Talk to me about moving while heavily pregnant

[CelloYouveGotABass]

Due to how long everything is taking, it looks as though our completion is going to be early November, when I am around 35-36wks pregnant and we have a 19 month DS too.

Do you have any tips to make it easier? Has anyone done it this late - how hard was it?

I’m also concerned about how to clean the house before we go, we have a large dog that sheds constantly, so every room will need a really good blitz once the furniture is out.

Hoping for DS to be in nursery and we will put dog in kennels for one day either side of the move, but any and all tips are appreciated!

We might be in the same position… 30 weeks now and it looks like I’ll be 35 weeks or so when we move. Thankfully it’s just the two of us and no other children/dogs, but I’m still dreading it, and I don’t think we’ll get enough notice to use movers.

Watching for tips too!

pay someone to clean

Probably better than moving with a newborn!

Probably all obvious, but the last time we moved, I boxed things together from the same room, marked them all with the name of the room and ensured they were placed in that room on the day of moving. I then had four people (who offered to help) unpack the things. E.g. Post it note on box matched the drawer/cupboard of the item.

The drawers and things weren't perfectly organised but at least I could find everything as it was unpacked on moving day.

With wardrobes do the same thing but pack them in your storage containers if possible to minimise unpacking time and pack clothes on their hangers so someone just has to place them in a wardrobe. I bought a hanging rail to help move the clothes and it saved a lot of hassle!

We moved with a 3 month old and god I wish I’d moved pregnant

Our solution was the same as I’d advise for heavily pregnant though: throw money at it, if you can. We paid for packers and used the moving company’s storage, so we had the packers in on Thursday morning, they moved everything to storage Thursday afternoon, we stayed with family on Thursday night, then Friday morning we had a cleaning company (actually our regular cleaner and a few of her mates) come and do a massive blitz of the empty place before we handed over keys. Seemed a bit excessive for a 2 bed flat but essentially it meant it was only as tricky as packing a suitcase to live out of for a few days until we were all straight. It looks like we might be doing the same with moving house when second baby is a few months and I’m planning on doing the same again!

I moved when I was four days overdue with DS2 and DS1 had just turned 2. It was... stressful!!!

Do: accept as many offers of help as possible from friends and family.

Do small jobs that you can achieve on the yoga ball i.e labelling boxes

Make sure your hospital bag is filled and is the last thing you pack, just in case!

Send your older kid away for the day of the move with a family member or babysitter. The whole day if possible.

Get the kids room set up first when you arrive.

Direct everyone from a chair at the new place, getting them to put the correct stuff in the correct rooms. Do not plonk it all someone "for now". It will not be moved.

Get some oven meals or online shop delivered for the evening of the move. Easy, simple food an snacks. You will thank your former self for this.

Pay someone to clean. Or do little and often and start the week before the move. You don't want to over exert yourself the day of the move with loads of cleaning.

Unpack as much as possible as soon as possible. Do not think 'we will do it after the baby is here' because you won't and it will never happen (trust me!) So unpack and organise as early as you can before new baby is here. Again enlist friends and family to help (and make them help, rather than them coming over, doing 10 mins then having a tea and leaving )

Remember to book internet connectivity ASAP and arrange all new direct debits, council tax etc before baby is born.

If I think of anything else I'll let you know! Congrats and good luck!

Definitely pay the movers to do the packing if you can afford it. Same goes for a cleaner. As someone above said, throw any money you can at the problem. And good luck!

Thank you all, great advice!
I wanted to pay someone to clean but was unsure if that would be possible without storing furniture - I’m going to look into it!

And yes, I’m thinking moving before I give birth will be preferable!

I moved ( long distance) at 38.3 weeks pregnant and a 17 month old with measles.
I was the only one who was calm about it. I think I'd entered my "cow- mentality" phase.
All was fine. No one suffered. Although the gas being condemned in the new house was a pain..cooking and heating in February.

We moved when I was 38 weeks, and DS1 was 20 months.
Tbh I left most of the practicalities to DH.
I was also prepared re hospital bag etc to go into labour anytime.
Are you changing Dr's surgery?
I appeared to lose any contact/appts with midwife with the move.

@FuzzyPuffling hoping I’ll be as zen as you! I’m going for prior preparation!

@trumpisagit I’m moving to a sister surgery in the same group so should be fine.

I’m acutely aware that this is just one of those things we will get through, but any avoidance of stress is a winner!

@MaizeBlouse you are an actual super hero! I’m amazed you managed that!

Neither DH or I like the idea of others packing for us, so we’re doing the majority of that as ahead of time as we can manage.

Don't go overboard cleaning - hoover throughout and a quick wipe round with a pack of wipes (I hate disposable wipes but this is the situation to use them!).
Unfortunately there's a chance that the house you move into won't be clean, & even if it is you'll probably still feel the need to clean it to your own standards so I'd save your energy for the other end.
Obviously don't leave it filthy, but you don't need to be scrubbing the floors.

Good luck with your move OP. Have you got any relatives or friends that can help you? But I agree moving while pregnant is preferable to moving with a newborn. I had a two year old, 7 mth old, one dog and 3 cats, the move before last, MIL’s help was awesome. I hope all goes well for you.

Definitely pay for someone to pack and clean if you can afford it! You don't want to be exhausting yourself before labour. I was up a ladder painting our new house at 40 weeks pregnant, completely wore myself out and we moved when DS was 3 weeks old. Horrible!

pay for the removal company to pack everything, and I mean everything. What would take you weeks of stress, they can do perfectly in hours.

Then pay a cleaning company to clean up the place you left after you move out.

@AwkwardPaws27 thanks, I’m hoping a run round with the hoover and a wipe down will suffice! Everything is pretty clean to begin with (except for bloody dog fur)

@Roselilly36 yes, family have been quite helpful in the past so hoping they’ll come through for us!

Moved when heavily preg (38 weeks ) and had a two year old. Was also having a home birth.
These what we did -
1.DD1 in nursery - in-laws had her the day before but that was because it was a weekend.
2.Packers and movers - honestly the best money I have ever spent. Honestly you will need it please don't not do it.

1. Accept all help. My Dad and various friends were amazing and they all had designated jobs and knew what they had to do. There was a spreadsheet and action sheet.
2. Easy takeaway tea and food delivery that evening
3. Cleaner that was with us for a day. Started at our old house and then did a small clean in new house.
4. I carried my birth bag / home birth bits at all time. They were clearly marked with hazard tape so they didn't get lost 7. Probably should have got unpackers but friends came to help.

Sounds excessive but I was knackered. The chain had been mega stressful and the baby was so active by then. Baby was born at home a week later Good luck

We moved when I was 36 weeks. To be honest it wasn’t that bad. The removal company did any heavy lifting, and the packing was tiring but not particularly strenuous. As PPs have said, much better than moving with a newborn.

Use a proper removals company and pay them for full packing as well. It's a game changer.