I have been stalking you all over the web this morning trying to get some confirmation (and, yes, I am embarrassed to admit that), but I am so excited for you! A new baby is just the best news!
My best money saving tip is talk to other mommies and share. There is so much perfectly wonderful pregnancy and baby stuff sitting in closets and attics all over – and so much information to share. Blogs can be wonderful for that!
Did I mention how tickled I am for you? :>

Congrats!

Congratulations, Meredith! I wondered when I read your post on your other blog, but wasn’t sure.

My best tip is to shop thrift and secondhand stores for maternity clothes. Some of my nicest maternity clothes came from a thrift store. Our local crisis pregnancy center also has a maternity closet.

Since this is baby number three, you’ve already got a good idea of what your family considers indispensable, a nice extra, or total junk. Even if you’ve already handed all your baby clothes, equipment, etc. off to friends or family, it’s not an *emergency* –YET. Make a list of both indispensible items adn ‘nice extras’, then USE those ideas every time you pass a yard sale, since the weather is rapidly improving. It’ll give you at littlextra walking exercise, a good idea of which items you’ll pay more for, later.

Just remember to check for RECALLS on the Web BEFORE shopping. A ten-dollar stroller is NO bargain if there’s no way to have the company abide by the recall (which usually requires a copy of the original receipt).

I realize that you are not going to change your mind on this, but I thought that I would offer my 2cents on the topic.

Prenatal screenings are extremely important. They are not only for “finding out” about the health of the baby, but also for keeping tabs on the mother’s health as well. Screenings and check-ups will help determine if you have gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia. They usually take a urine sample at each visit to check for things such as protein, blood and sugar in your “output”. Even fairly uncomplicated things such as a bladder infection, can be a danger to an unborn child.

I went to every single pre-natal visit. I consider that to be money well spent. Just hearing the dopplar fetal heartbeat at each visit would be enough to keep me going back!

I hope this helps. Congratulations on your upcoming “investment!”

I want to clarify about the prenatal screenings–I meant the panel of tests for abnormalities such as Down Syndrome, Cystic Fibrosis, etc.

Of COURSE I will still receive the traditional prenatal screenings for MOM, but my experienced OB readily agreed that I could forego the others, no questions asked!

Congratulations! Be safe, get your vitamins, and enjoy the new little one when he or she comes.

Third child is very fun. take care.

Congratulations!!! I am so very happy for you!

Congrats! I have been having my suspicions! I am also expecting and I have found that if I think ahead on a day I am feeling good, it can save me on a day when I am too tired or nauseous to cook. I like to have pre-cooked chicken or hamburger in tehe freezer to make meals easier, and even buying a frozen pizza to keep in the freezer when you are doing your regular shopping will save the cost of going out at the last minute to buy one, or ordering a take-out pizza or other take-out/fast food.

Congratulations! Great news! I love having 3 kids and being frugal…when I was pregnant, I shopped the dollar day at my thrift store and for whatever didn’t work out, I then took to the consignment store. I also bought a one-time bunch of maternity clothes (early on) off of craigslist and then ebayed some, consigned others and kept what I wanted for myself And, yes, I garage-saled through out the summer with the other two children…picking up books and art supplies and activities that were then hid away in a special basket for when mommy was going to be busy with new baby and the older two needed something “special” to do! Will you have some meals provided by others…that is always such a blessing for when new baby arrives! Blessings!~C

My daughter loved this site. They are two younger women who look for bargins where ever they can and then ship the bargain to you!
http://cravingstyle.com/
I am very excited about your addition:>)

I made a post this evening about my thrift store score today:
http://anythingbloggable.blogspot.com/2008/04/sweet.html

Congratulations! I am also expecting #3 at the end of July, and I have managed to get nearly everything that I need this time around from just asking around for baby stuff. I am really pleased with what I have not had to spend any money on at all. There’s a 6 year gap in there, so I was starting with nothing.

Freecycle is another GREAT resource to find things for the baby.

Have a happy and healthy pregnancy!

[...] Cheerful Frugality Expects To Save [...]

Congratulations to all of your family! What a tremendous blessing. I’ll pray for a healthy baby and a safe delivery.

Money saving pregnancy advice: exercise. If your doctor allows you to walk or do a simple exercise video, make time for it daily. After nine full term pregnancies, I think that exercise made the biggest difference in wellbeing for me.

Congrats! For some reason I can never comment on your other blog but I do read it regularly and enjoy it! I was hoping you would be pregnant again soon after all those comments about wanting another baby back in stroller season!

I, too, am preggo with #3 (due in August) and have found that it is REALLY hard to be frugal during that first awful trimester of constant nausea due to the lack of ability to cook. So, the minute you find out you are pregnant, if you suffer from bad sickness, cook up a bunch of beans and hamburger and casseroles and freeze in portions in your freezer and you won’t have to deal with as much of the cooking smells when the nausea hits. Or have a friend help you cook.

One of the best things my parents got me was a “Mother’s Helper” to come once a week during the first trimester. I could run errands, grocery shop, or go have some peace in the library or nap while the young lady took care of my kids. What a blessing and the best Christmas present I ever received!

My BESTEST BESTEST frugal tip for pregnancy is:
Just say no! Even though I’m on number 3 I’m still tempted to buy clothes weekly from clearance racks or thrift stores or cute baby things. To be truly frugal during pregnancy one must refuse to buy what they do not need and shop for what is a TRUE NEED at yard sales or thrift shops after asking friends for loans or donations.

Another frugal tip:
Have a clothing swap! This is something my friends and I do a couple of times a year and it’s like a free yard sale in our living room. We just trade books, kid movies, clothes, shoes, maternity clothes, etc. around.

Meredith,

Congratulations!! From a mother of 4, so glad to hear you’re having another one!!

My best money-saving tip: (especially being pregnant in the summer) Aldi’s drumsticks! MMMM, so good and only 1.99 for 6. These really helped me b/c I would limit myself to one instead of eating 1/4 of a gallon of ice cream (1/2 of a 1/2 gallon). For when I had gestational diabetes – Kroger no sugar added chocolate ice cream bars (chocolate coating vanilla ice cream), usually these would be on sale 12 for 1.99 or sometimes 2.50. They tasted the best of all the no sugar added ones I tried.