Budgeting for Baby
Welcoming a new life into your family is a significant change that comes with many financial considerations. To help you prepare, I’ve broken down potential expenses into categories to help you think about how your budget might change over the first four trimesters, covering pregnancy through the early months of postpartum, plus preconception.
Fertility Supplies and Treatments
The journey to pregnancy often starts with fertility planning. Costs in this category can include ovulation predictor kits, fertility medications, pregnancy tests, procedures, and treatments. This category is tough to estimate, because we can’t predict the future or how the preconception journey is going to unfold. However, if you are considering some of the more expensive fertility treatment options, it’s worth looking into potential costs and working them into your budget.
🔗 How Much Does IVF Cost? | Forbes
Health Insurance
When budgeting for this category, consider the additional costs associated with obtaining health insurance for yourself or changing your plan. If you already have insurance, what will it cost to add your baby once they’re born?
If you don’t have insurance, make sure to check out this link:
🔗 Health coverage if you’re pregnant, plan to get pregnant, or recently gave birth | Healthcare.gov
Be aware that you can only sign up for health insurance during open enrollment periods or as a result of major life changes (like having a baby). You can apply for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) at any time, though.
Once your baby arrives, make sure to add them to your health insurance plan. This must be done within a specific time frame. Check with your health insurance provider to find out what that is and set a reminder for yourself.
Prenatal Care
Regular prenatal visits are crucial for monitoring the health of both you and your baby. Check into what expenses are not covered by your health insurance plan. Do you have a co-pay for each visit, or do you make one payment that covers your entire pregnancy? Are there any screening or diagnostic tests that aren’t covered by insurance?
This category can also include any new medications, prenatal vitamins, and postpartum follow-up.
Education
Whether you choose online or in-person classes, I highly recommend educating yourself for birth and beyond. Costs vary depending on which options you choose. Here are some ideas for topics to explore:
Pregnancy and prenatal care
Birth prep
Postpartum prep
Breastfeeding/ chest feeding
Newborn care
Infant CPR
New Clothing
As your body changes throughout pregnancy, you will need to acquire some new clothing items. Depending on your budget and your preferences, you can buy new or used. It may also be possible to borrow some from a friend or family member or make adjustments to your existing wardrobe.
I have an entire blog post on this topic, which you can check out at the link below:
🧭 Clothing to Fit Your Budget and Your Bump
Prenatal Exercise Program
Staying active in pregnancy is beneficial for overall health, and childbirth is hard work that requires strength and stamina. It may be possible to continue whatever form of exercise you’re already doing in pregnancy. However, there are forms of exercise that aren’t recommended while you’re expecting, or you may need to make some modifications.
There are also exercise programs that are specifically designed for pregnancy. Strong Body Strong Mama and Body Ready Method® are two that I highly recommend.
Strong Body Strong Mama
This is the program I used during my third pregnancy, and I’m still working with Julie now at three years postpartum.
Body Ready Method®
I am a Certified BRM® Pro and highly recommend their programs.
The link above is an affiliate link, so I do receive a portion of any sales at no additional cost to you. I also have a discount code available. Send me an email, if you need it!
You can read more on this topic at the link below:
Celebrations
Major life events, like having a baby, can be a reason to celebrate! Here are some ideas for how you could choose to do this, which can definitely have associated costs:
Gender reveal parties
Baby shower costs if you are covering any
Baby moon (getaway trip before your baby arrives)
Birth announcement cards
Pregnancy photos
Birth photography/ videography
Newborn photos
Doula Services
Doulas are birth workers but are not medical professionals. Birth is not necessarily or strictly considered a medical event. The type of support provided by a doula is very personalized to your preferences and how your birth is unfolding. Here are some ways you can be supported in labor by a birth worker:
Non-medical pain management techniques
Ideas for helpful labor positions
Emotional support
Continuous support
Protecting the birth environment
Advocacy
Support for your partner
Doula support during labor has been shown to improve outcomes. You can read more at the link below:
🔗 Evidence on: Doulas | Evidence Based Birth
There are also doulas that provide postpartum support. This can look like:
Help with infant feeding
Preparing meals
Cleaning and tidying up
Help with older children
Help with infant sleep
Support for your need to rest or sleep
Support for your need to recover
Help with newborn care
Costs for doula services vary widely, depending on experience level, services provided, and your local area. You can sometimes find support for a lower cost by searching out new doulas or doulas in training. You can also look into whether or not doulas services are covered by your insurance.
Other Professional Services
You might want to leave room in your budget for other professional services. This can include:
Pelvic floor physical therapy
Chiropractic care
Night nurse
Acupuncture
Lactation services
Out-of-Pocket Costs for Birth
Even with insurance, there can be substantial out-of-pocket costs associated with childbirth. I highly recommend looking into potential costs in advance. What is your deductible? Is your birth location and care provider considered in-network? What expenses are not covered by insurance?
If you’re birthing at a birth center or at home, the total cost is often much lower than birthing at a hospital. However, your out-of-pocket costs may be higher if not covered by insurance.
This category can also include home birth supplies, if birthing at home, and any birth tools you need (that aren’t provided at your birth location or by your doula).
Baby Gear and Nursery
The amount of gear available for babies is staggering, though you truly don’t need it all. There are some basics, though, that you’ll need to have. Here are some ideas for what you might need:
Safe sleeping area
Stroller
Baby wearing wrap
Car seat
Furniture for nursery
If you’re having a baby shower, you can register for some of these items to help reduce your expenses. You can also find some of these items used. Just be aware that safety standards change over time and baby items can be recalled. You can check for recalls at the link below:
Also, car seats are one items that general recommendations state to avoid getting used, especially if you don’t know or trust the source. You don’t want to use a car seat that is expired, has been damaged, or has been in an accident.
🔗 Car Seats and Booster Seats | NHTSA
Baby Care Supplies
Baby care supplies are typically ongoing expenses that start from birth and adjust over time. Here are some examples:
Diapers
Wipes
Creams
Formula
Donor milk
Clothing
Infant feeding supplies (bottles, pump, milk storage bags, etc.)
Consider stocking up in advance and budgeting for these recurring costs. Buying in bulk or using subscription services can also help manage expenses. These are also items you could register for, if you’re having a baby shower.
Pediatric Care
After your baby is born, regular pediatric visits for check-ups and vaccinations are crucial. These visits can be frequent in the first year, so it's important to include these medical expenses in your budget, alongside any known or unforeseen health issues.
Child Care
you plan to return to work shortly after birth or need part-time help, child care is a significant expense. This could range from day care centers to hiring a nanny. Research options early to find a solution that fits your budget and meets your family’s needs. It’s also possible you may need to put down a deposit in early pregnancy to secure a spot with a provider or facility.
Other
This category can include miscellaneous expenses that don’t fit into the other categories but are still part of the parenting journey. Items like emergency funds, additional household help, or unforeseen purchases should be considered as part of your overall budget plan.
Final Thoughts
There are significant costs associated with having a baby. It can be really helpful to think about what your expenses might look like throughout the first four trimesters as a starting point. As part of your budgeting process, think about how you could reduce some of these expenses, if you need to. Baby showers, buying used, borrowing items, or obtaining hand-me-down items are some options. If you are able to reduce expenses with some money left over, consider saving for the unexpected or investing in additional supportive services.
I have a budget planner spreadsheet tool included as a bonus in my Proactive Pregnancy: Early Essentials for Expectant Parents toolkit. It includes the categories listed in this post, as well as a visual pie chart that adjusts as you add or change expenses. Click the link below to check out the toolkit.