Moving While Pregnant

Relocating during pregnancy is not something most moms-to-be want to do. But sometimes there's no getting out of it, so you'll need to think it through. Good organization and planning, essential for any move, are critical when you're pregnant. You will likely be tired and moody from your pregnancy, so the smoother things go with the move, the better! Whether you're moving across the country or across town, making a move while expecting doesn't have to be unpleasant.

If you're making a smaller move, consider doing it piecemeal. "Though it drove my husband nuts to only move one room at a time, it worked out better," says Shirley Kawa-Jump, who moved from Woodburn, Ind., to Fort Wayne, Ind. "The toys came first, to keep my daughter busy, then the kitchen, then the master bedroom. That way, if we were hungry or wanted to rest, there was a place to do it."

Consider hiring movers instead of doing the packing yourself. At the very least, have a lot of help for the heavy lifting. "You shouldn't lift anything heavier than a clothes basket," says Janet Thurston, a certified nurse midwife. "Musculoskeletal injuries are more likely to happen in pregnancy, so don't overdo it."

Give yourself plenty of time to unpack. "My husband was traveling so I unpacked everything and lifted things I shouldn't have but I was 'nesting' and couldn't stand the mess," says Kendeyl Johansen, of Park City, Utah. Don't forget, you may not feel as well as you normally do. The physical effects of pregnancy may slow you down. "I was 3 months along and desperately morning sick," says Johansen. "I'd unpack a box, bolt for the bathroom, unpack a box..."

If you have older children, you'll need to arrange childcare for them while you are delivering the new baby. Network with other mothers you meet in your new neighborhood, or join a mothers' group such as Mothers of Preschoolers or La Leche League. Also, consider asking co-workers – yours or your husband's – if they are willing to be on call. "When I met the wife of my husband's new colleague she was due in four weeks," says Allison Ratamess, of Muncie, Ind. "They had just moved to town and didn't know anyone. I knew they'd need someone to watch their daughter when the baby was born, so I volunteered."

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