It’s not a secret—having a baby is expensive to say the least. Medical expenses, baby gear, and diapers all quickly add up, not to mention all the smaller items you never thought about (like baby toiletries or safety features). But did you know that there a ton of resources for new moms that are completely free?
That’s right! Despite the crazy expenses, there are also plenty of resources that you can get for free. You just have to know where to look.
One thing you’ll be surprised about is the wide range that these resources cover. In this post, I cover twelve highly valuable resources you can get completely free and how to get them.
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure here.
Amazing Free Resources For New Moms
One of the really great things about these free resources is that for many of them, you don’t have to wait until your baby is born. For many of these valuable resources, you can take advantage of their benefits while you are still pregnant.
Breast Pump
If you have health insurance, it’s very likely that you could get a free breast pump through your insurance. Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance companies are required to pay for a breast pump, or the rental of one.
Depending on your particular plan, your options could include a manual or an electric pump, or a choice of either. Your insurance may also cover the cost of replacement parts.
Some insurances will not allow you to receive the pump until after the baby is born. Others will send it as soon as you order, or within a few weeks before your due date.
Personally, I was able to get a double electric pump completely free (including shipping) through my insurance.
How To Get Yours
I requested my free pump through Aeroflow Breast Pumps in a super easy 3 step process. All I had to do was fill out a short form (an I mean short), and they literally took care of the rest.
They take care of getting a prescription from your doctor, and filing with your insurance. Once they find out what your insurance will cover, you can log into your account and pick out what breast pump you want!
I didn’t find out about this fantastic resource until a month or two after my son was born, but as soon as I applied I was able to order my pump within a few days and received it a few days after that. I was very surprised at how fast and easy the whole process was.
Baby Welcome Box
If you set up a baby registry (and you should!), check to see if the site also offers a welcome box for baby registries. Many sites that offer baby registries, such as Amazon, also offer free baby boxes as a gift for the expecting mother.
Baby boxes vary in what they include. Often included items are swaddles, onesies, baby bottles, toiletry products, diapers, wipes, formula samples, and coupons.
Some registries require a certain dollar amount to be purchased off your registry before your baby box can be shipped.
This isn’t a big deal though, the amount is usually small and will easily be met when people buy stuff from your registry. It’s just a way to ensure you are legitimately using the registry before they send the box.
Also be aware that baby welcome boxes are often limited in stock, so be sure to claim yours as soon as you can so you don’t miss out!
Baby Registry
This is probably the most obvious resource available to new moms. Baby registries are a fantastic ways to let people know what you need without being rude or feeling awkward.
Baby registries are free to set up, and often offer perks such as baby welcome boxes. Most registries also offer discounts on any remaining items left on your list after your baby is born. This can easily add up to huge savings on anything you don’t get at a baby shower.
If you’re looking for a great registry to use, I highly recommend using Amazon’s baby registry.
In addition to a welcome box and discounts on remaining items, Amazon’s registry allows you to add items from any site. This is makes it a fantastic resource, especially if you see something you like from another site or small shop. Definitely worth checking out!
And, you can grab my FREE baby registry checklist here!
Insurance Programs For New Moms
Did you know that some insurances have special programs for expecting and new moms? For example, my insurance offered me a choice of a breast pump, car seat (up to $150), $225 for being a homemaker, or up to $150 for fitness classes during pregnancy.
They also offered up to $125 in reimbursement for educational classes such as breastfeeding and child birth. Educational materials, and three lactation or nurse visits were also covered through my insurance’s program.
Don’t Miss Out!
Unfortunately, the only benefit I was aware of was the breast pump, and I completely missed out on the other resources I could have collected.
Don’t do what I did. Make sure you look into what pregnancy and postpartum benefits and resources your insurance will cover.
If you’re not sure or don’t know where to look, call your insurance and ask! There are so many beneficial resources you can get free if you just ask.
Hospital Supplies
Alright, technically this one isn’t free since you technically pay for it in your hospital bill when you delivery. But, what many new moms don’t know is that there is a ton of stuff you can take home with you from the hospital.
Since it’s a resource you’re going to pay for whether you use it or not, you may as well make the most of it.
If you use a hospital breast pump during your stay, you will be given a bag of parts to use with it. All that is yours to keep, so be sure to take it home with you.
You should also take anything that is in the drawers of your baby’s bassinet, such as diapers, wipes, formula, and anything else you find in there.
Anything that is open and left will be thrown out anyway, so don’t be shy about taking these things with you when you leave the hospital.
Also take any postpartum supplies, such as pads, mesh undies, Dermoplast, and peri/squirt bottles.
Mom Resource Library
I bet this is one resource you didn’t think of! Did you know many pregnancy and mom blogs have free resource libraries filled with helpful information and resources? Better yet, did you know that this blog has one?
In my resource library, you can find free resources ranging from ebooks, to printables, to guides, and even mini courses.
To gain access to this free library, sign up below to get the access code in your email (this will also subscribe you to my newsletter, which you are free to unsubscribe from at any time).
Lactation Support
Other amazing free resources available to new moms include lactation support. Did you know that most hospitals provide some sort of lactation support for breastfeeding moms?
When you are in the hospital having your baby, you should have access to a lactation consultant that can help you get started breastfeeding.
Even if this is not your first baby, I highly recommend utilizing this resource while it’s immediately available to you.
Many times a lactation consultant will stop by before you leave, but sometimes this isn’t the case. To make sure you make the most of the beginning of your breastfeeding journey, be sure to specifically ask to see a lactation consultant.
In the event that one isn’t available at your hospital, many nurses are also trained to help you get started breastfeeding.
WIC
WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) is a great resource available to low income new and expecting moms.
To get the benefits and free resources in this program, you do need to meet certain parameters to qualify, such as income and nutritional risk.
The exact qualifications varies from state to state, so be sure to check online or with your local WIC office to see if you could qualify for this.
Some of the free resources available through WIC to new moms include credits to purchase nutritional food, formula, and breastfeeding support. Educational materials are also available through your local WIC office.
This program is available to qualifying pregnant women, breastfeeding women, infants, and children up to age five.
Formula Samples
If you decide not to breastfeed, or can’t for some reason, you will need to feed your baby formula. And if you’ve ever bought formula, you know that it can easily get expensive!
But did you know that there are ways to make the expense more manageable?
When my son was nine months old, we had to start supplementing with formula because I just couldn’t keep up with his needs, despite my efforts.
Luckily, we were able to get a large number of formula samples that lasted most of the time we needed to supplement.
When you check out of the hospital after delivery, be sure to take any samples from the bassinet with you.
It also never hurts to ask if they have any samples on hand, in case you need them or decide you want to formula feed.
I was able to take a number of the small bottles of formula. Additionally, our pediatrician was awesome and gave us a big case of sample sized tubs of formula.
It’s also possible to get formula through WIC if you qualify for the program. Also, keep an eye out in your mail for any coupons to help out with the cost.
Moms Groups
Moms groups are absolutely fantastic free resources that new moms should definitely take advantage of! These groups are groups specifically for moms to meet, socialize, and help each other out.
Now, you may not feel much like socializing right after delivery while you’re still healing, but once you feel up to leaving the house, it’s a great way to take care of your own mental and emotional health.
Postpartum depression and anxiety are real things, and they affect more women than we tend to realize. Even if you don’t have depression or anxiety, being a mom (especially a new mom) can be rather lonely at times.
It can be hard to find and make friends that understand where you are at and support you. Moms groups are a great place to connect with local moms who are able to support you and take some of the loneliness out of motherhood.
To find a moms group near you, try asking the maternity nurses at the hospital, your doctor, your child’s pediatrician, or other moms you know. Often times, you can find moms groups through local churches as well.
Breastfeeding Support Groups
Before you leave the hospital, be sure to ask your lactation consultant if there are any breastfeeding support groups in your area.
Breastfeeding can be hard, physically, mentally, and emotionally. If you want to breastfeeding successfully, it’s important to have support when you need it.
For many new moms, breastfeeding can be a challenge to master at first; support groups are excellent resources to help you on your breastfeeding journey.
In addition to meeting with other moms who are on the same incredible journey as you, many groups are headed up or attended by lactation consultants.
Any time you can get some help from a lactation consultant, be sure to use to opportunity! And of course, these groups also offer a great opportunity to connect with other moms in the same stage of motherhood.
Printable Milestone Stickers
Although I tried really hard to do monthly photos of my son, I do wish I had been a bit more creative about them.
Ironically it wasn’t until I started blogging that I realized how simple it is to take good photos of your baby. Babies grow fast, and it’s important to capture as many milestones as possible (you’ll thank yourself later, trust me!).
Recently I learned that Shutterfly has some super cute printable baby month stickers that you can use in your baby photos.
This is another awesome resource I wish I had known about when Elijah was still a baby. These free resources make it easy for new moms to take cute monthly pictures of their baby.
The post even includes some creative ideas on how to pose and photograph your little one in case you need some inspiration.
Pick a fun theme and outfit for your baby to wear throughout the series of photos for a cohesive look, and use the stickers to mark their month.
Pro tip: Schedule your photo sessions outside of your baby’s meal or nap times. This will help avoid any crankiness or uneasiness from baby. Of course, sleeping baby photos are just as adorable!
Ready to grab some freebies?
Did you know about all these incredible resources? Do you know of other free resources that new moms can take advantage of? Share with me in the comments below!
Leave a Reply