If your wife or significant other has a little one on the way, you may be wondering how the upcoming residential move is going to go. It’s not a great time for her to be moving boxes or being in the heat of summer, but it may be the perfect time to be going into a new home with the perfect room for baby.
One of the most stressful things in life is moving which is why it’s really important for dad to make sure mom is not getting worn out, stressed out, overheated, or nauseous. Take a look at these five tips to make sure your upcoming move doesn’t harm the mama-to-be.
Planning and more planning
The best thing you can do if you are moving while pregnant is to plan ahead. Just like you would have to do anyway, it’s important to plan ahead for your move but in this case, keeping a pregnant wife in mind. Think months ahead for this move by thinking about how you will handle necessary tasks like cleaning, hiring a moving crew, packing the house, and getting the new house’s utilities set up for the day you’ll arrive. Make sure to make a plan and setup reminders to make sure you get everything done and stay organized along the way.
Keep stress low
The most important thing you could do is keep stress low for a pregnant mom that is moving. This means that mom needs to get plenty of sleep every night in advance of the move, needs to remember to take breaks from thinking about the move to be spend time with loved ones, and needs to take some down time to do things like read a book, practice deep breathing, or taking an hour at the spa. Make sure to incorporate activity into your daily schedule whether it’s a daily walk or light exercise to help fight anxiety, lower cortisol levels, and prepare you for a busier than a normal day at moving time.
Talk to the doctor and listen to your body
Make sure you’ve spoken to your doctor about the upcoming move and how to prepare. Your doctor will let you know what is safe and what isn’t for mom to be doing and will help you learn how to listen to your body. If you start to feel tired, it’s time to lie down and take a nap. If you get dizzy, you are likely pushing yourself too much.
It’s an emotionally and physically draining experience, and mom-to-be needs to focus on herself as much as possible. Then, make sure you have a doctor for the new town you’re moving to that can see you right away and get access to your medical records as you prepare for the little one’s arrival after the move. Your current doctor may be able to make a referral for an OBGYN and hospital.
Watch out for chemicals
One area you may not think about is that moves come with the possibility of exposure to chemicals. Whether it’s the cleaning supplies you are using to clean up the old or new house or coming in contact with chemicals that you are transporting to the new house, be sure to stay far away from these things during pregnancy. Try to choose all-natural ingredients in your products that won’t harm you or the baby rather than getting around bleach, ammonia, cleaning supplies with parabens, and paint.
Hire help
Lastly, don’t be afraid to hire help and recruit friends to help you move. You may have a friend that’s great at cleaning while another one is great at packing boxes. Recruit help to take some of the burdens off mom and be sure to hire a professional moving crew that can help pack, move, and unload your items safely and efficiently. You don’t want mom to try to lift a heavy couch or lift a box and harm the baby’s health.
Don’t let your upcoming move be put on hold because there is a pregnancy in the family. Use these tips to make a safe and efficient process that puts mom and baby first.
