Congratulations, You're Pregnant! ... Now What?
Answers to Common Questions
RELATED CONTENT
- American Academy of Pediatrics:
- American Academy of Pediatrics
- BabyCenter:
- BabyCenter
- American Academy of Family Physicians:
- American Academy of Family Physicians
When you announce that you're pregnant, everyone from your mother-in-law to your hair stylist will be more than willing to share their "expert" opinions, and the choices that lay ahead of you in preparing for your baby may seem overwhelming. But with some research, you can prepare yourself and your family for the health and financial changes in your future.
- My child's health is one of my top priorities. What can I do to protect our health through my pregnancy and as my child grows?
- What things should I consider in choosing my maternity care and delivery location?
- How do I prepare for maternity leave from work?
- I'm absolutely thrilled that I'm pregnant, but thinking about how this will affect my finances makes my head spin. Where do I start?
- How can I trim my budget to save for future expenses?
- What kinds of costs do I need to plan for?
- Do I need to make any changes to my health benefits?
My child's health is one of my top priorities. What can I do to protect our health through my pregnancy and as my child grows?
Your obstetrician and later your child's pediatrician are great resources for learning how to maintain your health. You can also talk to your health benefits provider to find out which services and procedures are covered during your pregnancy. It is good to prepare a list of questions before you make this call. To put your mind at ease, choose your baby's pediatrician before you give birth. You can read these tips for finding a pediatrician. Be prepared to set up well baby care visits to the pediatrician soon after your baby is born. Your baby will need to have a number of routine immunizations as well as newborn screening tests to detect potentially serious illnesses.
What things should I consider in choosing my maternity care and delivery location?
The medical professional who supervises your care will be an enormous part of your life in the coming months. Make sure it's someone you trust and are completely comfortable with. Most obstetricians and midwives welcome a preliminary visit before you become a patient — but be sure to check whether they are part of your health plan's network, they charge for initial consultations and if your health plan covers their services.
If you already have an obstetrician/gynecologist you want to deliver your baby, you're in luck! Just call your health benefits provider to make sure the doctor is in your network of providers (if your plan has one). If you don't have an OB/GYN in mind, it may be useful to think about where you'd like to deliver your baby first. The delivery location determines what kinds of care providers are available to you. Many plans have a doctor search on their website — by entering your zip code, you can find a list of local doctors.
The most common option is a hospital setting, which gives you access to medical professionals and technology. Most insurance plans offer in-network coverage at a number of local hospitals, all of which have different services and facilities available to expectant mothers. Try checking your health plan website, which will give you a list of your options and may even provide comparative data about the facilities and expertise at each hospital. Aside from a hospital birth, other options include birthing centers, which are generally not connected to hospitals, and giving birth at home.
How do I prepare for maternity leave from work?
When you reach the end of your first trimester, it's time to start thinking about telling your boss you're pregnant. Set up a private meeting to discuss the matter, and do your homework beforehand. Find out about your company's maternity leave policies and how they have dealt with pregnant co-workers in the past. Also, provide your boss with a suggested plan, including who will cover for you while you're on leave and an arrangement for when you return. Be aware of the laws that apply, including the Pregnancy Discrimination Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Make a trip to your company's human resource (HR) department to get more specifics on your maternity leave options.
I'm absolutely thrilled that I'm pregnant, but thinking about how this will affect my finances makes my head spin. Where do I start?
This is going to be a turning point in your life — new experiences, new priorities and, of course, new expenses. Now that your family and your budget are expanding, it's essential to create a plan for your finances. Start with the Baby Expense Calculator to get an idea of how much you should expect to spend in year one. This will help you account for the out-of-pocket costs of your family's health care, including premiums, co-payments and deductibles, which may be covered by your health insurance. Some other out-of-pocket expenses to budget for include diapers, formula and child care.
How can I trim my budget to save for future expenses?
If you're making an effort to put away some money, you're on the right track. Although the image of your child in a cap and gown might seem light years away right now, it's a good idea to start saving for future expenses like college tuition as soon as possible. Try cutting back in small ways, such as carpooling or making your own coffee at home instead of buying it on the way to work, and the extra money saved will add up.
You can also try taking advantage of a consumer-directed health care option in your benefits plan, if it is available. For example, you can contribute pre-tax dollars to a Flexible Spending Account to pay for out-of-pocket health costs or even childcare expenses. You also may want to consider a Health Savings Account, which is a tax-advantaged account for people with high-deductible plans. Also, get a Social Security number for your child as soon as possible so that your tax benefits will kick in. For more information, read Bringing Home Baby: Making Good Benefits Choices.
What kinds of costs do I need to plan for?
During your pregnancy, there are a number of medical costs. Of course, you'll need to plan for visits to your physician and the associated co-payments. You should also consider the cost of delivery, which will vary depending on the delivery method (cesarean or vaginal), the facility (hospital, birthing center or home delivery) and whether or not it is a complicated delivery. Take into account the experts you may want to consult, such as a doula, midwife or lactation consultant. Check if these experts' services are covered by your health plan, and if they have a list of preferred providers with discounted rates. To get an estimate of the total cost, check out the Baby Expense Calculator.
Once your baby is born, you'll have a number of new expenses. You're aware of the big expenses, such as childcare, but the little ones can add up as well — disposable diapers can cost you more than $1,200 per year. Thinking about buying all the necessary baby gear can also be overwhelming. Keep in mind that the highest price doesn't necessarily mean the safest and highest quality.
Do I need to make any changes to my health benefits?
Yes, you will need to declare your child as a dependant on the policy. Check with your health plan provider to find out when you should enroll your child in the plan. If both you and your spouse have health benefits, you might want to take a closer look at the details of each plan to see which one will be better for your growing family. Not sure which plan to choose? Try using the Health Benefits Priority Tool to help figure out what your family needs from a health plan. During Open Enrollment each year (generally October through December) you will also have an opportunity to compare health plans with your spouse to see which best suits your needs.
Now that you know the basics, use these checklists to keep track of your to-do's as an expectant or adoptive parent.
