The trend of sharing old hospital bills online reveals just how different the financial side of childbirth used to be. In 1961, for example, a woman’s bill for a c-section delivery totaled $80.75 for nine days in the hospital, which included a $4.60 charge for a room with a phone. Before insurance, the bill was $418.85, which would be the equivalent of about $3,552 today. For comparison, a brand-new car in 1961 cost around $2,850, making childbirth back then a relatively affordable experience.

Another bill from 1947 totaled $54 for a four-day hospital stay, with no health insurance involved. That’s about $635 today, roughly the same price as a men’s Bulova watch in 1947. Imagine paying less for childbirth than you would for a luxury watch today!

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By 1968, prices had crept up, but they were still far below modern levels. A five-day hospital stay cost $406.80, which would be around $3,015 in today’s dollars. To put it into perspective, a new refrigerator in 1968 cost just $200.