What should you expect when you’re expecting?

A whole lot of added expense starting before birth.

That’s especially true for local parents.

You need cribs, diapers and other items for the blessed event.

The average conventional delivery with insurance in SC costs over $6,000, according to Fair Health data.

Lexington Medical Center estimated that before insurance payments kick in, parents will pay:

• $12,005 to $26,786 for a conventional delivery.

• $24,439 to $27,221 for a cesarean delivery.

But it’s not just costs parents should consider.

WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 30 key measures of cost, health care accessibility, as well as baby-and family-friendliness.

Data sets range from hospital conventional-delivery charges to annual average infant-care costs to pediatricians per capita.

The report found SC to be 3rd worst state in the nation to have a baby. We ranked only above Alabama and Mississippi.

It found SC is:

• 49th for midwives and OB-BYNs per capita

• 40th for birth-associated costs

• 48th for health care

• 49th for baby-friendliness

• 43rd for family-friendliness.

On the bright side, the study found we have the lowest average annual infant-care costs.

The best states to have a baby, according to the report, are Vermont, Massachusetts and North Dakota, but maybe not in winter.

Read the full report at https://wallethub.com/edu/best-and-worst-states-to-have-a-baby/6513/ .