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Original poster

Is there any truth in this

26 replies

akmum18 · 30/04/2021 16:50

Statistics say that pregnant women who move house have a high chance of a premature birth or a baby with health issues.
Is this because they believe the woman would be under a lot of stress or another reason?
What if the house move is a happy, exciting time and she isn’t under stress. Surely the statistics can’t be any different to any other person moving house?
Then the reports of decorating a new home causing health issues to the baby. I can understand the chemicals in paint etc aren’t exactly great for anyone, but they claim it’s specifically in the first trimester it is harmful. Is it a guideline to prevent any unnecessary chemical contact or is there truth in this?
Can anyone shed light on their experience or opinions of this please?

OP posts:

CadburyCake · 30/04/2021 16:52

What statistics? What reports?

And I doubt it’s “high”. Possibly “higher”.

romdowa · 30/04/2021 16:53

I've never heard this ever about house moves causing premature births. I'm moving when I'll be 14 weeks and my drs no this and have said nothing. I would avoid the fumes associated with decorating though , inhaling those kinds of things arent good for anyone but you can get low odor paint etc

PembrokeshireDreaming · 30/04/2021 16:54

What is the source of these statistics?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

1st trimester Families General pregnancy

JessicaH1 · 30/04/2021 16:54

I moved into my flat at 20 weeks pregnant and it was a very happy time

FlyingBurrito · 30/04/2021 16:55

You'd need to post the research, no one can comment without seeing the actual data.

FlibbertyGiblets · 30/04/2021 17:05

Well I dunno. Moved house at 7 months pg. Baby was fine. But that's anecdata for you.

MindGrapes · 30/04/2021 17:10

Post the studies, please.
Always amazed at people thinking a relevant conclusion or commentary can be formed based entirely on vague hearsay.

idontlikealdi · 30/04/2021 17:11

What statistics?

GlassBoxSpectacular · 30/04/2021 17:12

Statistics say that pregnant women who move house have a high chance of a premature birth or a baby with health issues.
Is this because they believe the woman would be under a lot of stress or another reason?

Welk, what do the studies behind these ‘statistics’ suggest as possible/probable reasons?

TheNinjaWife · 30/04/2021 17:23

I moved twice early pregnancy and once at 8 months. The last move I spent a weekend painting the whole downstairs by myself. My DD is now 34. I wouldn’t recommend the decorating at such a late stage though, my blood pressure soared.

OutspokenNotThatFunny · 30/04/2021 17:29

I moved at 30 weeks and it's the most stressful move I'd done to date. Hated the house was physically and mentally ill and the most stressed I'd ever been about anything ever! . He was 2 days early. But all mine were?

BetterKateThanNever · 30/04/2021 17:32

Do you also know the statistics of how many lovely, healthy babies were born to parents who had moved house, painted rooms, inhaled dust and experienced stress?

lljkk · 30/04/2021 17:32

Here are some other suspect correlations.

merryhouse · 30/04/2021 17:36

You do realise that these "statistics" you speak of have been accumulated by asking lots of people about their experiences? Why would half a dozen more data points make you suddenly think "oh yes, I see now"?

And the thing about statistics like that is that they don't actually tell you why. If the statistician says "women who move house have a higher incidence of problems" then their reason for saying that is simply that that's what they've observed. They have no idea why. Some experts in obstetrics or psychology or chemicals might come up with some suggestions, but the bald statement is unrelated to the reasons.

And your question surely the statistics can't be different to any other person moving house? makes no sense. The study is about the effect of moving house on pregnancy: anyone not pregnant isn't going to be included in statistics on premature birth.

The simple fact is (I am assuming that OP's statement "statistics say" is accurate) that researchers noticed a higher incidence of premature births and child health issues for women who moved house in their pregnancy. Depending on how big the study was and whether other studies back it up it may be found to be coincidence or it may be an Actual Thing. Someone else might now come up with a reason why. In the meantime we're unlikely to be told not to move house while pregnant

itsgettingwierd · 30/04/2021 18:01

I moved house when I was 7 months pregnant. In 35°c heat!

My ds is disabled.

But I doubt my house move was the cause unless it affects the genetic make up of the foetus

2bazookas · 30/04/2021 18:02

I moved house while pregnant twice (2 houses 2 babies) , no trouble at all.

AuntyMabelandPippin · 30/04/2021 18:12

I moved house twice when pregnant (with different babies). I then decorated the whole house while pregnant (it was a shithole), including stripping a staircase back to the original wood.

No problem with either baby, they're all grown up men now.

Orangebug · 30/04/2021 18:14

Have you got a link to those statistics OP? I moved house while pregnant, no issues.

JorisBonson · 30/04/2021 18:16

A friend of mine moved house and gave birth the next day at home, in a pool, surrounded by boxes. Her boy is healthy, happy and very cute.

Where are these "statistics" from?

Pinkpaisley · 30/04/2021 18:20

I would want to see the study. Did they control for income, type of housing, age, education? My first thought is to ask if there is a correlation with life instability and moving house. A proper study would seek to control for that by looking at commonly available indicators of socioeconomic status to gain insight into the lives of the women in the study.

So basically, do you get the same statistical result with women who move with a spouse to a larger home as you get with a woman forced to move to a shelter?

Chatanooga1 · 30/04/2021 18:28

Stress is not good for anyone’s health.

You could probably find data that suggests you are statistically more likely to suffer IBS/hairloss/spots when moving house or any other situation where you may be under stress.

Pinkpaisley · 30/04/2021 18:32

jech.bmj.com/content/73/10/913

I found the article. Don’t have time to read it in full at the moment. A quick glance looks like a sound study. A review of birth certificate data in Washington state over a long period of time. The key piece of missing info is a lack of information of motivation of move.

Study does not advise women not to move. Simply that it’s an issue worth investigating further and something clinicians should have on their radar.

It’s an interesting question and getting to the real explanation presents an interesting challenge from a research perspective.

WeeFae · 30/04/2021 18:33

DC1 moved house at 32 weeks, was 10 days late
DC2 moved at 35 weeks, was 5 days late
DC3 didnt move house, was 5 weeks early

JaneJeffer · 30/04/2021 19:16

I moved house when I was nine months pregnant. I don't recommend it but baby was fine and is a big strapping man now.

WaltzesWithSnobs · 30/04/2021 21:21

I moved house at seven months pregnant. DC was 10 days overdue.

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