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

[StirrednotFried]

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 😫♥️

Get a removal firm to pack and unpack for you. It’s not that expensive in the scheme of things (owning two houses for example). Would be a couple of grand absolute tops.

Packers and moving company.

You're stressing yourself out and this is really not the time for that.

Wow. Priorities seem all upside down. Chill for now, you sound like you're in a right state. The length of your posts over something actually quite simple is OTT. Feet up and wait for the baby. There's no rush!

My BP went through the roof just reading the initial post....

Jesus chill out, stay where you are until the baby is at least a month old

Things are familiar and comfortable, you need to be resting and slowly preparing

It's so lovely your family are so helpful especially your children

Op. Id concentrate on baby for now. Have a day getting everything for baby done, hospital bags, nappies, bedroom etc. and then if you have the energy I’d spend a few days declutterring so you aren’t taking anything to the new house you don’t need. Then book the moving people. That way your things will be streamlined and you’ll only take what you intend to keep. Have a few friends or family help put boxes into the right rooms on the other end and keep a box for kettle, cups, plates, clothing etc. But focus on making sure you and baby are sorted first x

We moved an hour down the road when I was in the middle of a high risk pregnancy and I had always done all moves etc myself. Due to the situation I paid for a moving company to come pack and move me. They had it all packed up in a morning and I was all moved in the afternoon. I would personally do that and get it all into the new place. You can supervise the move and where you want boxes to go without the pressure. Realistically keep it light for hospital, baby needs nappies, water wipes and baby grows, you need face products, some essential toiletries, pads and some comfy nightdresses, knickers/bras and coming home clothes. Also a snack and drinks bag. Get the car seat in the car tomorrow and tick it off the list.

Hello!

Thank you for such super suggestions, I really have appreciated them 😊

To answer a few questions:

Existing DC are mine from previous marriage.

DH is splitting mat leave with me, he's also doing 2 weeks after she's born and if needed, will take unpaid leave after the 2 weeks are done. He's very lucky in his professional position to have that autonomy and flexibility and his team are fantastic. It works both ways and he's supported a fair few colleagues in a similar fashion.

He's 50, has DC from his previous marriage who are also fantastic and supportive.

I'm 44 😵‍💫 and this baby is our first and only together. Total surprise but a lovely one.

Today (after my AM meltdown) my DC have spent the day helping, decluttering, packing their things and done 3 runs full of boxes with me between here and our new place. They've been amazing and I'm very lucky.

DH is fitting worktops at the house, we've dropped dinner off for him.

My eldest teen has built the rocking stand for the moses basket and set it up in our bedroom so baby now has somewhere to sleep.

Younger teen and littlest have set all baby's washed and ironed clothes up in a set of my now empty drawers here.

We've got a fair few bits for a tip run tomorrow afternoon and in the morning, oldest teen (and ddog) and I will carry on here and younger 2 are going to be with DH building desks for their new bedrooms and generally helping.

We are a team. We have a vision as a family and while it's stressful, we're learning as we go and we're taking it a day at a time.

We're trying to pack, label and move as much stuff to the new place as we can. Movers are now organised to come in and take the big stuff.

Bottom line, if baby arrives and we're not ready, we won't move but if we can pull it off before, why not? 😁

Knackered but it's been a good day and the brain dump from this morning was needed. I think I'm forgiven considering my situation 😆

OK, my suggestion is:

1. sit down on the sofa, and Google a hospital bag list. Get amazon to deliver it all.
2. ask the kids & DH to go through everything they own, and bin, recycle, donate what they can
3. ring some removal companies. Get a couple of quotes to fully pack and move you. Don't necessarily gowith the cheapest, but the ones you'd feel most comfortable with.
4. ring some cleaning companies. Get a company in your s rub the house that has just bee renovated before you move in.

For 3 and 4, make sure they are clear the date can suit them - you have the keys, the house is empty.

Oh, and you can probably sit on the utilities. You must have bills at both places currently. It will just be the balance if usage that shifts. That, and telling everyone you've moved etc can wait because you'll still be responsible for both. Insurance is probably the only ones who need to know.

In terms of packing what we found super helpful was to pack into boxes based on where things would go in the new house and label them all with a room name and number. Keep a list on phone or excel of what’s in each box. Make sure some boxes have the stuff you’ll want immediately. It sped up getting us set up considerably as we knew exactly what to open first to get us able to use the house and what could sit in the corner for a little while

I haven’t RTFT and will do now.

Pay removal men to do it. You can also pay them to unpack

I think posters on here will be a bit confused how you’ve got enough money to buy 2 mansions (and raise 4 children!) but you won’t pay for a packing service!