Extension works whilst pregnant

[ladyofthenorth]

We are planning an extension - works due to start in March due to builder availability. It’s a big job, a single storey extension that will double the size of our existing kitchen/diner, new kitchen in, bifold doors in decoration etc.
When we booked the date in we did not expect that I would be pregnant, my due date is 3rd May.
Are we being completely crazy to even consider starting this project so soon before baby is due to arrive? We also have a 2yo, I work part time, and can’t bear the thought of work commencing when I am on maternity leave!

How long is the work projected to take? Our 2 storey extension was meamt to take 4 months and we are now into month 10 and almost done. I would take any builders projection and double it to be safe. Having said that we lived without a kitchen with a 6 month old and it was doable but starting to wear now.

I did this, except it a much smaller job. I'm not going to lie it was awful.

Ours was booked to start in January, was a week or two late starting, they knocked a massive hole in the external wall and then everything came to halt as 3 feet of snow descended on the world. With a HUGE great hole in the wall of my house. Once we restarted work it was SLOW going, everything was delayed due to the weather and just the normal delays of building work. A 4 week job turned into a 4 month job. The tradesmen had other jobs lined up and had to rearrange/start them as required. They came every day to do bits and pieces and it was dragging on for so long I eventually had to put my foot down and tell them that Wednesday next week was the last date they could come, as my C section was booked for the Thursday.

In all that time I had a nearly 2 year old, no living room and barely any functioning kitchen. I was so pregnant and so tired. Toddler and I are McDonald's in the car park most lunchtimes while I cried.

I'm NOT saying it will go like that for you, and having the work done before the baby came was infinitely better than having builders there shortly after giving birth. But you must be prepared for stress, delay, upheaval and unexpected things. And have a Plan B. I could have gone to my parents with a new baby. Could you?

PS my due date was also 3rd May congratulations!

We did this ended up living in what was basically a luxury shed for 6 months over winter! Build was delayed and didn't start until baby arrived then was meant to be done before Christmas but finished in late Feb! Hideous but worth it in the end.
Depressing at the time spending so much money for a big mess and living in an outhouse for half the year though!
Once you have kids there is never a good time, just do it and if you have family to move in with then do so.

Thanks everyone, really appreciate your views.
I think we are just going to plough ahead - as you say @laudemio there is never a good time with kids and thankfully my Mum lives nearby so we could decamp there if needed .
Hoping for best , but planning for the worst and gonna keep focused on the fact it will be worth it in the end!

I did this and it was truly horrific. I was using our family construction company so it wasn't as if I even had the stress of crappy builders. It was the complete lack of privacy, the noise, not being able to cook, having to be dressed all the time, the baby being woken and mostly having to organise and manage people when I just wanted to rest! Everything you don't want when heavily pregnant or with a newborn. Nothing ever goes to plan or to timescales.
I'm so excited this time around (due March) as I can be in complete peace to sleep and potter whilst DS is at nursery for part of the week.
I would wait until July/August once you are a bit more settled then you still have a bit of time before winter could effect things.
I know we like to have in our head that everything must be perfect when the baby gets here, but they won't know or care!

@ladyofthenorth been there, done it, still doing it. 2 major extensions, pregnant with 2nd child, no heating for 2 months in October and November, finally reconnected a day before my c section. Young baby with builders traipsing through house. Rest when the baby sleeps they say - A COMPLETE JOKE when you’ve got kangoing and drilling shaking your walls. Baby sleeps like a baby(?!) somehow. Nearly there one year on and it’s been really tough but we’ve got a beautiful home coming together!!

I'm doing renovations currently (loft conversion just finished a new kitchen, new flooring, plastering decorating throughout and bathroom starting week after next) I'm 33 weeks now. I'm struggling. I have two other children. It's actually just depressing. I can't clean properly as I get too sore and it's been two months of mess. Hard to relax at home as people constantly here and everything feels stressful and I'm genuinely really unhappy now.
I'm hoping to be finished by time the baby comes because I can't come home to this. 😞

It will be hard but I would rather do it before than with a new born ? I would recommend moving out though. I wish I did. Hope nothing runs over for you.