Don’t let social media and baby fever fool you

“I was only 23 at the time, my friends were having kids, when I was scrolling through popular social media pages and seeing cute photos and videos of baby showers and pregnancy bumps, I felt like I was so ready to become a mother,” she told the Star on Tuesday.

“My boyfriend and I had agreed on no kids till am 27 years old, which I agreed, but at the back of my head, I wanted a baby so bad.”

In 2019, Mwenesi fell pregnant, and just before things could get any better, the pandemic struck in March 2020.

“I never expected things could take such a wild turn. I remember crying a lot at night, I did not even get the chance to hold my dream baby shower due to the Covid-19 restrictions the government set, I was all alone,” she said.

For Mwenesi, things got even worse, after his boyfriend was laid off, after which he turned to doing some freelance work remotely.

“For that time, that was paying the bills, but with the baby on the way, we had to seek support from our friends and family because things were getting tight,” she said.

“What they do not tell you is that having a baby impacts the parent both physically, emotionally as well as financially. Getting a baby is like a whole project, that you have to work on from conception to birth and even after birth. But here are some of the tips I used to survive the ‘pandemic’.”

Giving birth

Mwenesi says she cut costs by not having a baby shower, instead, she went for a studio photoshoot with a few friends and family.

“I didn’t throw a baby shower, something I felt bad about during my first pregnancy, but I did it for my second born who is only 5 months now,” she said.

“My boyfriend and I never had a solid plan during our first but one thing I learned through the two pregnancies is that planning never stops. It’s better to prepare yourself financially, and having a budget should be at the top of the list.”

Buy more unisex items

Mwenesi advised parents and guardians to buy more unisex items if they are planning to have more children in the future.

“In terms of the baby’s crib, strollers, clothes, or toys, buying unisex items will save you future costs should you get a different gender, in the future,” she advised.

“I had a girl, so I bought pink things, only for my second baby to be a boy, I ended up buying extra stuff.”

Medical bills and covers

Huggies recommend mothers get their NHIF card at least 3 months before they give birth, as it takes some time before you can use it.

“Giving birth alone might cost you up to Sh200,000 or even more, which if you are covered by a medical aid scheme, it is cheaper as it covers the costs of pathology test, ultrasound procedures and antenatal classes,” the Huggies post reads.

Also mothers to not only consider the birthing costs, but also the postpartum clinic tests and check-ups for both the mother and the baby.

Equipment and other needs

Setting up a nursery can be demanding and expensive and chances are, you are being offered a lot of things that you might not require at the time.

“We were living in a one-bedroom by the time I was having my first baby, so the baby could sleep in our room, having the second baby made me rethink my finances, as we had to move to a bigger house,” she said.

From feeding, travel equipment, diapers, and home necessities, Mwenesi says these are some of the things first-time parents should have at the back of their minds.

However, some mothers draw the line on some gadgets, terming them a luxury.

“A diaper in Kenya today costs about Sh25 to Sh40 depending on the brand. On a normal day, 4-8 diapers might be used depending on the child’s ‘emergencies’,” she said.

Nursery and housing

“The housing conditions are changed to fit the baby’s needs. A lot of items have to be baby proofed, especially if a baby is at the crawling stage. Moving to the two bedrooms gave our kids more space to move around and play,” she said.

“The cost of the baby crib alone is Sh40,000, but we are slowly furnishing the nursery, with a few things we can afford.”

Clothes and welfare

In terms of clothing, Mwenesi advised the parent to opt for basic clothes, which can be used as hand-me-downs in case other kids come.

“Avoid splurging on ‘fashion’; a baby needs to change at least 4 times in a day when ‘accidents’ happen,” she told the Star.

“Don’t shy away from asking for hand-me-downs from friends and family whose babies have outgrown their clothes.” 

Being a financial advisor she urged parents to look into maternity packages for hospitals or medical aid schemes as it will save on costs and help them plan financially.

“Also look into your company’s (employer) maternity package. Some companies offer paid maternity leave and medical care, so make sure you take advantage of the package as it is your right,” she said.

Mwenesi says having her first baby might not have been easy for her but with her second child, she got a hang of things.

"It's not a smooth ride like social media projects but once you set your mind on something, it is possible to do it."