Budget for baby… and you

Start working on a budget early in your pregnancy to prevent baby expenses from making too big a dent in your finances, says Riëtte Grobler

LET’S BE HONEST – having a baby isn’t cheap, and every family’s budget and needs will differ. Use these articles as a guide for average costs during your pregnancy, the birth, and for your little one’s first month or two at home. How did we calculate the prices? For medical expenses we contacted three different service providers. For product prices we compared three to four suppliers, including a big online shop, an online baby shop, a baby chain store, chemist, popular chain store, online maternity wear shop and boutique baby shops.

MEDICAL EXPENSES PRIVATE GYNAECOLOGIST

Doctor’s consultations throughout your pregnancy will total between R15 260 and R17 440. Consultation fees can differ quite a bit and the amount covered by your medical aid can also differ, depending on which plan you’re on. We asked three gynaecologists in private practice in order to make our estimate: ✓ A first visit costs on average R1 068 and a follow-up costs R708. One of the doctors we spoke to charges R2 200. Expect appointments every four weeks in the first 30 weeks of your pregnancy, and after that every three weeks to 10 days closer to your due date. ✓ Your doctor will perform at least three scans at about R2 768 (first trimester) and R2 441 (second and third trimesters). ✓ Birth: Vaginal birth: between R7 420 and R16 350. C-section birth: from R8 720 to R21 800.

PRIVATE ANAESTHETIST

The cost of an epidural during the birth is between R4 687 and R6 213, because prices can differ from doctor to doctor. It’s a good idea to ask your gynaecologist beforehand which anaesthetist she works with, and then you can ask for a cost estimate. The cost also depends on whether the procedure is planned (cheaper) or unplanned, and how long the procedure takes and if there are complications.

PRIVATE MIDWIFE

The average cost of private midwife services for the duration of your pregnancy and a home birth will be R19 747. The average cost of services for the duration of your pregnancy and a hospital birth: R10 987. This includes an initial consultation (R523) and about 8-10 follow-up consultations of between R327 and R414 each. Assistance during a natural hospital birth comes to between R5 777 and R8 502. For a home birth, budget for between R7 957 and R11 336. Consultations after the birth cost about R360 each.

PRIVATE PAEDIATRICIAN

The consultation immediately after the birth and three follow-up visits in hospital will come to R1 300. Your baby’s six week check-up will cost about R926.

VACCINATIONS

Your baby’s first vaccinations (polio and BCG) are free and will be administered shortly after birth in hospital. Further vaccinations at six, 10 and 14 weeks will average R1 853 for each visit. TIP: Inoculations are free at clinics and chemists that hold state stock, so ask about this. An injection fee of between R75 and R110 will be charged though.

PRIVATE BABY CLINIC

Sometimes clinics will weigh your baby for free at 10 days of age. Follow-up visits cost about R92 each.

MEDICAL SCHEMES

To add your baby to your medical aid costs between R708 and R1 090 per month, depending on your plan. Coverage in the first three months after birth is sometimes free.

HOSPITAL EXPENSES DURING BIRTH

Private hospital: We compared the costs of three hospitals in different hospital groups. Medical schemes typically cover a stay in a general ward in full. Extra costs, such as a private room, are usually not covered. State hospital: Pregnancy and birth are free at state hospitals, except if you belong to a medical aid. Then you will be charged R9 650 for a C-section and R7 104 for natural birth. This includes ward costs. Children under six are treated for free.

STEM CELL STORAGE

It costs approximately R24 500 to store stem cell blood and tissue for 10 years and R27 500 to store the same for 20 years, all inclusive. One of the facilities that provided information, offers a one-, two- or fiveyear payment plan. If you choose the five-year payment plan, stem cell storage will cost you about R312 per month. Some medical schemes offer discounts for stem cell storage.

FOR MOM DURING YOUR PREGNANCY

✓ Pregnancy cushions or a breastfeeding cushion (R600). ✓ Maternity wear. Jeans cost about R550 and pregnancy leggings about R300. Tops are from R200 for short sleeves and R250 for long sleeves. ✓ Multivitamins for pregnancy cost about R260 per month. ✓ Stretchmark creams can cost about R150 for 200ml.

IN THE HOSPITAL

✓ Maternity pads, R32 for a pack of 12. Start with two packs at least. ✓ Disposable maternity panties, R53 for two. ✓ Disposable sheets, R50 for a pack of 10.

AT HOME For breastfeeding:

✓ Cotton feeding bras, R300 for two. ✓ Nipple cream, R210. ✓ Breastpump (manual costs approximately R500 and electric R1 800). ✓ Set of three bottles costs on average R265 and breastmilk bags cost about R120 for 25.

FOR THE NAPPY BAG

The bag itself costs about R370 from a chain store, R1 700 from a designer store and R3 000 for a leather bag. Some private hospitals give you a nappy bag to keep as part of your stay.

FOR BABY THE NURSERY

Your budget and personal style choice will affect these expenses. ✓ Camp cot from R742 to R5 300, wooden cots from boutique shops from R3 700 to R25 440. ✓ Mattress with air holes, from R160 to R1 060. ✓ Sleep wedge: R85 to R530. ✓ Compactum, from R742 to R19 080. ✓ Changing mat from approximately R160. ✓ Breastfeeding chair from R1 272 to R25 440. ✓ Nappy bin from R297 to R477. Remember to budget for the bag refills too, which cost about R270 for three rolls. ✓ Baby monitor. For sounds only the average is R1 060 and with digital and movement functions they cost on average R1 700.

BABY’S LINEN DRAWER

Linen: Remember that a baby’s bed is safer without a duvet, bumper and cushions. Budget for three sheets (R74-R127), two cellular blankets (R212), four swaddling blankets (R180), two cotton blankets (R170) and three muslin blankets (R170).

Clothing:

✓ 4-6 long sleeve full body vests, R64 for two. ✓ 4-6 short sleeve vests, R58 for two. ✓ 4-6 babygros that close in front, R160 for three. ✓ 3 pants and vest sets, approximately R110. ✓ 2 warm babygros for winter babies, from R58-R190. ✓ Socks R38 for a twin pack.

NECESSITIES

✓ Bum cream: R58-R212 (125ml). ✓ Surgical alcohol: R21 (100ml). ✓ Liquid baby soap: R68 (550ml). ✓ Baby cream: R53 (300ml). ✓ Soft cotton wool: R33 (100g). ✓ Wet wipes: R33 for a single pack, R160 for a four-pack. ✓ Nail care set, hair brush, medicine dropper, nose dropper and thermometer: R302. ✓ Petroleum jelly: R24 (250ml). ✓ Paracetamol syrup: R95 (30ml). ✓ Colic drops or gripe water: R95 (30ml). ✓ Dummy: approximately R160 for one.

BATH TIME

✓ Plastic baby bath, approximately R159; fold-up bath R636. ✓ Two baby bath towels (R106) and two facecloths (R30 for two). ✓ Bath thermometer, from R64 to R265.

NAPPIES

✓ Disposable nappies. Expect to pay approximately R160 for 66 nappies or R243 for a pack of 94 nappies, which works out to about R2.50 per nappy. If you use 10 nappies a day in the first month, you will need 300 nappies. Budget for about R800 for nappies in the first month. ✓ Cloth nappies. Twenty cloth nappies cost about R4 028, and will fit from newborn to potty training time. Four rolls of flushable nappies at R402 (R100 per roll of 100) which will last one month, and eco wash at R111 for R100 bundles of washing. TIP: Wait until after your stork tea to start stocking up on nappies, as nappies are a very popular gift and you might end up with too many size 0 nappies.

PRAMS

Travel systems that include a car seat: Entry level: R2 759 Mid level: R3 710 to R5 300 Luxury: R9 010 to R21 000+.

CAR SEATS

Invest in a car seat that you can use from birth until seven years old. These chairs can face back or front depending on your child’s age and weight. The cost is anything from R1 272 to R5 830.