Moving is already stressful, but when you throw in a pregnancy, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Moving while pregnant may not have been part of your plan, but with a little planning and help, you can do it.
Map Out a Plan
As soon as you know when you are moving, start to build an overarching plan. Make a list of important tasks you need to complete before the move and decide on realistic deadlines. The list will probably get fairly long. Break it down into chunks and organize it into a manageable timeline.
While you’ll probably remember bigger tasks off the top of your head like packing and calling a moving company, some tasks aren’t so obvious. Don’t forget the following tasks when you make your list:
- Transfer all prescriptions and medical records
- Talk with your child’s new school and transfer records
- Change your address for all subscriptions Have the post office forward your mail Change banks (if necessary)
- Tell caregivers, babysitters, dog walkers, gardeners, etc. so they can fill your time slot
- Arrange utility connections in your new home
Revisit your plan regularly to stay on schedule and add new tasks as you think of them.
Research the Area
Moving will be easier for you and your family if you are able to continue activities and hobbies in your new home. Start researching your new neighborhood. Look into mommy groups, local walking trails, schools, and parks.
If you have children who play community sports, check local team schedules so your child can join. If you have a favorite store, restaurant, or gym, find out if they have locations near your new home. As you find ways to continue your current lifestyle after your move, you minimize the stress of the move.
Ask your current primary physician to recommend new doctors in your area. Your current doctor may be able to suggest someone with a similar caregiving style. If you know anyone in the area who has had a baby, ask them for recommendations as well.
Ask for Help
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. When you’re pregnant, you have several physical limitations you wouldn’t normally have to consider. Talk to your doctor about weight lifting limits at various stages of pregnancy and which chemicals to avoid. Let your friends, neighbors, and family help you with things you simply can’t do while pregnant.
Invite some friends over for a moving preparation party. Provide music and pizza while your friends help you pack, paint, and clean.
When it comes to moving day, nothing will ease your stress more than knowing you chose a trustworthy, professional moving company. Don’t worry about well-meaning friends scuffing up your furniture or dropping fragile boxes. Hire a company that knows how to move your stuff safely and efficiently.
Start Packing Early
You might feel ridiculous packing your kitchen or coat closet ten weeks before you move, but you’ll be grateful on moving day. Remember, the further you are along in your pregnancy, the harder it will be to pack. It is a lot easier to pack and move around all day at 25 weeks than it is at 35.
Start by packing things you don’t regularly use. Keep what you actually need to survive out until moving week, but if something is not essential, then pack it up and get it out of the way.
Stay Organized
It’s impossible to remember what you packed in every box. Keep your belongings organized throughout the moving process. Label each box according to where it needs to go in your new home and assign it a number. For example, you might have a box called Kitchen 1.
Create a digital list of each box’s contents. You may want to use a spreadsheet. If you use this system, it will be easy to find any item once you get to a new home. Simply search for the desired item, then open the appropriate box.
Pack Essential Boxes
Even with an easy organizational system in place, you don’t want to open every box in the house to find what you need to survive the night-especially when you’re tired and pregnant. Create “essential” boxes of items you’ll need immediately in your new home.
Consider packing the following “essential” boxes:
- Kitchen essentials: Include basic pots, pans, cooking utensils, and place settings so you can prepare meals for your family.
- Bathroom essentials: Pack towels so you can shower, as well as toilet paper, razors, and feminine hygiene products. Make sure to purchase shampoo, conditioner, and soap once you get there if you decide not to pack liquid products. Bedroom essentials: This will vary from person to person. You should bring favorite toys and blankets with your children if the move will take more than one day. If not, include those in the essentials box.
- Baby essentials: If you go into labor a week after moving, don’t want to search through your house to find bottles, blankets, and clothes. Pack this box as if you knew you were going to have the baby the day you arrived.
- Cleaning essentials: You don’t know what state the house will be in when you arrive, so be ready to have your friends and family clean. Pack basic cleaning supplies in this box.
Make sure to pack the essential boxes last so they will be the first boxes out of the moving truck.
It’s easy to get caught up in the stress of preparing for a new baby while preparing for a move. Use this blog as a guideline, but above all, choose the best plan for you and your baby. Work with your doctor to establish clear limits so you can stay happy and healthy throughout the process.
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