8 Tips for Moving While Pregnant

Few things are as stressful as moving while pregnant. From unwanted nausea to serious fatigue, pregnancy presents women with plenty of hurdles along the way. Add in the stresses of coordinating a move, and you’ve got a challenge on your hands. Thankfully, we’re here to offer some advice. With the right planning and the right help ( hello movers, family, friends and husband), you can move while pregnant without losing your mind. So sit back and relax – here are 8 tips for moving while pregnant.

Plan ahead

Just like any other successful move, you’ll need to plan ahead. And if you’re pregnant – you’ll need to plan way (read: months) ahead to avoid unnecessary moving headaches later. Start with a to-do list, which should include all necessary tasks (i.e. cleaning, packing, finding movers, etc). To ensure your moving day goes off without a hitch, check out Moving.com’s handy Moving Planner . The checklist features a personal tasks list, email reminders and coupons to help you organize and prepare as efficiently as possible.

Find a doctor

Moving to a new city? Make finding a new doctor one of your highest priorities. Anyone who’s made a doctors appointment as a first-time patient knows that it can take weeks – sometimes months – before you’re able to get through the door. So plan ahead. Start by researching local hospitals and doctors in the area. Once you’ve found a few OBGYNs and hospitals that meet your criteria, call and schedule an appointment as soon as possible. It may also help to ask your current doctor if they have any recommendations or know of any good doctors in your new city. Once you have an appointment, call your current doctor’s office to a) let them know you’re moving and b)have them send all medical records to your new doctor.

Reduce stress

As stressful as the moving process can be, it’s of the utmost importance that you try your best to reduce any and all anxiety. Taking care of yourself and your growing baby takes priority over the typical relocation stresses. A few tips to help you keep stress in check while moving:

  • Stay active! Make time for daily walks, yoga or whatever kind of exercise you prefer. This will ultimately help to lower your cortisol levels and get your mind off of your anxieties.
  • Read a book
  • Grab dinner with friends – socializing with good friends is one of the best ways to get your mind off of a stressful move.
  • Treat yourself – Don’t forget to treat yourself! Whether it’s a babymoon vacation or a prenatal massage at the spa, you deserve a treat every now and then.
  • Deep breathing – Take time to just breathe! Not only will deep breathing reduce overall stress levels, but it will also help you to stay mindful and well-rested during the pregnancy process.
  • Sleep – Aim for at least 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep every night.

Listen to your body

Moving while pregnant is both emotionally and physically demanding. Sometimes all of the tasks and to-dos may be too much for you to handle. Whatever you do, don’t overexert yourself. Listen to your body and pay attention. If you feel like taking a nap, lie down. If you’re thirsty, drink up. If you’re dizzy, sit down. Avoid pushing yourself too much while pregnant and moving.

Be aware of chemicals

While moving, exercise caution when using cleaning supplies, as some may include harmful chemicals. Avoid ammonia and bleach altogether. Make sure to wear gloves when cleaning dishes, countertops and the rest of your home. I also suggest investing in cleaning supplies that are made with all-natural ingredients – not with parabens, formaldehyde and other questionable chemicals.

Recruit helpers

When packing up your household, I highly recommend recruiting as many helpers as possible. If it’s in your budget to do so, hire professional packers to help with the upcoming move. Afterall, with so much to do, packing up an entire household can seem like just another added hassle to an already stressful relocation (and pregnancy) process. Not sure if hiring movers is the right call? Take a look at Moving.com’s list of pros and cons of hiring packers for your next move.

If you’re planning to pack yourself up, contact friends and family to see if they can help out. Trust me – a good friend will be happy to help. I suggest choosing a night to invite a handful of friends over for a “packing party.” To throw a successful packing party, have boxes and moving supplies on-hand. Assign friends to various rooms. Offer guidance on what goes where, and let your friends do the rest.

Hire professional movers

If you’re pregnant, the last thing you need to be doing is lifting a heavy couch onto a truck. In fact, it’s best to avoid heavy lifting altogether. To do so, we strongly recommend hiring professional movers for the job. Call several recommended moving companies in your area. Have them conduct either an in-home or video inspection of your belongings before giving you a quote. Once you’ve chosen a moving company for the job, make sure to pick a moving date and time that works best for your entire family. Also, make sure to label each box with its corresponding room, so that your movers will know what goes where on moving day. This will make the process much less stressful for everyone involved.

Wait on purchasing baby supplies

Unless your baby is set to arrive shortly after moving, I suggest waiting until after the move to purchase baby supplies and nursery furnishings. For starters, this will save you money! Depending on the distance of your move, the overall cost of your relocation will be based on either the weight of your things or the number of hours it takes to move. Remember: less stuff equals more money in your pockets. Second, waiting to purchase baby supplies means you’ll spend less time packing and more time doing the things you love. Finally, once you move to your new home, you’ll be able to better assess of what you really need for the new baby (read: nesting instincts!).

Ready to move while pregnant? Find the best moving company to handle your upcoming relocation by checking Moving.com’s extensive network of reputable and reliable movers. All movers in our network are licensed and insured, so you can rest assured that your move will be in good hands. Good luck and happy moving!