Every new expectant parent goes through it. The news……you’re going to be a mom or dad. Give it a few minutes. Whether it’s a surprise or expected your still scared to death. Worry sets in. How on earth am I going to pay for this new person? It’ll take a bit, but you’ll figure it out as you go. Besides, as my Grandfather always said “if you wait until you have enough money to afford a kid, you’ll never have one.”
Once the surprise wears off you can get down to planning. People learn to adjust to the added expenses and do just fine without being millionaires. With that being said it’s always a bit easier when you can bring in additional income to cover the added costs that are bound to pop up and or allow a parent to remain at home with the new bundle. Checkout our other posts on additional income.
Prepare Your Insurance
First check your health insurance and find out what you need to do to add the baby. Do this early as you’ll find out there are a plethora forms you most likely will have to take care of. The doctors and hospital costs that add up will surprise you. You’ll be seeing your doctor every month or more towards arrival time and can expect a few days’ hospital stay. Insurance costs will rise most likely no matter what kind of plan you have, but it’s an expense that will still save you plenty over time.
While its certainly nice to have an extra room for a nursery for your new addition, it’s not a must. For at least a little while a bassinet for the baby to sleep in next to your bed will be sufficient for the first few months. Once the baby gets a bit older then you can move them into a crib and eventually their own bed. You still have some time before you need to look at a new house, so don’t worry about that just yet! Checkout our list of recommended products for your special arrival here.
Once you start working on accumulating the supplies you need, you can then begin to look into other items on your list. To protect your baby if something should happen to you, you’ll want to begin looking into life insurance policies and be sure to talk with a lawyer setup a will. While this isn’t something we like to think about it will be much less stressful on the ones you leave behind if you’ve written out in black and white what your wishes are.
Learn While You Wait
There are numerous places to find online answers to questions you may have such as the birth, and what to expect. Some of the best informative places we’ve seen are www.babycenter.com and www.thebump.com both of these sites are great at walking you through weekly things you need and the progress of you growing little one. On top of this your doctor, which you will most likely see on a monthly basis, at least early on, can provide answers to any questions or concerns you may have. You can also find tons of information just by talking to other couples who have already been through the process before.
Look Early for a Doctor
Before you get to far along, you will want to begin the process of looking for a pediatrician. In some areas a highly recommended doctor can fill up with patients fast, so it’s something you may want look into early on. You also should familiarize yourself with the local hospital that you plan to use for delivery.
Take a Deep Breath
Just remember, millions and millions of parents for thousands of years have gone through the exact same thing you are now. Yes, your life is about to change, and while its not something to take lightly, it’s a task that you will learn to do as you go. You can learn along with your new bundle.
Leave a Reply