9 Tips for Pregnancy on a Budget

Pregnancy Essentials on a Budget

Planning for a baby or when you have just found out you are pregnant is exciting but also for many, financially daunting.

With parenting, pregnancy, birth and babies can be the cheapest time of kid’s lives.

Teenagers are expensive with their activities, requirements for school, how much they eat and if they are in elite sports, robotics or similar, you are looking at tens of thousands of dollars a year for those.

That said, the first focus for many is pregnancy or trying to get pregnant. This article will focus on once you are pregnant.

Be prepared, you may not fall pregnant as easily as you think you will if you are in the planning stage.

Getting pregnant is not always a given.

So when you start budgeting and planning, make sure you are prepared for the cost of fertility treatments too.

That said, here are our tips for saving money when you are pregnant.

Disclosure, this post may contain affiliate links to products and services we personally use.

1. Plan Ahead

Work out what you are doing for maternity leave and what you will do if the pregnancy has issues.

We all hope our pregnancy will go well but the reality is there are numerous things from nausea through to pre-eclampsia that can change your ability to do things.

You never know what will happen.

Create a budget, both of you get healthy, and quit alcohol and other vices before you decide to get pregnant.

It is much easier to do these things during the planning stage so your body is ready and at optimum health for the pregnancy.

Decide on the type of labour you want but be prepared for it to not go as planned.

Emergency interventions are sometimes required, you might give birth early, need a c-section or decide you do want an epidural.

Have a solid plan, make sure your birthing partner and medical team know it but also know the risks associated with your pregnancy if they know of any ahead of time.

For example, if a baby is measuring large, they often prefer to do a c-section and if they don’t there can be issues such as the baby getting stuck.

Mentally prepare yourself for different scenarios while trying to focus on your ideal outcome.

Plan financially as besst you can e.g save what you can and agree with your partner if you have one, how finances will be managed.

Are you eligible for maternity leave? How long for and how much?

How will you get superannuation while off work? If you don’t get anything, will your partner contribute to your account.

Get everything in order to apply immediately for Family Tax Benefit and other options if you are eligible.

2. Budget For It

As mentioned above, you may need to budget for fertility treatments but there are other costs involved in pregnancy.

Australia is amazing with our healthcare and how much we can access.

That said, not all hospitals are equal and we would strongly advise you to do your research.

Decide if you want to go public or private and plan your health insurance accordingly.

Accessing your local public hospital and midwife program is the cheapest option since it is free.

If you go private, there are out-of-pocket expenses. It’s your choice.

Ultrasounds, medicine e.g. if you get gestational diabetes or thyroid problems or your blood work shows deficiencies, are an extra expense some don’t plan for.

You may need more time off work than you anticipated due to illness or pregnancy issues so budget for that too.

Start living on one wage now and saving the rest so when you get pregnant and are on maternity leave, it is easier.

Read how to survive on one income for tips.

3. Be Flexible with Clothing

For starters, do not wear a dress to your check-ups. It is so much easier in a skirt or pants and a top.

They need access to your belly from your pubic area to under your ribs.

A dress means they have to put a sheet over you, which they are more than happy to do but some mothers find it more comfortable to wear pants or a skirt instead.

Maternity clothing is expensive and not always used as much as you assume.

It depends on your baby’s size, how much weight you put on etc.

Wear what you are comfortable in and dress for the weather.

Check op shops, eBay, Facebook Marketplace and ask around.

4. Be Aware you Might not be able to do What You’re Used to

We all want to think we will breeze through pregnancy and some lucky women do. Most do not and the bigger the baby grows, the harder it is.

If you can keep up with your work and exercise, that is great. Do it.

But if you find it too hard, ease off and focus on pregnancy things you can do.

Often you will feel sick, tired, not be able to sleep, your organs are rearranging themselves, ligaments loosen etc.

Read up on what the body goes through in pregnancy to see if it is unrealistic to expect to be able to do everything you used to.

Because of this, plan ahead. Take advantage of any offers of help.

On days you feel great, do what you can such as cook a few meals for later.

Work around your symptoms and take it easy on yourself.

5. Know Maternity Leave Entitlements

Check your company policy to see what your entitlements are and check the options with Centrelink.

If you are self-employed, you can get maternity leave through Centrelink as well.

There are quite a few payments available, so be sure to check out what you are eligible for.

This also comes with planning. You will not be eligible for maternity leave as soon as you start a job.

There is a set period of time you need to work there before you will be covered so check that as well as the length of maternity leave and payments.

If you want longer, budget for longer.

6. Get Good Underwear!

Your hips will grow, and you’ll put on weight so don’t spend a fortune on anything.

Get comfortable underwear for the pregnancy and after.

You will absolutely need it. It doesn’t need to be expensive, just comfortable and it makes you feel good.

7. Allow Some Luxuries

Even if you are a DIY queen and do all your beauty yourself, by the end of the pregnancy, this won’t be practical and if you are used to having it done, you will want to pay for it.

Towards the end, bending over, stretching, moving etc all become harder so pedicures, hair removal etc all become quite difficult.

Budget to get these done in a salon or your local TAFE/beauty school for the pregnancy.

You will be sore and while partners are great for a massage (if you have a partner), pregnancy-specific massages are even better.

They will ease pain and make pregnancy easier. If you feel better about yourself, you are also going to make better decisions that flow through to your finances too.

8. Don’t be Afraid to Ask for Help

Whatever you need help with, ask for it. This might mean you book a cleaner or a family member makes some meals or something. Whatever it is, ask for it.

Pregnancy can be tough. Your body is going through so many changes making life quite different for this time.

Asking for and accepting help can save you time, energy and money, not to mention be good for your health.

9. Know Your Mental Health

Be aware of your mental health throughout the pregnancy and after.

Get help when and if you need it including therapy and medication.

Taking supplements, eating and sleeping well, exercising, getting outside and having a community all help.

However, many women, including myself, have issues throughout and/or after the pregnancy.

This is ok, it is normal but you need to get help.

Too often, I would try to be strong only to break down in a big way, especially when pregnant.

Be open and honest with your medical team and if you are not comfortable with them, or if they are the cause of some of the issues, then be open with someone.

Seek out your own psychologist or counsellor but do not do it alone!

Get a mental health plan from your GP or access the free mental health service through your hospital for pregnant mothers. Do what you need to take care of your mental health.

Read This

One of the best pregnancy books for helping us do it mindfully and have an easier birth is Mindful Pregnancy.

There are loads of books that get into the nitty-gritty of the stages of pregnancy, but this book was more about doing it mindfully and ways to maintain optimum health and well-being through pregnancy and birth.