New mums face big debts during maternity leave but still spend on baby items

New mums face racking up big debts during maternity leave as they struggle to meet the rising cost of living.

Only one in four new mums said they felt financially prepared for children in a study by uSwitch.com.

But the debts are not due to a hasty rush to start a family, with 23 per cent of couples already putting off a baby due to the cost.

Though new mums can see their income drop by half during maternity leave, the average spend on new baby items came to a staggering £1,423.12.

This amount was found to be in addition to a whopping £1,526.41, the average mother had spent on baby items prior to leave.

Director of Consumer Policy at uSwitch.com, Ann Robinson, says: “Planning for a baby is tough at the best of times, but in the face of the soaring cost of living there is even more pressure on family finances. For some families this can mean some very difficult decisions. It’s heartbreaking that so many mums are being forced into debt or having to cut short their maternity leave just to make ends meet.”