Discovering you’re pregnant brings a whole host of emotions to the surface. If you’re anything like me (and no I am not pregnant), the question “How will we afford this?” is lurking somewhere in your brain. Since again, I am not pregnant, I asked Lady Joanna of Keeping Feet, one of my favorite Loyal Royal Readers to give us some advice on how to save big bucks with a baby on board. This series will have three parts, just like a healthy pregnancy. So stay tuned Wednesday and Thursday for more money saving tips.
A positive pregnancy test. All of a sudden, I went from being just me, to being a vessel for another growing person. Four weeks pregnant! Just like that! Now what? As I’ve guest posted on The Queen’s blog before, we’re debt free and intend to stay that way. How does a new family member factor into the picture?
My first concern was the first few months. So much to think about! These months, for me, were about staying healthy and getting through.
- I started being intentional about drinking 64+ oz of water a day. This didn’t involve buying cases of bottled water, which, if bought individually, would cost almost $5 a day! Instead, I got a reusable 32oz water bottle with a straw for about the price of two bottled waters, and fill it up at least twice a day. Now I drink water like it’s my job. And, in a way, it is- Baby needs me to stay hydrated!
- Another immediate health concern was finding a prenatal vitamin. There are all sorts of vitamins out there, at all sorts of price points- from 5 cents/pill to 25 cents/pill or more. I like “free” best, though! In central Indiana, Meijer and Marsh supermarkets both give free prenatal vitamins to moms with a prescription from their doctor. I just took the list of participating vitamins to my doctor, and she picked one and prescribed it. So easy, and free!
- Like most pregnant moms, I was exhausted during the first 3 months of my pregnancy, and nothing sounded good to eat. This was a recipe for never-cooking-dinner, and made eating out to feed my family look very tempting. Typically, I’m all about cooking from scratch and trying to recipes, but during these months I leaned heavily on easy, quick recipes and even (gasp!) convenience foods. Eating at home is almost guaranteed to be less expensive and better for you than eating out, even if the meal isn’t “from scratch”.
- As the trimester wore on, what I was wearing started getting tighter. I didn’t exactly have a “belly”, but my pants weren’t exactly buttoning, either. The Bella Band
made wearing pants much, much more comfortable, and let me put off buying a new wardrobe by extending the time many of my non-maternity pants still fit.
- My primary doctor doesn’t do maternity care, so I was on the hunt for a new care provider early in pregnancy. Finding a care provider that is in-network for my insurance is a priority to save out-of-pocket costs, but I also wanted to take into consideration my birth experience- knowing that less complications and unnecessary interventions throughout pregnancy and birth would result in a healthier (and less-costly!) baby. I found a midwife and birth center who I trust, and (assuming all goes well) who will cost less than half what a typical hospital birth costs.
Your considerations during your first trimester may be different. I didn’t have any morning sickness, and we decided to hold off on Baby Purchases until later. For me, it was all about setting a healthy foundation for the next 9 months – and save money doing it!
Thanks for the great tips Lady Joanna! We’re looking forward to reading more tomorrow. Do you have a frugal pregnancy tip to share? Leave it in the comments.
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