Friday, October 12, 2007

Can we afford fertility? or How much should you pay to have a baby?

I've read articles before that talk about the cost to raise a child. The numbers are usually shocking. But lately I've been trying to figure out how much it will cost us just to get the baby in the first place.

Here is what we have spent trying to get pregnant naturally for the last year:

1 year of prenatal vitamin--$20/month x 12 months = $240
6 months of ovulation prediction kits--$20/month x 6 months = $120
4 bottles of Robitussin to increase CM--$8/bottle x 4 = $32
2 pregnancy tests (with negative results)--$15 for one pack = $15
6 months of therapist appointments to deal with stress and anxiety of not getting pregnant while others around us do so seemingly effortlessly--$75/visit x 2 visits per month x 6 months = $900
1 office visit with OB/GYN at the 1 year mark--$15 copay = $15
1 progesterone test at the 1 year mark (normal results)--unexpectedly covered by insurance= $0
1 sperm count test at the 1 year mark (above normal results)--a surprisingly low $25 = $25

Total Cost of One Year of Infertility = $1,347

Here are the possible costs to pursue further fertility treatment:

1 initial consultation visit at the fertility clinic (not covered by insurance)--$400-$500
Tests, ultrasounds, lab-work (not covered by insurance)--$400-$500
Possible ovulation induction, if I am not ovulating correctly (not covered by insurance)--$700-$900 per cycle
Possible artificial insemination, if W's swimmers aren't swimming (not covered by insurance)--$300-$600 per cycle
Possible in-vitro fertilization, if nothing else works (definitely not covered by insurance)--$10,000+ per cycle

Total Cost of Possible Fertility Treatments = anywhere from $1,800 to $2,500 to $15,000 per cycle.

Here are the possible costs for adoption:

Foster Care Adoptions$0 - $2,500
Licensed Private Agency Adoptions$5,000 - $40,000+
Independent Adoptions$8,000 - $40,000+
Facilitated/Unlicensed Adoptions$5,000 - $40,000+
Intercountry Adoptions$7,000 - $30,000

Total Costs to Pursue Adoption = anywhere from $0 to $40,000

Yearly income for both W and I = $50,000
Discretionary money after mortgage, bills, and debt are paid = $500/month (if we are lucky)
Amount of years it will take us to save to pay for fertility treatment or adoption = anywhere from 4 months to 6.5 years
Age we will be in 6.5 years = 39 years old

End result of having a baby = priceless?

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