to have a baby...like including hospital bills, diapers, clothes, food, cribs, toys, all the basic stuff for a baby?
2007-05-30 13:46:52 · 12 answers · asked by Paige V. 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
Not as much as people make out. Most people will tell you "thousands of dollars" but that is not true if you plan ahead.
Your delivery bill will depend on your insurance plan and how you choose to have your baby. My Blue Cross paid 50 percent, and I used a midwife, so the total out of pocket for us was $1,900.00. Yes, that was for prenatal AND delivery. You can save even more by doing a home birth.
Having a baby in a hospital is a big ripoff. They charge for everything you use from the socks you put on to the diapers you use on your newborn. That's why most people think babies have to cost thousands.
Also a lot of people spend way to much on a nursery that will be outdated within the year, and they think their newborn needs Baby Gap and other exclusive clothing rather than just good clean diapers and lots of love.
So.......diapers will cost you about $50 a month (buy Walmart or Target brand - they are great!) and if you are nursing there are no food costs. If you feed with formula, it will be $150-200 a month depending on where you live.
You can buy new and like new baby clothes on Ebay for GREAT prices. Start shopping at garage sales now, too!
If you want to get an idea of where I'm coming from financially, my husband makes $42,000 a year, we have three young children (and want to have another this year) and we are not pressed for money at all.
It costs more to buy and maintain a car than a baby!
2007-05-30 13:54:05 · answer #1 · answered by Veritas 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
It depends on what insurance you have and where you are.... without insurance and where I live, it runs about 8-10 thousand for vaginal delivery and 14-16 thousand for c-section including hospital stay, and etc....
As far as purchasing baby items, you can get it pretty cheap if you hit some good garage sales, and shop discount, but if you choose not too, it can run anywhere between 500-1500 dollars, depending on brands, and etc.....
Also if you chose to formula feed, you will have to include that for the first year... plus the cost of infant cereal and jarred food, I would estimate the first year to run about 300 per month for baby food and formula.
Diapers will run between 75-125 dollars a month depending on brand... and that is if you even use disposable.... If you don't it is much much cheaper, but a bigger pain in the butt... :)
2007-05-30 14:03:45 · answer #2 · answered by Mommy of 2 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The expense all depends on the labor and delivery. There are fees for the mother and then fees for the baby. In short it it way to much to consider paying out of pocket (that is unless you can afford to spend a lot). If you don't have insurance I would say, now is a good time to get some. The insurance company will most likely cover all that is medically necessary. If you cant afford insurance, I would look into a clinic, or some type of state funded program (Welfare, WIC, Medicade). If you are simply looking for a figure to deal with I would talk to your doctor or local hospital! Good Luck!
2007-05-30 14:00:33 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
This question is wide open but, I'll take a stab at it. If you combine all prenatal with labor and delivery, complete your nursery and have EVERYTHING you need to bring baby home, with NO complications whatsoever, I think you are looking at around 50-60K. And that's just getting the baby home from the hospital. There is a very wide price range for furniture, clothing and accessories, so again, this is a ballpark figure. Many low income families have babies each year and obviously do not spend this kind of money. Shopping thrift, consignment and receiving donations paint a much different picture as does being eligible for government assistance such as WIC and Medicaid. I guess a lot would depend on your circumstances. Definitely worth considering especially if you don't have insurance!
2007-05-30 13:55:17 · answer #4 · answered by release the hounds 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
hospital bills alone were $80,000 from having a preemie. diapers can be $20/week, formula can be over 20/week the other stuff adds up quick too. that being said, it is a great experience and you'll never "be able to afford it" so i never tell people to wait till they have more money because there is a lot of assistance out there, and poor people have kids too.
2007-05-30 13:58:30 · answer #5 · answered by karateJenn 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you have medical there shouldn't be any hospital bills. As for the other stuff it depends on brand name, and if you buy it used or new. My baby isn't due until late november and i've spent $1500 already.
2007-05-30 13:52:50 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I'm not sure of the cost, but Gabriel Project may assist people in need.
2007-06-01 23:19:58 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
ALOT! around $10,000 for birth if things go right and so much more for all the diapers, clothes, destine, food, bids oh heck I can't list it all! :)
2007-05-30 13:53:23 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Its Priceless. Its impossible to give an estimate.
2007-05-30 13:52:33 · answer #9 · answered by chanell_elite 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Check out the link below it breaks it all down.
2007-05-30 13:55:57 · answer #10 · answered by maigen_obx 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋