Can I ask about moving? If you had a straight choice would you move at 7-8m pg OR wait until after?

[emeraldgirl1]

It's not EXACTLY a straight choice as moving now will mean a bit more expense and a lot more stress of getting finances sorted quickly.

But either way will be the same situation: we will be moving from our own (owned) flat to a rented house in a different area of London. (Incidentally I have booked ante-natal classes in the new area as we are definitely moving there it is just a question of exactly when!)

If we REALLY got a move on we could probably get moved into a new rented place about 4 weeks from now (am currently 31w).

Either way we will still be needing to move again about 8-9 months to a year after the first move, as we are planning to buy in the new area but are renting first. So the point is that it is not as if doing the move now means I WON'T have to move with a baby eventually, just not with a newborn/2-3 month-old.

Otherwise the only choice is to stay put and move as soon as is realistic after the birth in early March. I have no idea what 'realistic' really means, as this is our first baby and I have no idea how badly I will be affected by lack of sleep etc.

Only thing I know for sure is that as I am having an ELCS I guess I will not be able to drive for quite a while afterwards which would put paid to viewing houses in the new area as I would have to drive there.

My gut reaction is to try and get this done asap BUT it feels quite scary and sudden. We should have got our arses into gear much earlier but until very recently I was convinced I wanted to stay put until after the birth. Now however I am changing my mind as I would love to feel settled. PLus we currently live in a very small flat and I am starting to panic about where everything will go, not to mention how sane I will stay with Mother and MIL being overbearing helpful and coming round a lot to help. I think I would feel happier with a bit more space!!

DH is reluctant to push things through this fast because he does literally everything at a snail's pace (I'm not joking, we are still in a debate about whether or not to buy a mirror he saw in a shop 4 years ago and said he might like us to have...) He will of course do whatever I want to do as he is aware that the majority of the effect either way will rebound on me as I will be the one at home with a small baby...

I'd just love to know what people think, either because you've done it one way or the other or just because you're pregnant and understand!!

Thanks ladies :)

Thanks twitchy.

I am feeling a bit pathetic here as we really don't have anything like as much as a washing machine to move!! It's just basic household stuff and not major furnishings.

Really it's more about the stress of having to find somewhere within budget in the next few weeks. But the stress of NOT being settled may be just as much!

Just moved at 37. 5 weeks with DC2, planning a home birth. We were moving a few streets away and after a week we are sorted. It has been really really hard work but I now feel happy that we are in and settled. I would definitely move before especially if you are planning an ELCS. My major worry was going into labour on move day

I would move before hand, I have moved twice during pregnancy once at 30 weeks across the country. With what you say as just clothes, books etc one or two chest of drawers but not white goods or anything. Then once at around 20 weeks with a toddler. The first time was a breeze really we had plenty of time to get things sorted I was able to unpack easily just doing a bit here and there when I felt like I could. So much more difficult with a child/toddler as you obviously have to be taking care of them rather than unpacking, everything will take twice as long. We still have a couple of boxes from our move in october as have found it hard to get the time with both my toddler and feeling tired during pregnancy.

wouldyoupleasemove - thanks and well done! Can I ask if you had a lot of nosey parkers people telling you that you were mad to be doing anything more than raising a cup of tea to your lips for the entirety of the last trimester?? Because that is what everyone is telling me!!

Thanks too DeatMetalMum, I helped my sister move with a 5 month old once and she needed virtually round-the-clock family help with the baby just to get anything unpacked etc...

I moved when dc2 was 4 weeks. I'd have much preferred to move before. I was breast feeding every hour or so, trying to pack and clean.

It was a bit of a nightmare! Hope it all goes well for you.

Thanks! As you can probably tell from my user name, we were in a hideous chain so were just grateful that it all went through. I wasn't pregnant when we offered on property. It nearly fell through a couple of times! Our previous house was lovely but utterly tiny so everyone could see why we wanted to move before. We had packers, cleaners, movers and family helping. There is no doubt that I did more than I probably should, but that said, too much legs up in late pregnancy doesn't aid birth ( not relevant for you but v relevant for you afterwards when you have had a major op like ELCS if you see what I mean)

Should add, good much

Good luck - I phone

Another vote for moving now. I'm 8 months and would have no problem at all dealing with a move. I'd have huge difficulty post caesarian with a new born in tow. Just thinking about the latter brings me out in a cold sweat!