You’ve heard it said that having a baby is “the most natural thing in the world,” but I feel strongly the most natural thing in the world should be free, like sunshine or a light breeze. Both are delightfully natural, both are free.

As it turns out, the only thing free about bringing a little one into the world (aside from joy, love and other meaningful things) is getting the process started. Babies, and particularly the first born, bring along expenses you need to be aware of and budgeting for before the little bun gets to baking.

Why the rush to pee on a stick? Patience pays off

Results from a poll by babycenter.com show that 45 percent of women trying to conceive take pregnancy tests without waiting to see if their period comes (here’s another free “pregnancy test”). Why does that matter? It matters because doctors recommend using a test 5 to 10 days after a late period is due. So nearly half of the women polled paid an average of  $12 a test, risking a false negative because pregnancy hormones had so little time to build up. To save money on tests (generic Walmart and Walgreens versions are cheaper, but may give more false results) look for coupons online and fight that curiosity until at least a day after a late period is due.

The preexisting condition in your belly

Applying for coverage after getting pregnant may work against you as it’s considered a “preexisting condition.” Check your health insurance policy before you get pregnant, if possible. You may be surprised. We (I’m not pregnant, mom) were disturbed to realize our considerable coverage actually has nothing for prenatal or maternity care.

Here’s a starting place for maternity insurance and discount programs.

Ah for the days of giving birth in potato fields

Let’s backtrack from the delivery: Doctors recommend about 14 prenatal checkups-increasing in frequency as the trimesters progress- averaging $133 each (without insurance) according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Without insurance or discount programs that’s $1,862 over nine months–$206.80 a month before the delivery, not including that awesome 3-D sonogram and bloodwork and tests. It is vital to look into getting coverage, as the costs will carry on well past infant checkups.

Without insurance deliveries range form $6,000 to $15,000 before doctors’ fees. A C-Section with complications and a longer hospital stay is the most expensive situation. Optional medical expenses that bring the price up: epidurals and circumcision for a baby boy.

Look in to purchasing insurance that has a reasonable deductible and low annual out-of-pocket cap, because many insurance companies consider your newborn on its own coverage upon birth. That means you’ll pay double  out-of-pocket-caps and deductibles (for you and the baby). You can ask the hospital you’ll deliver at what your estimated out-of-pocket costs will be when you register with them.

What happens in the hospital doesn’t stay in the hospital

It is illegal to bring your little treasure home without a carseat ($30 to $400), and that’s just the  first furniture your baby will contact. Look to economize with a convertible carseat that will change for your growing infant, or a carseat/stroller combination. The other two primary expenses in the first year are food and diapers. Here’s a really cool cost calculator to give you an estimate of your first year expenses with a baby.

Trent from The Simple Dollar figured up that breastfeeding can save $1,733.75 versus formula in the first year. This doesn’t factor in the cost of a breast-pump (why does it feel creepy to type that?), which runs about $250, but a savings of even $1,400 in the first year makes breastfeeding look like a good idea. If breastfeeding isn’t possible in your situation, here are some moms’ breakdowns on the cost of different formulas. Their average is a little lower that Trent’s estimate, at $1,284 a year.

Once your baby is on to semi-solid foods, you can save about $4 a day over baby food jars (which can average $4.50 a day) by steaming and pureeing your own vegetables and cooked meats. Here’s a site with recipes and ideas for economical and nutritional baby foods.

Babies can go through 5-8 diaper changes a day– that’s 1,825 to 2,920 in the first year! If you use disposable diapers you can expect to pay $1,600 to $2,300 for them by the time your baby is potty-trained. According to the research I did no one has a solid fiscal argument for using disposable diapers.  In fact cloth diapers can save you big. The cost of using cloth diapers, which can range from a super-simple cloth to having more features than your minivan, is between $800 and $1,100 if you wash them yourself. Gross as it may sound right now, there are loads of helpful tips online for making cloth diapers easy, and they’ll help you save for the expenses of the next 18 years of your child’s life!

All told, your baby will be priceless. But choosing to be frugal with the necessities, and having adequate medical coverage, can make the experience that much more enjoyable.