WASHINGTON — Childbirth can cost thousands of dollars, with certain conditions also posing extra costs for parents-to-be who have private health insurance. New legislation proposed by Virginia’s Capitol Hill lawmakers and their colleagues could prevent cost-sharing for prenatal, childbirth, neonatal, perinatal and postpartum care, keeping families from being saddled with big bills after birth.

U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond, remembers the stress and fear of dealing with placenta previa , a life-threatening maternal condition, when carrying her second child, Samantha. Her placenta wasn’t in the right position, placing her and her fetus at risk and spurring a cesarean section birth and neonatal intensive care unit stay for the baby once it was born. She also remembers the extra

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