Moving house at 38 weeks... moving tips please!

[MarchSurprise]

Hello,

So after a long, long wait we finally have a moving date for our new home in 2 weeks, which brings me to 38 weeks pregnant!

We are having to do the move solely ourself unfortunately, hiring a van and praying I don't go into labour on move day. I won't be expected to do any heavy lifting.

With being so far on, I'm going to have to get everything unpacked and sorted as quickly as possible. As well as only having two weeks to get organised!

Please share your tips for making a house move as easy and organised as possible? Last time I moved I was appalling, so I really need some good tips to get me through!

Thanks in advance

No tips but feel for you. I moved out of a 5th floor flat with no lift, with one man and a van, at 36.+4 and DH was in Kosovo with K4 and went into labour the next day. But it was fine. DH rushed home (missed the birth but DM was there) - I I was in for a week and he did all the unpacking!

Pack essentials seperately, enough to last maybe 2 weeks to get you through

I had to move at 38 weeks too. My advice is mainly just listen to your body and let your DH do most of the work- not just heavy lifting but the general running around trying to get things sorted. I tried to do too much and by the end of the day I was aching loads and was worrying I'd be giving birth there and then- as it was I went 2 weeks late so I actually had 4 weeks to get the new house sorted. Keep your hospital bag (notes etc) separate from everything (ideally in the car) as well as what you need to be comfy your first night in your new home. Good luck!

I did this too. I bought the old fashioned checked laundry bags on Amazon and packed all clothes and soft furnishings in these. Easy to stack in the van and good as protection for fragile items.

I packed essentials for kitchen in one box and non essentials in another and prioritised opening.

Label everything. Have colours on the labels too so your partner knows which room it goes in without having to stop and check with you. E.g green living room. Blue bathroom etc.

If you are transporting drawers. Don't pack the contents. Take the drawers out full. Put the unit in the van and then put the drawers back in. Secure with tape. Saves space too.

Don't think you are super woman. Keep a stool with you so you can keep sitting down.
Good luck.

I moved the day before I was induced, 2 weeks overdue. It was hell, I’m not going to lie, and I did way too much and the midwife really shouted at me for it. Take it as easy as you can, keep your hospital bag, baby essentials and emergency supplies separate, and unpack the kitchen and bedrooms first. The rest can wait if needs be. Is there anywhere you can put your hospital bag, e.g at a friends just in case? I took mine to my mums two days before so that I had it to hand. Good luck!

Oh forgot to add make sure setting up the bed is the first thing you do (after a drink of tea of course) so you can have somewhere to relax.

I’m moving today at 35+5. We’re lucky that we found a cheap company that packed for us too, I sat on my bum yesterday while they whizzed around me and I’m now waiting for them to arrive to load up. I’ve been incredibly stressed for the last few weeks. Dh works long hours so it’s been down to my to organise everything as well as the 3 other dc and I’ve found myself feeling quite resentful about it. Even last night, he said not to expect much of him when he got home today as he’d be knackered. I haven’t slept in months due to his snoring and crippling pgp so that didn’t go down well
I packed everyone an overnight bag with enough stuff for a few nights, and have a laundry basket in the kitchen full of cutlery, paper plates, brioche I could shove in for breakfast this morning, bin bags, scissors and all the little bits I might need. I’ve kept out the kettle, some mugs and the biscuit tin and told the movers to help themselves but none of them touched it all day!
I’d start packing ASAP. I’m so glad we had someone to do it all at once as my dc would have found it difficult to live amoung the boxes, but you don’t mention any other dc? And DECLUTTER. There’s no point moving stuff you don’t need. I think this has been part of my nesting, I’ve kondoed every drawer and am so happy the movers are moving the drawer contents as they are
Most of all, don’t do too much. I’ve had bad pgp for months now and normally I’m someone who knuckles down and gets things done. I’ve really hurt myself doing far too much. Ask for all the help you can get. I know I’d be happy to help a friend move, especially one so heavily pregnant, so don’t be afraid to ask.
Mostly I’d say try and keep the stress levels down. I’ve driven myself mad being convinced something would go wrong and all that worry is just wasted energy.