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Original poster

For asking - help me!! I need to pack to move/be organised and I'm 36 weeks pregnant

39 replies

StirrednotFried · 20/08/2025 08:41

Hive mind, I need direction. I'm usually an accomplished, level headed and fairly intelligent human being but right now I'm overwhelmed, exhausted and did I say, overwhelmed?

I'm almost 36 weeks pregnant. Married (DH is more than doing his bit) and have 3 helpers at home off school ranging in age from 17 to 12 - all hardworking, capable and supportive. Baby is mine and DH's first (and last together).

Ok, this is the dilemma. We live in our current home, very comfortable and perfectly ready to bring a baby home. We have 5 bedrooms, lots of space in general and no need to really 'set' anything up.

We purchased a second property as a dream project to renovate and then move into. It's about 5 minutes from where we live, beautifully set in an acre of land with stables attached and once completed, will be a truly wonderful family home.

It's likely that baby is going to arrive in the next 2/2.5 weeks (c-section needed) - DH has been working flat out to get the other house ready in time. Kids have spent most of their summer there too building furniture etc and helping where they can. I finished work yesterday and am now on 'mat leave'.

We are at a halfway house point, packing here while frantically trying to get things ready there. I'm feeling super anxious about not having a space ready for the baby and or facilitating the move so near baby's arrival.

DH and the kids are fantastic and cracking on, telling me to rest and not worry but I cant.

I need to know if this makes sense:

I'm thinking that I set baby's things up in our current bedroom.
That way if the other house isn't ready in time, we're sorted here.

We pack as much as we don't use daily and get that stored at the other house (I have a huge car, seats down I can get a lot in there). We ensure we have the things we need to hand and only move those when we're ready.

I need to pack hospital bags, baby and mine - please someone give me a shake with a list or a to-do on this. The online lists are huge!

I fit the car seat in my car, ready to go.

Shit, we don't have any nappies - ok, I start a list.

I then need to think about notifying utilities etc but that won't be until we actually move.

We are not in a chain or anything. We own the renovation property outright and we will be putting our current one on the market after we've fully moved out. Our only deadline is baby's arrival.

Please, please help me to structure a process, timetable, to-do, anything to get some semblance of a plan together because right now I'm sat thinking WTF!?

Thank you 😫♥️

OP posts:
Gagamama2 · 20/08/2025 09:05

Doggymummar · 20/08/2025 08:55

Honestly. Just stop. Sounds like the kids have had no Summer, thats not fair. Call it a day. Get the room ready where you are, half a day tops and go have some fun with the family, aim to move in new place for Christmas.

Edited

This. You brain has gone into panicked nesting mode. You are not alone, mine did this too and now I look back I wonder wtf I was doing making everything so stressful 😂🙈.

set up a little baby area in your current bedroom. They barely need anything, just a cot and changing area. Get through the birth and the first couple of months in a house that works and doesn’t have a million teething issues (as your new one probably will). Then hire a moving company to do all the moving for you, they will also make up furniture so your kids aren’t spending their summer holidays doing it.

Original poster
StirrednotFried · 20/08/2025 09:03

Yellowpingu · 20/08/2025 08:54

My DH moved us whilst I was in hospital having DS (prematurely and by C-section). My tip: book a removal company with a packing service. Best money we’ve ever spent.

This is what we've agreed. Did it work well for you? How did you organise the pre-packing part? Or did the removal people do that too? And who unpacked/organised at the other end?

OP posts:
Original poster
StirrednotFried · 20/08/2025 09:01

Doggymummar · 20/08/2025 08:55

Honestly. Just stop. Sounds like the kids have had no Summer, thats not fair. Call it a day. Get the room ready where you are, half a day tops and go have some fun with the family, aim to move in new place for Christmas.

Edited

I do understand your perspective but disagree on the kids. We've interspersed them doing what they want around the renovation. Oldest has spent a lot of time with her BF, here and at his place, middle one with friends, is off out today to see them too and youngest has loved learning how to build and DIY - they've all been very involved and have picked furniture, colour schemes and done numerous tip runs. They're not whingy kids and they know what we're trying to achieve.

We've agreed we'll be going away at the end of the year to have a break together as a family and to show them how proud we are of their hard work :)

OP posts:
FartyAnimal · 20/08/2025 09:00

Just have the baby in your current house, then gradually move. Jeez - you are making a huge drama out of nothing. There is no reason you have to take the baby home to your new house. Enjoy the luxury of moving at your leisure. This is a very first world problem.

tealandteal · 20/08/2025 08:59

In your situation I would either put the brakes on and move when baby is about a month, let the kids have some time to relax and you all enjoy the new baby. OR book a professional removals company to pack the house up and move you ASAP. You will only have one first day at home with baby and this is your last pregnancy, don’t try to push yourself to do too much. But do buy some nappies (get them delivered!).

Evaka · 20/08/2025 08:59

Pay movers! Everyone sounds shattered by this.

ConfusedSloth · 20/08/2025 08:56

Oh gosh OP. I feel you.

We moved out of our house when DS was three weeks old - not our choice, lovely landlord had to evict us because of something outside of his control. We were in the process of buying a new house when DD was born - offer was made before we even knew we were pregnant but didn't end up completing until she was two months old! And it was a renovation house so she lived with bare floorboards and peeling wallpaper for a while.

Newborns need very little. A next-to-me crib in your room. Ours had storage underneath and that held all of DS's clothes, muslins and nappies for the first three weeks of his life. Literally all his things were in the cot.

Set that up in your current place - set everything else up at the new place. Even if baby is a month or so old when you get to living there, that's fine.

In terms of hospital bags - take food! Our hospital didn't have a microwave or fridge (other than for breastmilk) so we had to plan pretty effectively for food. For all his wonderful traits, DH is entirely useless when hungry. Having said that, I ended up not at all hungry in my 37 hour labour with DS so didn't eat anything, and DD came so fast I wouldn't have even had time! Things like tinned fruit are a good shout when you want food that feels a bit fresher.

Otherwise, headphones, lip balm, moisturiser, eye mask, ear plugs, hairband/headband, nail file... I get so dry in hospital air! Anything you'd need on a plane (except your passport). A pj top that buttons/zips at the front.

Original poster
StirrednotFried · 20/08/2025 08:56

WasThatACorner · 20/08/2025 08:50

Have you asked DH what his process / timetable like? There isn't much point you putting lots of time and getting stressed out into this if he has a plan that he is working through with the kids.

Buy nappies, put baby things in your room with moses basket set up and the rest in open boxes and then ask DH what you can do that would be helpful.

You might end up with the least sexy jobs but makes sense to let him lead right now.

We're both very involved in the project management for the new place so I've got good insight. We'll be cutting it close with one major internal job, fitting of new radiators throughout but we should be 90% there by the end of this month.

DH has legitimately broken himself to get things done, he's used all his AL and then unpaid leave to take time from his very full on job. Then when he's been working, he's finished and worked through the night, sleeping on a mattress at times. It's partly why I want to do my best to get moved but don't know if it's doable.

I completely agree around the least sexy jobs and him leading. Genuinely, he's been amazing. I want to lighten the load of packing this place up on top of everything else.

I'm thinking the same thing, set baby's stuff up in our bedroom.

OP posts:
Doggymummar · 20/08/2025 08:55

Honestly. Just stop. Sounds like the kids have had no Summer, thats not fair. Call it a day. Get the room ready where you are, half a day tops and go have some fun with the family, aim to move in new place for Christmas.

Yellowpingu · 20/08/2025 08:54

My DH moved us whilst I was in hospital having DS (prematurely and by C-section). My tip: book a removal company with a packing service. Best money we’ve ever spent.

Original poster
StirrednotFried · 20/08/2025 08:51

Fupoffyagrasshole · 20/08/2025 08:46

You are being waaaaaaaaay too ambitious

just set up a cot and changing mat in current house and give yourself a few weeks to get settled into life with the baby and then move.

I had to move when my baby was 3 weeks old post c section because we were moving and thats just the date it felt and had no option to stay on (I would have given the choice)

You are really lucky the move isn't time sensitive

Focus on hospital bag and having the current bedroom set up

You need very little for a newborn just a place for them to sleep and be changed and some clothes.

This is what I need! Sense check, thank you.

The move isn't just being driven by the rest of my family. I'd like to bring baby home there if we can - ideas for this are very welcome.

I need a plan and a backup plan!

OP posts:
WasThatACorner · 20/08/2025 08:50

Have you asked DH what his process / timetable like? There isn't much point you putting lots of time and getting stressed out into this if he has a plan that he is working through with the kids.

Buy nappies, put baby things in your room with moses basket set up and the rest in open boxes and then ask DH what you can do that would be helpful.

You might end up with the least sexy jobs but makes sense to let him lead right now.

Original poster
StirrednotFried · 20/08/2025 08:47

Just to add, other than being utterly exhausted, physically I'm perfectly fine to crack on.

Kids are all hard workers so tasks can be allocated and family and friends are offering daily help.

I just need a structure to work from for my own sanity.

We need to pack/organise:
5 bedrooms
A huge internal garage/pantry/gym
Kitchen
Office
Lounge
3 bathrooms (1 small toilet too but nothing much in there)
A hallway with various storage items containing shoes, coats etc.
Large back garden, BBQ's, furniture, gardening tools

Mind has gone blank....

OP posts:
Fupoffyagrasshole · 20/08/2025 08:46

You are being waaaaaaaaay too ambitious

just set up a cot and changing mat in current house and give yourself a few weeks to get settled into life with the baby and then move.

I had to move when my baby was 3 weeks old post c section because we were moving and thats just the date it felt and had no option to stay on (I would have given the choice)

You are really lucky the move isn't time sensitive

Focus on hospital bag and having the current bedroom set up

You need very little for a newborn just a place for them to sleep and be changed and some clothes.

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