How to plan for a baby...
By Lochoa
@Lochoa (222)
United States
March 17, 2010 11:23pm CST
Ok so as most of you know I am currently unemployed. I have been looking for a job but have been thinking about starting a family as well. My husband and I were talking more seriously about having kids recently and then I got laid off. Which kind of puts our plans about the baby to the side but recently I've been thinking like people have "unplanned" babies all the time how do they make it? Def right now with me being laid off and not including unemployment we wouldn't be able to survive b/c of our mortgage but I def would like a PT job or something so that I could still stay home with the baby instead of day care.
My question is, is what are all the things to consider before having the baby. Like now that I am unemployed do I still qualify for disability, maternity leave type of stuff b/c that's what I was going to do when I was working and now that I'm not do I still get some type of assistance while pregnant and after the birth? Our medical is under my husbands job so everything is still set in that aspect but for everything else?
Thanks in advance for your answers!
2 responses
@maximax8 (31042)
• United Kingdom
19 Mar 10
You are am ideal age to get pregnant and have a baby. It will be worth you looking into your likely finances. I imagine that you might have to pay for maternity health care and the care given to you during the birth of your baby. Does your husband's firm cover all of this? Many ladies manage to get a part time job but day care for a baby costs quite a lot. Some ladies have a supportive husband and others have caring parents. A baby needs somewhere to sleep like a crib, a pram or pushchair to ride in, a baby's car seat and clothing. You could feed your baby in the natural way and use cloth diapers. I had my first baby when I was 22 years old. Now I have a toddler son and a baby daughter as well. Good luck.
@Lochoa (222)
• United States
19 Mar 10
Thank you! I know my husbands health care plan covers for maternity leave and stuff like that but I'm just not sure if now that I'm not working if I can still qualify for that. I guess it's something i need to call and ask about. We have a good savings account and supportive family so buying all the necessities wouldn't be hard but a baby sitter would be.
My husband and I live about 1.5 hours away from our family. So the PT job I would have to get would have to be really late hours. That way my husband can stay home with the baby.I actually have a 2nd interview today for Dave and Busters. Not exactly the career I always picture but considering I worked in coprorate america and still got laid off after all the hardwork I did for the company sucks and just don't want the stress esp if half my paycheck or more will go to the babysitters.
@spazz435 (322)
• United States
16 Sep 10
I know that having a baby seems like a must thing to do especially if you've wanted one for a long time, but I don't think that you are in a situation where you can have a baby right now. If you had a baby while you are on unemployment and paying for your mortgage, that you'd probably be struggling very hard to get everything that that baby needs. Babies are very expensive, and with your situation right now you are not in a place where you can afford to have one. I think, and I'm sure that everyone else would tell you, is to wait until you are sure that you will be able to provide for that baby and provide for yourself as well with out any struggles. Living a life in fear of not having money is not the way to go. You need to make sure you have the money to have a baby before you just jump into this or else you won't be living very happy lives for eighteen years.
