Unplanned, Unstoppable: How I Became a Single Mom and Rebuilt My Life

Money Worries – The Financial Stress of Preparing for a Baby by Myself

When I first saw those two pink lines, my mind was flooded with emotions—joy, fear, and uncertainty. But among the many thoughts racing through my head, one worry loomed larger than the rest: money. How was I going to afford to raise a baby on my own?

Before pregnancy, I had always managed to get by. I paid my bills, covered my expenses, and even had a little set aside for emergencies. But now, everything was different. The realization hit me hard—I wasn’t just providing for myself anymore. I had a tiny life growing inside me, one that would depend on me for everything. And the expenses started piling up faster than I had expected.

Doctor’s visits, prenatal vitamins, maternity clothes—every step of the pregnancy came with a price tag. Then there was the overwhelming list of things I needed to buy before the baby arrived: a crib, a stroller, bottles, diapers, clothes, blankets. I remember sitting down one night, making a list of all the essentials, and feeling my chest tighten as I calculated the costs. It was more than I had ever spent in my life at one time.

I started cutting corners wherever I could. I stopped eating out, canceled unnecessary subscriptions, and put every extra penny into my savings. I scoured second-hand stores and online marketplaces for deals on baby gear. I accepted hand-me-downs from friends who had children, grateful for every little item they passed my way. But despite my best efforts, the fear never really went away.

What if I couldn’t afford everything my baby needed? What if an unexpected expense drained my savings? What if I wasn’t financially stable enough to provide the kind of life I wanted for my child? These questions kept me up at night, filling me with anxiety.

There were moments when I felt ashamed, as if I had failed before I had even started. I saw other expectant mothers with supportive partners, planning nurseries without a second thought about money. I envied their security, the luxury of having someone to share the financial burden with. But I didn’t have that. It was just me, and I had to find a way to make it work.

One of the hardest moments came when I had to ask for help. I had always been independent, always prided myself on taking care of things on my own. But this was different. I reached out to family members, swallowing my pride and admitting that I needed support. Some helped in whatever ways they could—offering to buy a few baby items, helping with medical expenses, or simply reassuring me that I wasn’t alone. Others, however, weren’t as understanding. “You should have thought about this before,” one person said, their judgment cutting deeper than I wanted to admit.

Despite the challenges, I refused to let financial worries steal the joy of preparing for my baby’s arrival. I focused on what I could do instead of what I couldn’t. I found free parenting classes in my community, connected with organizations that provided assistance for single mothers, and took on extra work where I could to boost my income. I reminded myself that love, not money, was the most important thing I could give my child.

There were nights I lay awake, staring at the ceiling, wondering if I would ever feel financially secure again. But then I would place my hands on my growing belly and remind myself why I was doing this. I wasn’t just preparing for a baby—I was building a future for the both of us. And no amount of financial stress could take away my determination to make it work.