Tips for moving while expecting a child

Moving while expecting a child is an unenviable proposition; there’s no doubt about that. However, it is not an impossible one. The very first thing you will want to do is enlist help from one of the top rated moving companies in your area, as you want to be doing as little as possible on your own. But even with professional help, there will be plenty of things to do, and you will want to ensure that you are not placing any undue stress on your body or mind. To make things a bit easier for you, we have prepared a few tips for moving while expecting, which will help you make the transition to your new home.

Top 11 tips for moving while expecting a child

The basic premise of relocating while expecting a child is to take it as easy as possible. In other words, you want to remove as many stressors as possible. However, doing so is usually easier said than done. Here’s what you can do to make it easier:

1. Talk to your doctor about the upcoming relocation
2. Get help from friends and family members
3. Pack slow and steady
4. If you have to lift, do it safely
5. Stay ahead of the “Baby brain”
6. Declutter as soon as you can
7. Listen to what your body is telling you
8. Be mindful of stairs
9. Pack all of the essentials in clear bins
10. Hire a cleaner
11. Plan the route to your new home

We’ve not included hiring professional movers in our list of tips as we believe this to be absolutely essential. When you are expecting a child, you do not want to be taking on any risks of moving by yourself. Therefore, the first thing you will want to do is research (or have someone do it for you) all the professional movers operating in your area. You want to hire one of the top professionals for the occasion, as they will help minimize the stress usually associated with relocation. With that in mind, let’s dive straight into our tips!

Talk to your doctor

If you want to involve yourself in the relocation effort, you will want to have your doctor verify that you are safe to participate. Physical activity and the mental challenges of moving can be highly detrimental in some cases. And if you happen to have an increased preterm labor risk, you will want to avoid having anything to do with lifting and carrying household items.

If you can’t see the doctor for any reason, here are some guidelines to help you out:

• If you have been pregnant for less than 20 weeks and lifting for more than an hour each day, you should not lift anything heavier than 18 pounds.
• If you have been more than 20 weeks pregnant, you should not lift anything heavier than 13 pounds.
• Before relocating to your new home, make sure that you organize your healthcare before the relocation.

The last point is especially important, as some doctors will not accept patients who are moving while expecting a child and between 24 to 28 weeks pregnant. Ideally, you will want to relocate before your third semester is due if you can.

Get help from friends and family

This might come as no surprise, but you should enlist help from your friends and family members. You will want their help as soon as you know that you will have to relocate, not only for the moving day. The main issue you will encounter is not knowing your limitations, and you might need someone to remind you of them. It is entirely natural that you get engrossed in packing your home for relocation, for example, and not even figure out that you are doing far more work than you safely should. Your friends and family members will be there for you to remind you that you need to rest.

And if you have to seek paid help, you might want to consider hiring someone to help you declutter, pack, and do all other relocation necessities. You can pay them by the hour and minimize the expenditures.

Slow and steady wins the race

But let’s say that you cannot let others pack everything for you. In reality, you may want to pack most of your home yourself. However, the packing process is usually one of the main reasons to hire professional movers because it is a very time-intensive process. But if you need to pack most of the things on your own, you will want to leave yourself with enough time, so you don’t need to rush things. Start packing as soon as possible and pack a couple of things every day.

Make sure to take regular breaks when moving while expecting a child, too. You need to take a break every half an hour and put your feet up. This will help with circulation and will prevent swelling of the lower extremities.

Lift (and bend) safely

As you might already know, back strains are one of the most common pregnancy injuries, even if you are not lifting anything overly heavy. This is because your pregnancy will increase certain hormone levels, most notably relaxin, which will loosen your ligaments to prepare you for labor.

If you absolutely must participate in any lifting or packing, you have to be mindful of what you are doing. You don’t want to bend your spine, outstretch your hands, and lift from the lower back. Instead, you will want to “straddle” the item you are attempting to lift, keep a straight back, and bend from the hips while holding the object close to you. And always, always lift with your legs, not with your back.

“Baby brain” and you

Your brain undergoes certain changes when you are pregnant. You might start forgetting things and experience other cognitive impairments. The so-called Baby brain (or pregnancy brain) may present a significant challenge throughout the relocation unless you stay ahead of it. To do so, you will want to document all the things you need to do before the relocation and keep them in a visible location. You will want to make a moving checklist to track all the tasks that are still to be completed.

You can use a simple pen and paper for this task or a specialized app on your phone/tablet. The best course of action is to pick a solution that you will actually use.

Declutter as soon as possible

The best thing you can do to lessen the overall workload of moving while expecting a child is to go through all your belongings and clear out anything you will not be bringing with you. This is something that you might want to prioritize, too. Not only will following this tip make it easier to pack, but it is also one of the best money-saving tips when hiring movers. The fewer items you have to move, the cheaper the relocation; it’s as simple as that.

Listen to your body

The fact of the matter is that relocation is an exhausting endeavor. You need to make sure you are listening to what your body is telling you. If you feel tired, get some rest. If you are feeling peckish, get a snack. You might want to have snacks and drinks positioned at key places around your home so they can always be near at hand.

Be careful around stairs

Another change that comes with being pregnant is a slight shift in your center of gravity. If you are unaware of this and are lifting something heavy, you may easily trip and fall. Around 27% of women fall while pregnant, and 10% experience two or more falls. Those are not “rookie numbers” by any stretch of the imagination, so you might want to be extra careful around any stairs and any other place where a fall might be extremely dangerous.

Pack all the essentials in clear bins

During your pregnancy, you will need certain essential items. You want to pack these items in a clear plastic bin so you can easily retrieve them as required. You can utilize this plastic bin throughout the relocation, but it is imperative that you have it ready by the moving day.

Hire someone to clean your home for you

No one wants to leave a dirty house for the new owners. However, cleaning an entire house is a task you should not be doing on your own. Consider hiring a cleaning service after your movers pack everything in the truck, as that will provide you with a much-needed reprieve.

Plan the route to your new home

If you are traveling by a land vehicle at any point during your relocation, you will want to ensure that you know the exact route in advance. Take note of health care centers along the way and other facilities that might be necessary in case something happens. Knowing where you can go if you experience any kind of an issue when moving while expecting a child can save you quite a bit of undue stress.

For more information on the moving process itself, the best moving companies in the country, and other moving tips and tricks, Consumer Opinion Guide is your go-to resource. Our expert articles will help you relocate to your new home smoothly and safely!