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Budgeting for your pregnancy and your baby will help you manage the cost and stress of becoming a parent. When you know what everything costs, you can plan for what you need.

I believe in transparency about the cost of pregnancy, birth and postpartum – but the United States’ healthcare system doesn’t feel the same way. It should be okay to ask “How much is this going to cost?” instead of waiting for a bill to tell you how much you need to pay.

This post is to help women and families during pregnancy to come up with their own plan and budget. It’s meant to be a guide and to help you think about all the costs – from pregnancy tests to squatty potty to heating pads to doulas to day care.

Do not be overwhelmed by the list – pregnancy is a 10 month event; there is plenty of time to start planning and saving. Even if you are already 6 months pregnant or your baby is due next week, this list will help you prepare.

Lastly, I hear all the time that children are expensive and I believe that’s true, but it’s not a reason to not have children if you feel called to have a family. There are a lot of things in our lives that we can go without and still be grateful and fulfilled. I believe children are a true gift from God and that He has entrusted us to care for the children he blesses us with. I pray God blesses you and your family in whatever stage of preconception, conceiving, birth or parenting you are in, and that this post and tool serve you.

Let’s dive into 3 steps to budget for your baby!

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases (I get commissions for purchases made through links on this page). Those monies go straight to the mission and vision of A Midwife Nation – in other words, your pregnancy and postpartum purchases are helping to make more midwives in the USA ❤️.

The links are offered on this page are the items that I used during my own four pregnancies and births and recommend to my patients during regular pregnancy visits!

Use this list as a guide while planning your own care, budget or registry. 🌟

Step 1: Learn about the costs for pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and baby care.

Read through each planning stage from before pregnancy to after birth to understand the expected costs during pregnancy, birth and postpartum. Don’t miss the list about the items women regret buying!
What costs apply do you need to plan for?
Are you going to pay cash or use insurance, or both? Do you need to call your provider/hospital to get an estimate of the total expected costs you will have to pay?

Before Pregnancy

Prenatal vitamins ($6-20/bottle depending on brand)
- Your vitamin should have 400 mcg (micrograms) of folic acid and 18mg (milligrams) of iron; *prenatal gummies do not have iron*
Pregnancy tests ($2-10)
- All pregnancy tests test for the same level of hormone called hcg; one OTC (over-the-counter test) is not better than others; buy the cheapest test or a pack of tests so you don’t have to buy a test every month.

Preconception visit (may be covered by your insurance and only require a copay; otherwise, about $200 out-of-pocket)
In July 2022, the Kaiser Family Foundation reported that for the most common insurance plans, women paid $2,854 out-of-pocket for their pregnancy, birth and postpartum care. Here’s the breakdown…
- Vaginal births cost $14,768 with an average of $2,655 out-of-pocket cost.
- Cesarean births cost $26,280 with an average of $3,214 out-of-pocket cost.
Start an emergency fund for your pregnancy; unexpected healthcare or travel costs will come up; if you have a little money set aside, it will reduce some of the stress burden on you and your pregnancy. If you don’t end up using the money, you can use it for postpartum needs, daycare costs or to start a college fund for your baby.
- Learn more about emergency funds here: A Guide to Your Emergency Fund.
Start saving for pregnancy or birth costs that are important to you such as birth center or home birth care (from $2,500-$10,000), doula care ($800-$2,000) and lactation support ($300/visit).
Call your insurance provider and ask these questions:
- Do I need a referral from primary care or a pre-authorization for pregnancy care?
- What’s my deductible?
- What is my expected co-pay for pregnancy clinic visits?
- What is not covered?
- What prenatal tests and ultrasounds are covered?
- What hospitals/birth centers/home birth providers are in my network?
- *Bonus tip: If you talk to someone who doesn’t seem to know what they are talking about at your insurance company, hang up and call again. You’ll get another person on the line and have a chance at getting better answers to your questions.

For Your First Trimester

Routine Costs at Every Visit

Insurance co-pays for your clinic visits ($25-40/visit)
Payment plans/cash for birth center or home birth care (varies)

Genetic Testing

Genetic testing (varies greatly depending on insurance – $50-$1000)
- Call your insurance before pregnancy and ask what the out of pocket cost is for genetic testing (there are two types of genetic testing: carrier screening – testing for the pregnant woman’s carrier genes – and aneuploidy screening – screening for the baby’s genes.

Over The Counter (OTC) Products

Prenatal vitamins ($6-30/bottle depending on brand)
- Your vitamin should have 400 mcg (micrograms) of folic acid and 18mg (milligrams of iron); *prenatal gummies do not have iron*

I get asked frequently: What prenatal vitamin do you recommend?

I look for vitamins that have at least 18 milligrams of iron, 400 micrograms folic acid and some vitamin D3 (in pregnancy you need about 4,000 international units daily and many vitamins don’t have that). At lot of vitamins are packed with nutrients, but you have to take 8 pills a day to meet their serving recommendation. That’s a lot of pills – especially in a pregnancy that has a lot of nausea and vomiting.

I recommend Thorne’s Basic Prenatal (also recommended by Lily Nichols, RDN) because it has most of the requirements for pregnancy and a higher dose of iron (in my practice, we treat A LOT of iron deficiency in pregnancy). Because it’s high in the values recommended for pregnancy, it’s also a beneficial vitamin to continue through the postpartum period. The dose is 3 tablets for this vitamin product and since it only offers 1,000 international units of vitamin D, you will need to supplement an additional 3,000 international units a day. Downside is that it’s a little expensive, but you are paying for quality.

Read more about prenatal vitamins recommended by Lily Nichols here. Her book is fantastic as well.

Vitamin D3 (daily pregnancy recommendation: 4,000 international units/day)
- Vitamin D3 comes in a variety of brands OTC and they are all very similar.
- I recommend this one since it’s in most grocery stores/on Amazon for easy access.
- I tend to recommend the 1,000 international unit capsules because they are easiest to count out to make sure you get to your goal of 4,000 international units a day.
- After birth, you need to increase your vitamin D3 to 6,400 international units daily as long as you are breastfeeding or for at least 3 months after birth if you are using formula.
- Capsules are available in higher doses if you want to get the same dose but take less capsules.
- If you are unsure about how much vitamin D3 you need, ask your provider to check your blood level; if you are less than 30 nmol/Lm, supplementation is recommended. The majority of the population in the United States has low vitamin D and routine testing of blood is not recommended unless deficiency is suspected.

OTC medication or products for nausea/vomiting:
- Unisom Sleep Tabs (doxylamine succinate) 25mg tablets ($9/bottle)
  - *Be sure you are buy doxylamine succinate tablets and not Benadryl marketed as Unisom
  - *Unisom sleep tabs are used for nausea AND for sleep aids during pregnancy

Vitamin B6 50mg tablets ($7/bottle)
- *Tablets are easier to split in half depending on the dose your provider recommends; you can’t split gels or capsules.

Benadryl (diphenhydramine HCl) 25mg tablets ($4/bottle)

Seabands ($9/set of 2)

Saltine soup crackers ($4/box)
Hard candies (ginger, cinnamon, mint – $3/bag)
Herbal teas (peppermint, ginger and lemon are best for nausea; $4/box)
- *Peppermint tea is great throughout pregnancy for constipation, diarrhea, heartburn or gas – basically ALL GI complaints.
Pregnancy lozenges, popsicles, lollipops (look for versions with ginger, vitamin B6 or citrus; be careful of high sugar content if you use these frequently and have diabetes; some brands are regular candy marketed as “pregnancy pops”)

OTC products for musculoskeletal aches and pains:
- Heating pad ($15) or rice sock ($20)

For Your Second Trimeter

Routine Costs at Every Visit

Insurance co-pays for your clinic visits ($25-40/visit)
Payment plans/cash for birth center or home birth care (varies)

Over The Counter (OTC) Products

Overall pregnancy health
- Prenatal vitamins ($6-30/bottle depending on brand)
  - This is the brand I recommend.
  - Your vitamin should have 400 mcg (micrograms) of folic acid and 18mg (milligrams of iron); *prenatal gummies do not have iron*
- Vitamin D3
  - Some prenatal vitamins contain vitamin D but many do not contain the recommended amounts during pregnancy (4,000 international units). Be sure to supplement with vitamin D3 in addition to your prenatal vitamin if you need it.

For iron deficiency anemia:
- Iron rich foods (meats, beans, cereal, oatmeal, granolas, dark chocolate!)
- Ferrous fumarate tablets (this form of iron is easier on the GI tract if you are sensitive to iron supplements; most providers start with ferrous gluconate tablets); *remember, iron is not easily absorbed and is best taken throughout the day, not all. atone time to increase your iron levels in pregnancy.
- Lucky Iron Fish (use these iron fish during cooking to increase the iron content of your daily diet and to help reverse iron deficiency during your pregnancy)

For constipation or hemorrhoids (or both):
- Colace ($6)
- Squatty potty ($25-30) – Buy a collapsible one so that you can take it while traveling!
- Don’t forget to hydrate, eat fiber and exercise too.

For heartburn: TUMS ($6); pepcid (famitodine) 10-20mg tablets ($6)
- TUMS Smoothies are easier to eat and taste better than traditional TUMS; remember, if you are taking more than 6 TUMS tablets a day, you can give yourself a gastric ulcer. Talk to your provider about starting an over-the-counter medication for heartburn.
- But a bottle for your purse, your desk at work and your night stand!

For musculoskeletal aches/pains:
- Heating pad($15)
- Rice sock($20)
- Exercise ball ($20)
- IcyHot ($6 – the roll on is great so you don’t get yours hands messy)

For sleep:
- Benadryl (diphenhydramine HCl) 25mg tablets (OTC $4/bottle)
- Epsom salts for swelling, constipation or sleep ($8/bag)
  - How to use them: Run a warm to hot bath; dump 2 cups of preferred epsom salts into tub; soak for at least 15-20 minutes; repeat as much as desired throughout pregnancy! Read more about epsom salts here: How To Use Epsom Salts.
  - Scented salts are fine to use during pregnancy; pick your favorite scent to relax to and enjoy!
- Pregnancy pillows ($20)
- Unisom Sleep Tabs (doxylamine succinate) 25mg tablets (OTC $9/bottle)

Belly band ($25)
- I was able to use this same band through all 4 pregnancies – it was a lifesaver while I was working 24 hour shifts as a midwife. I keep it now to use as a teaching tool for triage visits.
Breastfeeding education | FREE classes: Breastfeeding Housecalls – Stanford’s Newborn Nursery – Lactation Education Resources for Parents – Milkology –Milk & Love (course/free workbook!) – First Latch – Medela – Three Bird Nest
Childbirth education | FREE 6 hour class on YouTube from Tucson Medical Center
- Buy/borrow books about pregnancy and birth; rent from your library to save money!

For Your Third Trimester

Routine Costs at Every Visit

Insurance co-pays for your clinic visits ($25-40/visit)
Payment plans/cash for birth center or home birth care (varies)

Educational Opportunities

Classes about birth, breastfeeding or postpartum.

Over The Counter Products

Overall pregnancy health
- Prenatal vitamins ($6-30/bottle depending on brand)
  - This is the brand I recommend.
  - Your vitamin should have 400 mcg (micrograms) of folic acid and 18mg (milligrams of iron); *prenatal gummies do not have iron*
- Vitamin D3
  - Some prenatal vitamins contain vitamin D but many do not contain the recommended amounts during pregnancy (4,000 international units). Be sure to supplement with vitamin D3 in addition to your prenatal vitamin if you need it.
Bag of pitted dates ($15)
- Dates can help ripen your cervix in your last month of pregnancy; recommended amount is 5-6 dates per day, starting at 35 weeks of pregnancy; continue daily until you go into labor.
Restock on medications and epsom salts as needed!

Planning for Your Time at the Hospital or Birth Center or at Home

Consider buying these to help you during labor/postpartum while in the hospital or at home: small portable fan* ($23), diffusor/essential oils** ($25-50) or TENS unit ($50).
- *Fans are great for attaching to your stroller on hot days to keep babies cool too! Fans, diffusors, etc. are okay to bring to the hospital – they are comfort items to help you during labor/birth and to relax during postpartum.
- **Essential oil scents that are helpful during labor: lemon, citrus, orange, lavender.
- **Essential oil scents that are helpful during postpartum: lavender (relaxing) and peppermint (healing, soothing, increases blood flow).

After Your Birth

For the first few days to weeks after birth
- Pads: Overnight pads – 1 pack; medium pads – 1 pack; small pads – 1 pack ($20)
- Reusable/washable chux pads for your bed ($20/pack of 3)

OTC medications or products for healing:
- For constipation:
  - Colace ($6)
  - Squatty potty ($25-30) – Buy a collapsible one so that you can take it while traveling!
- For hemorrhoids and sore vaginas:
  - TUCKS pads ($7)
  - Dermoplast spray ($7/bottle)

For pain:
- gasX ($5)
- Motrin/ibuprofen ($5)
- Tylenol/acetaminophen ($5)
For sore back or neck muscles:
- Heating pad ($15)
- Rice sock ($20) – these are my FAVORITE for draping across your belly for those after pains during nursing.
- IcyHot ($6 – the roll on is great so you don’t get yours hands messy)
- For vaginal tears/stitches and sore vaginas:
  - Dermoplast spray ($7/bottle)
  - Epsom salts for healing, swelling, constipation, and sleep ($8/bag)

Prenatal vitamins ($6-30/bottle depending on brand)
- Continue your prenatal vitamin through 8 weeks postpartum or as long as you are breastfeeding.

Planning for Your Baby!

This is a list of the very basics you need to care for your baby. If your budget is tight, start with these items and try to buy used items; you can always purchase more things after the baby arrives! (* = Items available at used children’s clothing stores; ** = items covered by most insurance plans).

Crib* ($100-$200)/crib mattress ($75)/bassinet* ($150)/pack n play* ($50) and fitted sheets ($15/each)
Changing pad* ($20) and fitted changing sheet ($15)
Car seat* ($80)
Baby carrier* (ex.Tula, Ergo, wraps, slings) ($30-$150)
Diaper bag or backpack* ($30)
Baby bath tub* ($30)
Swaddle sacks* (3) ($20-30) or baby blankets (pack of 3) ($20)
Burp clothes (10-15) ($15-20/pack)
Diapers and wipes ($30/box of diapers and $12/pack of wipes)
Aquaphor, Cerave or vaseline (can use as diaper cream and for dry skin) ($15/jar)
Pacifiers/pacifier straps ($12 for a few pacifier packs/$10 for a pack of straps)
Clothes* – about 10 onesies in sizes 0-3 months and 3-6 months ($30 at used store)
Stroller* ($50-200)
Breastfeeding supplies
- Breast pump or manual pump; tubing; phalanges**
- Nursing bras and nursing pads (2 packs of bras/$60-70; 2 packs of pads $25)
- Breastfeeding pillow (ex. Boppy)* ($25-30)
- A few bottles and nipples (size 0 and 1) ($30-40); bottle drying rack* ($15)
Medicine and other health products
- Bulb syringe (for sucking snot out of runny noses) ($3)
- Thermometer to take a rectal temperature (forehead and ear thermometers are not recommended when you are trying to see if your baby has a true fever!) ($5-10)
- Children’s liquid Tylenol (acetaminophen)/with syringe – not recommended until 2 months of age – important to have on hand just in case (generic brand – $7).

These are the most common things women report they REGRET buying:

Diaper wipe warmers, bottle warmers, mobiles, too many bottles, fancy diaper bags, baby bathrobes or baby towels/washcloths, baby shoes/socks, products to make your own baby food, mittens, diaper genies (just use the regular trash), baby hats, baby sunglasses, hypoallergenic laundry detergent.

(Jamie’s lessons learned about baby stuff: We bought a diaper bag that seemed useful and cute; after two kids, we went with a sturdy backpack and have never looked back. Cerave ointment is the one thing I wish someone would have recommended before I bought every other diaper cream on the shelf at Target. You live and you learn. Swaddle sacks only last until the baby rolls over – buy a few but don’t break the bank on them. BOB and Thule strollers will give back over and over to you as a parent – if you can find one used, buy it. For cribs, bassinets and pack n plays, a new born baby doesn’t need all of them – pick what you think you’ll use, buy the rest if you feel you need it. In short, most mothers will tell you that you don’t need a lot of the baby stuff that is marketed as “necessary.” Remember, the baby goods industry makes billions of dollars each year for this reason. Last tip – you’ll notice a lot of things can be reused in future pregnancies – belly band, heating pads, rice socks…invest well once, continue to reuse for years!)

Step 2: Download your free tool here, create your plan and make your budget.

Use the plan as it’s written or make your own. I recommend organizing your plan in this fashion to help you put what you need into each part of pregnancy, birth or postpartum.
Mark items that you plan to put on a registry or items that you plan to purchase yourself. Talk to your partner about saving extra money for unexpected costs.
Continue to do your own research and ask questions throughout your care!

Example:

Before Baby

Buy prenatal vitamins: $6-30
Buy vitamin D: $10
Buy pregnancy tests: $2-25
Book preconception visit with my provider: $200
Save the average out of pocket cost for a birth: $2,854
Save for other pregnancy or birth costs that may be important to you:
- Birth center or home birth care: $2,500-$10,000
- Doula care: $800-$2,000
- Lactation support: $300/visit
Start an emergency fund: $1000
Call your insurance provider and ask these questions:
- Do I need a referral from primary care or a pre-authorization for pregnancy care?
- What’s my deductible? What is my expected co-pay for pregnancy clinic visits? What is not covered? What prenatal tests and ultrasounds are covered? What hospitals/birth centers/home birth providers are in my network?

During Pregnancy

FIRST TRIMESTER

Buy prenatal vitamins: $6-30
Buy vitamin D: $10
Save for insurance co-pays for your clinic visits: $25-40/visit
Save for genetic testing (if desired): $50-$1000
- Call your insurance and ask what the out of pocket cost is for genetic screening tests.
Buy OTC medication or products for nausea/vomiting:
Buy a heating pad: $15 | or a rice sock: $20

SECOND TRIMESTER

Buy prenatal vitamins: $6-30
Buy vitamin D: $10
Save for insurance co-pays for your clinic visits: $25-40/visit
Save for genetic testing (if desired): $50-$1000
- The MSAFP at 16-18 weeks is covered by all insurance plans.
Buy OTC products for constipation, heartburn, hemorrhoids, musculoskeletal aches/pains and sleep if needed
Buy a belly band: $25
Watch free breastfeeding classes. | Ask if your insurance company or employer offers breastfeeding classes. | Search your community for breastfeeding classes.
Watch free childbirth classes: FREE 6 hour class on YouTube from Tucson Medical Center
Buy/borrow books about pregnancy and birth. | Rent from your library to save money!
Purchase epsom salts for swelling, constipation or better sleep.

THIRD TRIMESTER

Buy prenatal vitamins: $6-20
Save for insurance co-pays for your clinic visits: $25-40/visit
Take any additional classes about birth, breastfeeding or postpartum.
At 35 weeks: Buy bag of pitted dates: $15
Consider buying these to help you during labor/postpartum while in the hospital or at home: Small portable fan: $23 | Diffusor/essential oils: $25-50

After Birth

Buy pads: Overnight pads – 1 pack; medium pads – 1 pack; small pads – 1 pack: $20
Buy reusable/washable chux pads for your bed: $27/pack of 3
Buy OTC medications or products for healing:
- For hemorrhoids and sore vaginas: TUCKS pads $7; anusol cream $6
- For pain: gasX $5; motrin/ibuprofen $5; tylenol/acetominophen $5
- For sore back or neck muscles: IcyHot $7; heating pad/rice sock $20
- For vaginal tears/stitches and sore vaginas: dermoplast spray $7/bottle; epsom salts for sitz baths $8/bag
Continue/buy more prenatal vitamins: $6-20/bottle

For Your Baby

Decide which items you want to put on a registry, get from a used children’s store, borrow or buy new. (* = items that are easy to find at used children’s stores; ** = usually covered by insurance for breastfeeding.)

Step 3: Put your plan on your fridge to help guide your care throughout pregnancy!

Post your plan in a place where you and your spouse can look at where you in your budget and what’s coming up next. This will help you to be on the same page for expectations about cost and to save according to your birth plans or wishes.

Step 4: Last bits to takeaway…Important facts to know about healthcare insurance and pregnancy/birth costs…

Insurance coverage varies state to state – some states are more expensive and some states are less expensive.
- Read more: What services do plans have to cover for pregnancy?
- Find the average out of pocket cost for childbirth in your state here.
- Don’t be afraid to call your insurance company and ask them about expected costs!
- Read more about what your state offers on the STATE RESOURCES page.
A HSA – Health Savings Account – is a great way to save for healthcare costs if you have this option; learn more: https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/health-savings-account-hsa/
Home birth and birth center care are not always covered by insurance; some insurances will cover some of this care model and some will not.
- Often times, patients opt to pay cash for home birth and birth center care; some businesses will offer you a discount if you pay in full by 36 weeks of pregnancy which allows you to save a few hundred dollars).
- Depending on the rates in your area, paying cash to a home birth provider may cost you less than what you would pay with insurance.
Doula care is covered by Medicaid in some states.
- Does your state’s Medicaid program offers doula care: https://healthlaw.org/doulamedicaidproject/
Wondering how to find a midwife or doula?
- Find your doula: www.dona.org
- Find your midwife:
  - Certified Midwife/Certified Nurse-Midwife: www.midwife.org/find-a-midwife
  - Licensed Midwife/Certified Professional Midwife: https://mana.org/about-midwives/state-by-state
Breast pumps are covered by almost all insurance companies; go simple not fancy with your model choice. More women pick a fancy one and end up buying a simple one than vice versa. (Jamie’s note: I’ve seen more women dislike the “hands free” options because it leads to a lower milk supply than the electric pumps that you have to sit down to use.)

Tips to Save Money During Pregnancy & Birth

Ask for a prescription when possible for insurance to cover some of your medications.
- Example: As soon as you start trying to conceive, ask your provider for to write a 12 month prenatal vitamin or folic acid prescription at your pharmacy.
Plan to breastfeed for the first 12 months, or longer. Families that breastfeed instead of using formula save $1200-$1500 in the baby’s first year and babies that are breastfed have fewer visits to urgent care and lower rates of RSV/flu and ear infections! Breastfeeding women miss less work due to sick babies too!
Expect that your hospital is going to send you home with some things. The most common things provided at discharge (and included in your bill) are:
- Bulb syringe
- Some diapers and wipes
- Some postpartum panties and pads
- Small container of TUCKs wipes and Dermoplast spray

Tips to Save Money on Baby Care

Buy used baby items. You can save hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars, buying used items for your baby’s care. As your baby outgrows items, you can exchange those items at local used children’s stores for clothes in the next size up or other baby accessories you may need.
Swap baby gear with a friend who has babies. This is great for trialing different swings or bouncers to see what your baby likes.
Your regular towels and wash cloths are perfect for your baby – no need to buy extra towels or wash cloths unless you want to.
Car seats expire after 5-7 years. Every model is a little different. Expiration dates are on the bottom of each model. You can continue to use a car seat up to the expiration date unless it’s been in a car accident or is otherwise damaged.
Most newborn babies don’t need a baby monitor because they require constant care and are near you/your spouse the first few weeks; wait until your baby is a few weeks or months old to see if you need a monitor before buying one.
Vaseline, Aquaphor and Eucerin ointments function as diaper cream to prevent for diaper rashes and lotion for dry skin.
Prevent diaper rash with this trick: Wave the diaper back and forth over the baby’s bottom to air dry the skin after wiping the pee or poo away; dry, intact skin is the best way to prevent diaper rashes! Preventing diaper rash will save you lots of money in diaper creams.
Most baby soaps aren’t that great for babies…water is all you really need for newborns; Dove soap for sensitive skin or Cetaphil are gentle alternatives when you’re ready to introduce soap to bath time.
If you are worried about using a baby nail clipper for those tiny nails and fingers, just use a small nail file until you’re ready to use the clippers!
Humidifiers are great for when your baby has a runny nose; but you don’t usually need one right after birth; this purchase can wait until the baby is older or until you need one.
Wondering about cloth diapers? Learn more: https://www.clothdiapergeek.com/