Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Original poster

AIBU to think it is a good idea to move house while 7-8 months pg? Or would you wait until after baby arrives?

76 replies

emeraldgirl1 · 10/12/2012 14:15

Just trying to get my life in order here and would appreciate opinions!!

DH and are torn about what to do. If we moved now (well, in a few weeks time; am currently 6m pregnant with 1st baby) it would be a choice rather than a necessity. BUT there are still good reasons to do it now.

However there are also bad reasons to do it now - not the least of which is obviously the stress and also the fact that this would leave me with a brand new baby and in a brand new area.

Am in London so friends are scattered to the 4 winds across town anyway, it's not as if I have friends on my doorstep as support but nevertheless the area would be new and would be getting used to all of that (plus new home) with a new (my first) baby.

What would you do? Given that it is not an absolute necessity (eg for work or something).

Move now or move after?

OP posts:

SugarplumMary · 10/12/2012 19:48

We moved when our second DC was days old. Eldest was still a toddler and it was hell.

We did loads of research but it didn't help as much as we thought - didn't show the local GPs were all full and not taking people on, that groups had massive waiting list that HCP in area were very unhelp. Honestly we thought all we had to do was get out there - it?s astounding how hard locals made that.

Many people including our MW had told us to wait till after the birth - tbh I really wished we'd ignored and moved much sooner - we didn't have the option of doing it any later. I now wonder if they though it wouldn't really happen - that they hadn't understood there was no local work for DH.

We moved 9 months after that move as well- so still had to find groups and people and places but having the DC just a little older did make the move easier.

Gingerodgers · 10/12/2012 20:44

I moved with a toddler to the other side of the world when 6 months pregnant, then moved to a different house at 8 months pregnant. It was fine, honestly, and easy to link into local baby groups etc. don't delay!

DeathMetalMum · 10/12/2012 21:07

Having moved twice whilst pregnant 5 + 7 months, I would do it asap. For starters you will have less stuff wont have to make sure you have things handy for baby etc. You can still do a lot of packing, and unpacking as long as there is no lifting involved. I would fill boxes lablel them and then get dp to put them out of the way.

MogTheForgetfulCat · 10/12/2012 21:12

I moved when DS1 was 10 days old, and it was hell on a stick. Would have been much easier to do it when pregnant, even heavily pregnant - move now!

upstart68 · 10/12/2012 22:49

I'd go for now if it were me. Yes it's hard packing up when you're pregnant. But even harder with a baby to look after.

justmyview · 10/12/2012 22:51

I'm in the minority obviously. I would say wait. Once you're on maternity leave it's far easier to deal with the logistics of a move

BadRoly · 10/12/2012 22:53

We moved the day before dc1 was born by elective section. Not ideal (chain fell through then delayed etc) but we didn't want to move with new baby and me unable to drive.

Was the easiest move I've ever done as I did nothing except watch everybody else pack/unpack

FlojoHoHoHo · 10/12/2012 22:55

I moved at 8 months pregnant. I was a single parent without a removal firm. That was hard but doable so u and DH, no probs!

HipposGoBerserk · 10/12/2012 22:56

I moved when 7 months pregnant. Also a London move, as you know parking in London can be a pain, it was really helpful to have a hugely pregnant women leaning against the removal van and smiling at the tragic wardens. Glad I did it this way round, we had unpacked everything we needed to. I couldn't have organised it afterwards, I could barely say my own name afterwards.

boobybum · 10/12/2012 23:03

I moved when 7.5 months pregnant and used it as the perfect excuse to avoid all the packing/moving etc as I said the stress wouldn't be good for me or the baby-so got to put my feet up thru the whole thing!

Viviennemary · 10/12/2012 23:08

I once read an article that said a lot of housemoves take place when a baby is on the way. With the housing market as it is, it may not be ideal to move, but I'd take my chance rather than lose the opportunity to move to a house I liked.

doorbellringer · 10/12/2012 23:21

We moved on the 1st, baby due on 9th! Fortunately two weeks overdue and I was so grateful for that time to unpack & settle. Do it now- yesterday if u can and find out all the groups on the local area and join them beforehand. Good luck, it will all work out in the end one way or the other!

JockTamsonsBairns · 10/12/2012 23:22

I moved from Scotland to the South East of England on the Tuesday, Dd was born the next day by EC, so had my booking in appointment with the new midwife an hour and a half before the birth . It was pretty full on hectic, but I much preferred that to the other option of moving with a newborn (also had a 9yo and a 20month old). It worked out fine. I'd say move now, definitely and get yourself settled in.

Shannaratiger · 10/12/2012 23:23

Move before, I moved the day after coming out of hospital, it was a nightmare - I was exhausted!!

babyphat · 11/12/2012 06:40

I moved with 2 week old dd, was fine. But I paid for packing and removal and didn't do any DIY. The packing was about £200 on top of removal costs, money very well spent. As long as you are realistic about how much you can do you'll be fine. Just don't expect to get stuff done the way you did pre-pregnancy. Work on the assumption you'll be holding the baby all the time and then anything you do happen to get done is a bonus.

babyphat · 11/12/2012 06:41

Oh and on moving day I went round to a friend's with dd1 and 2 and didn't come back till it was over!

FutTheShuckUp · 11/12/2012 06:58

I moved a week before my due date. It was managable and maybe it was a coincidence my BP went sky high after the delivery

QueenoftheHolly · 11/12/2012 07:11

Move before! babies are loads more convenient tucked away in a tummy. We did it a few weeks ago (I'm now overdue) & it gave us time to sort out the new house & get everything ready for new arrival.

Just do everything very slowly though, & give yourself small fiddly jobs like packing glasses rather than hauling sofas. Without doubt you'll need help, either paid for or not because u won't be able to do heavy stuff & you'll get knackered I realised moving when 8+ months pregnant is brilliant as noone expects you to do very much & lots of people offer help!!

Also we did it over 3 days, which reduces stress & exhaustion, not everyone can though.

Good luck!

MissPants · 11/12/2012 07:41

We moved in February this year when I was 6 months pregnant with DS2, we were moving 200 miles away with 4DC, 3 dogs and 4 cats. It actually went quite smoothly! It was knackering but definitely worth it for being somewhat settled in time for the birth.

If it helps we also moved 2 years earlier when DD3 was 3 months old, it wasn't bad either. So even if you have to move again when baby is a few months it's doable!

PetiteRaleuse · 11/12/2012 07:45

I moved earlier this year when about 7 months pregnant. Much easier than with a baby or small child IMO. I got lots of comments about being mad to do it then, but I think people feel they have to say something, and can't resist commenting on most decisions of a pregnant woman.

megandraper · 11/12/2012 07:50

Depends a bit on how well you are in pregnancy - if you're well, it's much more do-able. Just be prepared for if the baby comes early. DD came 4 weeks early - would have scuppered the move!

I was in a similar situation with DC2 - we waited until he was 5 weeks old and moved then, which wasn't too bad. We had a removal firm who did all the packing and moving, and GPs on hand to keep DC1 out of the way.

IncrediblePhatTheInnkeepersCat · 11/12/2012 08:31

I would definitely say do it while pregnant. I did a lot while pregnant that I knew I would have to put off for quite a while after DS was born (learnt to drive and passed test, got my camp licence in Girl Guides, ruthlessly purged possessions...).

Now DS is here and 3 months old, I'm finding even finding time to wrap presents a challenge!

Shutupanddrive · 11/12/2012 08:41

Definitely move before! I have moved house while pregnant twice, also had a broken ankle the second time. It's much easier than trying to do it with a newborn baby, that would be a nightmare.
As long as you don't go lifting things you will be fine, but you can pack and unpack boxes easily enough

Softlysoftly · 11/12/2012 08:51

I moved 2 weeks before she came to a bought property, did the majority of packing myself but no moving furniture! It was fine.

I was then in the right area for my baby groups, made a solid group of "mum friends" to get me through the first 6 months.

We then moved again just over the road as the house we had purchased was totally wrong for kids, again fairly easy so wouldn't worry about moving twice!

Original mum group began to split as pp said people went back to work etc. I then bonded with people from group that I hadn't really spoken to before because I genuinely liked them and had similar lives so not about babies anymore!

Am just very pleased that a couple of them have you get kids now too and one had her 2nd DC as I had DD2 so I don't have to do that over again .

I would advise that those cliques only look that way as they are desperately clinging helping each other through, breeze in and chat and most will open arms to you!

DaveMccave · 11/12/2012 09:22

I moved at the same stage of pregnancy and it was fine. Great in fact because I didn't have to do any of the heavy lifting . Moving with a small baby would be harder, and also- you may meet parent friends at baby clinics/breastfeeding groups/baby massage etc. All the new groups/antenatal classes and then you'd have to leave them and make new ones a few miles away. Better to move now.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Swipe left for the next trending thread