Moving mid way through pregnancy

[lamafarmer]

Hi all,

I'm 5+2 today so very early days.

DH and I live around 1h30mins from my parents and 2h from his. The plan was always to move back to my parents to start a family.

All of that is great, everyone is on board and looking forward to this new phase in our lives (although both sets of parents are yet to find out!)

We intend to stay where we are so that I can work until around 7 months at which point we will move.

What we haven't got sorted is the practicalities of moving antenatal care, ie moving from my GP/midwife at the GP (I think that's the set up - not due to see any HCP till 8 week booking in) to whatever there is where my parents are... hopefully back to the family GP... not really sure how it works!

Does anyone have any experience moving during pregnancy? What should I tell the midwife at booking in?

[EllieM22]

Yes we did this! We actually lived between two places (4hrs apart) for months so i was forever back and forth between midwifes as a temporary patient! It was a faff with receptionists at the doctors surgeries but the actual midwives and doctors i saw were brilliant! Even when i went into the hospital for monitoring but wasn't registered there yet! If you have any Qs about the logistics of it all I can try and help 😊 i am 37 weeks and we are finally here for good now. It was a bit of a pain in the ass but SO worth it to have moved. If it's definitely the right decision for you to move then it will be fine and worth it - look forward to the big sigh of relief you can breath at the end when it's done. Ours was a new build so we didnt even have bins or post or any services working correctly for months but we managed!

[Scotmum83]

I did this at 5 months, was very straightforward, mention it to you mw ASAP so they can do what they need to do. Have you got lots of help for moving stuff, I arranged removals and they did it all so I wasn't lifting anything.

[lamafarmer]

Thank you both that is really reassuring! I will tell the MW at booking in.

We can move bit by bit over a few months (thinking about starting with summer clothes in a suitcase at Xmas!) which will help, plus friends either end.

I plan to sit at the table and sort small items into boxes... or maybe just make cups of tea and watch!

[gillybeanz]

We did this about 6 months, I even got a new job in the area for a while.
I just went straight to a gp and registered and they took it from there.
New midwife, new hospital etc.
We moved ourselves with a van, dh drove it and I was passenger.
Friends helped to load heavy furniture, we did all the packing and unpacking ourselves.
It was like moving at any other time and unless you have complications it's good to keep going and lifting things as long as not too heavy.
I found it shortened labour, unless this is coincidence.

With 3 children over a 13 year period my total time in labour was 4 hours.
I tell anyone who will listen, in case it's true

[Vida32]

Really interesting to hear other experiences. We are moving a couple of hundred miles in less than a week, at which point I will be 13 weeks. My DH and I have also been living apart for much of the first trimester (during the week at least) for work reasons, so I'm v much looking forward to being in the same place but v anxious about transferring over to a new GP, etc. - especially as we haven't had the smoothest journey so far. I told the GP, midwife, my haemolotogy consultant and hospital right away and they have been very good at trying to fit in all the appointments I need before I move so things don't fall between the cracks. It's still v nerve wracking though, with the usual moving stress on top as well.

[GiraffeWithAShortNeck]

I moved at 7 months and it was straightforward. Had to do my booking in a second time but otherwise all fine. You don't need to worry about telling anyone for ages.

[LifeBeginsNow]

We did. It started with quite a bit of time prior to DS's arrival and in the end we moved in 3 days before he was born (and he was 6 days late)!

As it was cutting it fine, I didn't really know which county I'd be giving birth in which was quite stressful as I wanted to visit the hospital and get a feel for where I would be going. In the end, it was possible to view the hospital I did give birth in and that set my mind at rest.

As for appointments, I phoned the doctors as soon as I could to register and they were very good at fitting in a midwife appointment.

I'd suggest getting contact information ready for the doctors you will ultimately use. I also used the time before the move to get all the other numbers I'd need written down so it was just a case of going through the list when we moved to update everyone. With any luck though, your move won't be as rushed as ours!

[smellsofelderberries]

I moved from London to Sydney, Australia at 27 weeks and we've only just got our things last weekend, and I'm now 37 weeks. DH's work paid for people to pack in London and they delivered all our boxes and furniture here, and we have unpacked. It's been hard, but now we have all our stuff it's definitely been worth the stress and effort.

I just registered with my hospital when I arrived and they've been fantastic. My midwife in London knew we were off and I told them at booking what was happening.

[orangebird69]

I moved from the Middle East back to the UK at 35 weeks. Just went to my old drs and got booked in. Couldn't have been any easier.

[DollyBarton]

It's really no issue. I've moved house during my first pregnancy and got the keys to my new home the day after my second baby was born. So don't worry, it's not as complicated as it sounds AND if anything, people do all the levels dying and helping for you!

[DollyBarton]

Levels drying= lifting

[lamafarmer]

Thanks all - I'm much less worried now! X