Baby Cost

Worth Every Penny

Nicole Foran

When it comes to pregnancy and childbirth costs vary. It is hard to get an exact number because there are many things that decipher the total. A lot of the difference depends on insurance, if the mother is covered or not. For the purpose of getting an average, clearer estimate I based my research and findings off of a woman with health coverage.

When a woman first suspects she is pregnant, she will buy a pregnancy test which costs anywhere between $5.00-$30.00. Once the woman discovers she really is pregnant the doctor appointments and expenses begin.

If a woman knows of her pregnancy during the embryonic stage which is the first two months of pregnancy where the major organ systems differentiate (Rathus 75), she then needs to begin prenatals. During prenatal care the health insurance company pays for the doctor visits including the copay. The gynecologist will prescribe prenatal vitamins to take daily every month. Some offices, such as my OBGYN give a copay card which covers the copay for each month at the pharmacy. The problem that occurred for me is the pills were too large for me to get down. They had to switch to another prenatal, which did not come with a copay card. So, monthly I pay $10.00 while my insurance company pays the rest. I suspect other woman may often have copay as well, which totals to $90.00.

In todays’ society when it is the woman’s first baby it is traditional for her to have a baby shower. The baby shower provides her with a ton of the expensive items she will need. For the purpose of getting an average expense I will calculate all of the baby shower items.

Preparing for the baby nursery is the start of all the spending. A basic nursery will include: Crib and mattress $160-750, Crib bedding set $35-270, Fitted crib sheets $8-20 each, Basinet or cradle $35-260, Changing table $70-600, Changing pad and cover $25-50, Dresser $90-650,Rocker/glider $90-500, Monitors $20-230, Diaper pail $20-45,Diaper pail...