\/384\/iStock-1682624817.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/672\/378\/iStock-1682624817.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1344\/756\/iStock-1682624817.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/931\/523\/iStock-1682624817.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1862\/1046\/iStock-1682624817.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/720\/405\/iStock-1682624817.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1440\/810\/iStock-1682624817.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/jd-vance-promotes-family-in-america-amid-birth-rate-drop-fueled-by-several-factors-5.jpg\" alt=\"A full shot of a father lying down on the sofa with his daughter\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\" readability=\"6.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><span>Parenting &#8220;isn\u2019t as relaxed&#8221; as it used to be decades ago, one expert said.<\/span> <span>(iStock)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Kids in previous generations had &#8220;a lot more free time, a lot more play,&#8221; Borba said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Those are things that aren\u2019t part of our kids\u2019 world right now, unfortunately. A lot of [prospective] parents are growing up in a fear-based world, and that&#8217;s impacting their decisions.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Fertility obstacles<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The chances of a woman experiencing fertility and <span class=\"waslinkname\">pregnancy problems<\/span> can be another deterrent to having children.<\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s according to Dr. Jillian LoPiano, a Miami-based OB-GYN and chief health officer at the reproductive telehealth platform Wisp, who told Fox News Digital that the health and cost implications of childbirth could cause couples to decide against becoming parents.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"waslinkname\"><strong>SOME TAMPON PRODUCTS FOUND TO CONTAIN TOXIC METALS IN FIRST-TIME STUDY<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>The U.S. is currently experiencing a <span class=\"waslinkname\">maternal mortality crisis<\/span>, LoPiano said.<\/p>\n<p>In 2021, the maternal death rate was 32 out of 100,000 births, which reportedly doubles and triples the current rates in other similarly resourced countries.<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/343\/192\/pregnant-woman-hospital.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/686\/384\/pregnant-woman-hospital.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/672\/378\/pregnant-woman-hospital.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/1344\/756\/pregnant-woman-hospital.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/931\/523\/pregnant-woman-hospital.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/1862\/1046\/pregnant-woman-hospital.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/720\/405\/pregnant-woman-hospital.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/1440\/810\/pregnant-woman-hospital.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/jd-vance-promotes-family-in-america-amid-birth-rate-drop-fueled-by-several-factors-6.jpg\" alt=\"Pregnant woman in hospital\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\" readability=\"7\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"9\">\n<p><span>The Caesarean delivery rate increased for the fourth year in a row, according to CDC data from 2023.<\/span> <span>(iStock)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>This could be due to the increase in <span class=\"waslinkname\">maternal age<\/span>, chronic health conditions and pregnancy-related health conditions that can appear at an &#8220;extreme age spectrum,&#8221; LoPiano said.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"waslinkname\"><strong><u>GRANDPARENTS MAY HAVE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON A MOM&#8217;S MENTAL HEALTH, STUDY FINDS<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Lack of access to adequate prenatal care, health care costs and restrictive reproductive <span class=\"waslinkname\">health care laws<\/span> all contribute to poor outcomes,&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"waslinkname\"><strong><u>CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Socioeconomic factors and other insecurities also play a role in the declining birth rate, LoPiano told Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>\u2018Should I have a baby?\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>For couples who are on the fence about having a child, Borba encouraged them to use their best judgment.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Nobody knows yourself better,&#8221; she said. &#8220;In the end, you know who you are and what you can give, so make the decision based on what&#8217;s best for your family and your child.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"waslinkname\"><strong><u>CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Borba suggested writing down the reasons in a journal and leaning on a trusted support system.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;If you want to stick to a decision, you need to be firm and understand your \u2018why,\u2019 which means you need to do a little reflective measure,&#8221; she advised.<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/343\/192\/iStock-1519373399.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/686\/384\/iStock-1519373399.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/672\/378\/iStock-1519373399.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1344\/756\/iStock-1519373399.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/931\/523\/iStock-1519373399.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1862\/1046\/iStock-1519373399.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/720\/405\/iStock-1519373399.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1440\/810\/iStock-1519373399.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/jd-vance-promotes-family-in-america-amid-birth-rate-drop-fueled-by-several-factors-7.jpg\" alt=\"A new Mother sits up in her hospital bed shortly after delivery as she holds her newborn out in front of her\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\" readability=\"8\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"11\">\n<p><span>&#8220;In the end, you know who you are and what you can give, so make the decision based on what&#8217;s best for your family and your child,&#8221; one psychologist said.<\/span> <span>(iStock)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Borba also emphasized the importance of being on the same page as your partner when it comes to having children.<\/p>\n<p>If mental health is the main concern, she suggested seeking help <span class=\"waslinkname\">from a provider<\/span> who can help clarify the decision.<\/p>\n<h2>Long-term effects<\/h2>\n<p>Overall, Alpert said, it is natural for birth rates to &#8220;ebb and flow&#8221; over time.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s probably no reason to be alarmed [by today&#8217;s declining birth rates],&#8221; he told Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"pull-quote\" readability=\"7\">\n<p class=\"quote-text\">&#8220;A lot of [prospective] parents are growing up in a fear-based world, and that&#8217;s impacting their decisions.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p> <!----><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;That said, if there&#8217;s a significant decline, the proportion of the <span class=\"waslinkname\">elderly population<\/span> would increase relative to births, which could strain the health care system as more resources are put into medical care for the aging population.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"waslinkname\"><i><strong><u>For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews\/health<\/u><\/strong><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<p>There would also be fewer people entering the workforce and less spending, Alpert added \u2014 resulting in slower economic growth and potentially adversely affecting the <span class=\"waslinkname\">Social Security system<\/span>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><i>FOX Business\u2019 Megan Henney contributed to this report.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Join Fox News for access to this content Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account &#8211; free of charge. By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News&#8217; Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive. Please enter a valid &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":75462,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-75461","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health","has-thumb","has-featured"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75461"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=75461"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75461\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/75462"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=75461"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=75461"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=75461"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}