Pregnancy comes with its blessings, of course: hello new baby! It is nothing short of a miraculous process. But as anyone who is or has been pregnant knows, it also brings its share of challenges. Fatigue, back pain, indigestion, swollen joints, you name it and pregnancy can bring it on. So when you add moving to a new home onto the to-do list (which starts with “gestate a child”!), it can seem like a mountain of a task. With the right support, you can complete your move safely and with as little stress as possible. So here are our best tips for moving while pregnant!
Plan ahead. Way ahead.
Planning is always helpful when it comes to moving days, but it’s extra helpful when you’ll be carrying an extra passenger. Take a look at our keep stress and anxiety at bay. Letting yourself get too anxious during pregnancy can raise your blood pressure or have other impacts, so let your doc keep watch!
Keep your doctor informed.
Most doctors recommend avoiding lifting anything over 20 pounds during a healthy pregnancy. This can vary, of course, depending on how your body is responding to an expanding baby. Let your doctor know that you’re moving so they can offer you specifically do’s and don’ts. They may also have tips for you to help keep stress and anxiety at bay Letting yourself get too anxious during pregnancy can raise your blood pressure or have other impacts, so let your doc keep watch!
If you’re moving long-distance, you’ll need to get set up with a new doctor near your new home. Once you’ve found someone new, talk with your doc about transferring your records quickly and efficiently so you can pick up your care immediately.
Let other people do the heavy lifting.
Yes, you are certainly superhuman for gestating a child — but that doesn’t mean you need to try to tackle big moving tasks, too. Depending on how far along you are and how your body is feeling, doing any heavy lifting may be off the table. Moving to a new house involves a lot of moving boxes and items from one place to another. This might be the time of life when you practice asking for help!
If you do choose to lift a few things, use proper form: bend your knees and use your legs. Avoid using your back, and lift in steady movements rather than abrupt ones. If it feels like too much, don’t do it! You don’t want to be supervising the move while laying on the couch.
Practice high-quality self-care.
It’s one thing to get a little dehydrated or fairly exhausted on moving days when you’re not pregnant. But when you’re moving while pregnant, staying on top of your health is mandatory! Leading up to the move, make sure you:
Pack for chunks of time, and then let yourself rest. Go for a walk, take a nap, whatever feels supportive.
Sleep! At least 8 hours a night is optimal.
Set aside time for relaxation. Whether you do yoga, take a walk, or do some deep breathing, tending to your nervous system will keep your stress levels lower. This will keep your health, and consequently the baby’s health, in good shape.
Be honest with your closest ones. Whether with your partner, your family, or your best friends, it’s important to process your feelings with someone. Pregnancy can already be an emotional time, so add on leaving your home and things might feel amplified.
Laugh! Watch a funny movie, tell your favorite corny jokes, or put on a song and dance. It’s important to lighten up the mood every once in a while to keep the joy alive! Moving isn’t easy, but we hope it’ll bring good things in the end.
Listen to your body. Particularly if this is your first pregnancy, you may be surprised at what your body can and can’t do. When in doubt, don’t question it: rest. Your body is hard at work as it is.
Don’t stress about unpacking.
It can be hard to leave those boxes alone once the move is finished but take your time. Focus on unpacking the most necessary things for your wellbeing, like your cozy bedroom and kitchenware. Recruit helps to get the nursery set up, but truly: it doesn’t have to be perfect. Your baby won’t know the difference if you didn’t get that stenciled giraffe border done in time. Moving while pregnant is hard enough!
Hire a team of professional movers.
At the end of the day, your health and the health of your baby are top priorities. So why not let a team of packing and lift for you.