The priceless feeling of being debt-free is hard to achieve with all of the new expenses brought on by a newborn in the family. A new crib: $400. A new car seat: $100. An adorable white christening gown and shawl: $200. The look on your spouse's face when he sees your credit card bill after your new baby is born: priceless.

Experts say financial stress is not healthy for a pregnant woman or her unborn child. But how do you stop worrying about money and stay out of debt during your pregnancy? It's important to have a plan for how you will manage the expenses of raising a child.

Amie Redman, of Sacramento Calif., says she made a conscious decision not to live on credit when she became pregnant with her infant daughter, Kyla. "The biggest thing for us was not falling prey to the lists," she says. "When you go to register for things they give you a list of things you need. You don' t need all that. We went with the main stuff and registered for things we could not afford."

A few of her friends went in together to buy a stroller. Her parents bought other big-ticket items such as the crib. "It's stressful," says Redman, who is taking classes to become an accountant. "I figured things would work out. You do the best you can."

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