Moving house and pregnant

[shoeprincess2]

Hi there. I am a mum of one (17 month old) and am currently pregnant with number 2 (only 11 weeks gone). After years of renting, we have just had an offer accepted on a house. It requires a lot of building work, so we will have it done before moving in. So, it looks like we'll be moving in around July, when I'll be 7 months pregnant. I'm getting quite panicky, as I'm starting to think that we've bitten off more than we can chew. I know people move when pregnant every day, but is it really stressful? I should be so excited with all this change on the horizon, but I am quite worried about it all. Anyone been through it before?

Hey

firstly, it isnt as scary as it seems, it will be ok

be as organised as possible, pack well in advance so things arent rushed

also, sort before you pack so youre not moving all the crap you dont actually want

rope in as much help as possible, will all be fine

Thank you. My partner says he'll take care of everything, which makes me feel worse, as I like pulling my weight. Yes, you are right. At least we aren't going to be moving in as soon as we exchange and complete, so we can do things gradually. I still think people are going to think we are bonkers

Hi,
It's not ideal but its possible! I'm 19 weeks preg and have a 20 months DS, super energetic. I'm moving next Saturday!
Try to be as organised as you can, really need to think ahead, from meals, to cleaning sorted, everything!
If you can get help, especially to look after your DC please do! I'm finding that to be the harder part...my DS is seeing the house full of boxes and empty shelves and actually thinks its reasonable to climb on them, take everything out of the boxes and make a mess...well, you know! So, all the help you can get to take DC out of the house the better!
Also, keep in mind you will be pregnant...don't try to do more than what your body will allow...I've done this last week and ended having to be in bed for a full day because of pain!
I'm sure you can make it, just plan, arrange for the help you can get and take it easy...Good luck!

I've moved during every pregnancy! (3 of them) + another time when ds3 was 2 months old, its not too stressful the actual moving i've only found it stressful if you dont know where you will move to, cant find anywhere etc - ie the uncertainty bit. I think you will be fine, especially if your dp will be helping out with the packing etc. If you have someone to take your ds1 out for a bit while you unpack & sort new house that would be the most useful thing i think, otherwise takes ages to sort it all & at 7 months you must be wanting it sorted out quickly

Get quotes for moving and packing - it might not be as expensive as you think, and it will certainly lower stress levels. To share the load, you can do organisational stuff like this and leave your partner to do the physical stuff.

We were in the middle of an extension when DS1 arrived - at least you have company will builders around! Bet you'll find most of them are Dads already.

We moved house just before Christmas when I was 26 weeks pg. The best advice I can give is to get as much help as you can with packing and especially on moving day. I tried to declutter and pack stuff quite early in advance whilst I still had the energy. On moving day I was just too tired to be of any great help, so made myself scarce for a while by taking dd out for a couple of hours. It worked out fine in the end, just know your limits!

I moved a few years ago when I was 5 months pregnant and it really wasn't that bad. I agree with everyone else about being organised. Start de-cluttering now and pack bits as you go. For example in another couple of months you wont need winter clothes any more, so have them sorted and packed. It wont seem like such a daunting task then. Only leave the bits you really need till last. Don't panic about unpacking everything as soon as you get there either. Unpack what you need immediately, clothes, kids toys, crockery etc. We were still unpacking boxes of photo albums, cds, books etc months later. And do get help on moving day. Have someone to look after your LO for the day and the next day as well if possible to give you time to get oranised. It will take twice as long otherwise.

hello shoes i am moving at the end of the month it is a bit daunting. will be 31 weeks. i actually don't care about anything really as long as the baby is okay so i think that will get me through (its my first - long wait). am going to do little things in advance but it is a bit frustrating not being able to shift things around i would normally just get on with it as it makes me feel better but will have to have helpers and do our best! good luck.

I'm moving in 8 weeks time when I Will be 34 weeks pregnant.

We already own the house & like you it's being done up.

Best advice I can say is pack bit by bit, be super organised and rope in all friends & family.

Wow rrrayray. Is this your first? i hope it all goes well. Are you periodically checking on the work that is being done at the house?

Hello OP, I am moving in a few weeks and am currently 30 weeks pregnant!

We have packed up a lot of stuff bit by bit and been quite ruthless about taking stuff to the charity shop that we really don't need in the new house. All my pre-PG clothing is at my Mum's house until after the move and I have a load of stuff in the loft at my Nan's (we had to declutter our own house a bit for viewings).

DH is going to have to do most things because I have SPD as well as being pregnant, but as he points out, I am doing the most inportant job, everything else he can do!

I moved house when I was 7 months pregnant with DS1. We were super-organised - packing boxes for weeks beforehand. On the day we hired a team of men to do all the heavy lifting and I went to the new place and told them which rooms to put everything in (we'd labelled all the boxes ahead of time).

Was it stressful? A bit, but being organised definitely helped. Just make sure your DS is being looked after elsewhere - whether it's nursery, GPs, whatever. You don't want a small child getting in everyone's way, getting upset because his things are being moved, running out through the open door, etc.

Hi Shoeprincess, I moved house when I was 35 weeks pregnant in a snow blizzard before Christmas 2010!

You will be able to do sterling work telling everyone where to put things, making tea, lists, looking for stuff and everything except the boring heavy lifting! Like you, we took on a big project to get the house ready and I managed the project for 3 months from September to December... it was fine! Kept me busy, and contractors really don't mess with emotional pregnant women, it's just not worth their while!

Good luck with it, it's so lovely bringing your lovely new baby home to your lovely new house!

We moved when I was 5m pg, and I felt just as bad about DH doing everything. My mum's advice (and it worked for me) was to do all the planning part of it, so getting the quotes for the removal men, booking everything, doing the paperwork (bills, changes of address etc), labelling the boxes (or writing labels for your partner/helper to stick on - it saves a lot of trouble at the other end), deciding how you want each room arranged so they can put the furniture in the right place the first time (less to do later), making cuppas and so on. All that can mostly be done online ar at least sitting down!

And maybe put the 17m on reins, or make sure a playpen is the first thing to be unpacked!

We did all this (except the playpen - still pg with dc1) and it really helped. Everyone could see I was pg so they understand why you are not doing the heavy lifting, and I think the removal men were grateful for the level of organisation! It really wasn't that stressful, because I knew where everything was and what was happening.

Good luck! And congrats on having a nest of your own!

Thank you all ladies, for your reassuring words. It is good to see that a lot of people have been through it. Fortunately, we have a very competent builder, so i don't have any concerns with the work being done on time. As a starter for ten, I packed up a charity bag this afternoon, with some of my old clothes and I already had packed away Thomas' baby clothes, in anticipation of butterbean's arrival. I probably was getting my knickers in a twist (in my defence, my hormones are all over the shop at the moment). Maybe I can allow myself to get a teensy bit excited now... I shall keep you posted on how it all goes and here's to all the other ladies with impending moves (and babies) on the horizon {brew]

That last bit was meant to be .

Hi shoeprincess2 I was in the same boat in November my DP and I had just purchased and moved into our new home whilst I was 3 1/2 months pregnant (9 glorious weeks to go my advice is get everybody else to do the lifting and carrying for you and rest when you can. It will be lovely to take your new baby home to the new house . Any normal person has a lot on their plate when they move we also have the addition of hormones and a bump. xx

We are due to exchange and complete in 2 weeks when I will be 37 weeks with DC4!

It needs a complete refurb, and we are adding a two storey extension! As we don't want to be paying out for rent and a mortgage we have a deadline of 2 months to complete the work!

We will be roping in everyone we can, I have already started packing/sorting and it is actually satisfying my nesting at the same time!

I am a big fan of lists, less daunting when you can see progress being made ticking things off! We have been trying to buy this property for almost a year, but deeds were lost, it was never our intention (although sods law) to cram everything in at the last minute!

You will be fine, having a supportive partner/family makes a difference,my mum is coming to help me sort the kitchen out tomorrow, another big tick!

Good Luck!

morethemerrier Crikey! I take my hat off to you. Interestingly, you say that you don't want to pay rent and a mortgage payment at the same time- we don't either, but thought that if we have a 2 month overlap with both properties, we would have no choice. Have you deferred the mortgage payment?

With DD we moved when I was 7 months pregnant. Did it all ourselves and my feet knew about it! Worst thing was DP didn't get round to putting our bed together for ages so ended up having a nightmare rolling my humungous self off a mattress on the floor every morning!

When DD was 21 months and I was 8 months with DS we knocked our house down and rebuilt the whole thing. Luckily we stayed off site until new DS was 3 months old but I ended up painting etc while entertaining a toddler and while baby was sleeping!

Bit of a mission but do-able.

Lots of things to add to my life CV then. I sold a house on my own about 6 years ago. It was really stressful, but i got through it. It was at the same time as getting divorced, so double stress. But i did it. At least I have my DP this time round (and I think he is secretly relishing all this planning and co-ordinating). I'll just practise making tea!

I moved last weekend at 35 weeks and - yes you will be exhausted, yes you will probably wonder what the hell you were thinking ...BUT its so lovely to be here and settling in before the baby arrives. Take all the advice above - get your friends to help with unpacking of boxes and getting things like kitchens and bedding organised, rope anyone else you can in to help with lifting and carrying and don't feel bad about sitting down when you need to! You will be very much appreciated as a tea and sandwich maker for all those helping out. Good luck!

Shoe princes - no this is my second. We will be packing my DD (3 yrs old) off to her grandparents, think that's the single best decision!

Glad you have builders you can trust. Yes, get on the tea making.

Wishing you a smooth move! X