The husband of a new mum refuses to pay for half of the hospital bill because she got an epidural

A new mum was left outraged after her husband of seven years refused to pay for half of the hospital bills for the birth of their baby.

The dad, Carl*, said he would not pay any of the $8,000 bill because Rachel*, ‘jacked it up’ by getting an epidural and other ‘extras’.

The 32-year-old mum says she is considering ‘ending her marriage’ over the reaction – which hundreds agree she should do.

Rachel said the couple had been living in a ‘newborn bubble of bliss’ until the hospital bill came and interrupted it.

She explained that her and Carl both work and have always ‘split everything 50/50’, so she did not expect his reaction. 

‘Throughout my pregnancy, I planned to go for an unmedicated natural birth with as little intervention as possible,’ she explained.

However, after 24 hours of labour she ‘caved’ and got the epidural, something Carl encouraged at the time.

When the bill arrived, Carl hit the roof and demanded Rachel pay for it using her personal savings, as he shouldn’t be expected to pay for her ‘extra requests’.

‘You’re the one that couldn’t hold out for a few more hours and jacked up the bill with all your meds and an extra nights stay,’ he said.

The ‘luxuries’ that were on the bill included an epidural, lactation consultant, the nursery fee, extra stay overnight, post-partum supplies, hospital food and blood tests.

Carl said he would not pay any of the $8,000 bill because Rachel, ‘jacked up the bill’ by getting an epidural and other ‘extras’ (stock image)

Rachel ‘flipped out’ at him, but he refused to budge and called her a ‘princess’ for demanding so many ‘extra add-ons’ in the hospital.

Rachel gave in and paid the bill but says she now feels ‘disrespected’ and didn’t expect this treatment so soon after her 36-hour labour and the birth of their child.

‘This is by far the biggest issue so far in our 14-year relationship and I’m so lost on where to go from here,’ she said.

She can’t decide if she ‘has the right’ to feel how she does, or if the hormones are impacting her emotions.

Hundreds of people advised her that she has done nothing wrong, and said Carl owes her ‘far more’ than $8000.

Several pointed out that Rachel will have a loss of earnings due to maternity leave for the foreseeable future, and just spent the last nine months carrying Carl’s child, something he should pay for if wants to be ‘equal’.

‘Even at minimum wage 24 hour a day, 40 weeks….. he’s looking at just shy of $50,000, $25,000 if they split it. $4,000 would have been a bargain!’ one woman said.

‘I’d be absolutely DONE if my husband pulled this shit. His kid too, his cost too,’ another said.

‘Holy sh*t. Throw the whole man out,’ another advised.

* Names have been changed