Moving house can be a stressful and tiring experience, whether you’re moving into a new house nearby or halfway around the world. From packing to moving day, stress and pressure can make moving a difficult experience for pregnant women.

Many soon-to-be parents move in order to give themselves more space to raise their children. Pregnancy can be a great source of motivation to move into a bigger, more spacious home and set up the ideal living environment for young children.

From avoiding stress to finding a new GP, there’s lots to consider if you’re moving to a new house while pregnant. In this guide, we’ll cover eight simple tips to make your packing and moving day experience easier as an expectant mother.

Plan everything ahead of time to avoid stress and anxiety

Moving house can be a stressful experience – one that most expectant mothers don’t need. Take the stress and anxiety out of moving by planning every aspect of moving day, from boxes to pack to the best route to take, in advance.

Write to-do lists so that you know exactly what to pack and create checklists so that you don’t leave anything important behind. Set realistic deadlines – don’t expect to pack everything in 2-3 days – so that there’s no sense of rush or urgency.

Planning everything ahead of time on a realistic schedule makes packing up quicker, easier and far less stressful. The more predictable moving is, the less stress, anxiety and worry you’ll deal with when moving day finally arrives.

Label all of your boxes so unpacking is quick and simple

Pregnancy has a huge effect not just on your body, but on your mind. You might feel that you’ve packed every box using a logical system that’s easy to remember, but it’s always possible you’ve made a mistake somewhere along the line.

Label all of your boxes with their contents and, if you’ve already worked out your new home’s layout, the room they should go in. This makes keeping track of items far easier while you’re packing and unpacking.

Make sure you clearly mark boxes that contain fragile items, as it’s easy to forget about their contents on moving day. Labelling everything makes unpacking much easier, speeding up the process of settling in once you move into your new home.

If you’re moving long distance, search for a reliable doctor

The key to a healthy, stress-free pregnancy is consistency, both in your daily routine and your health care. If you’re moving a long distance from your current home, find a reliable GP close to your home to help you with your pregnancy.

You can find a list of GPs online using the NHS Service Finder. If you’re moving to a new house in the same city, you can ask your current doctor for a recommendation that’s more convenient for your new address.

Finally, if you’re moving close to your family or friends, ask them for doctors in the area. Friends that have children will be happy to recommend a good doctor to help make sure you and your child are healthy during your pregnancy.

As moving day approaches, take some time off to relax

Even with the most careful and thorough planning, moving day itself can be a busy, stressful experience. As moving day approaches, take some time off to relax so that you’re calm, comfortable and completely ready for the day when it comes.

Spend some time socialising and catching up with friends to keep your normal daily routine consistent. Go for a walk in the park, set aside time in the afternoon for naps or relax and unwind at a prenatal yoga class.

When every aspect of your life revolves around preparing for moving day, the day itself becomes more of an event – and more of a source of stress. Spend some time relaxing and de-stressing and you’ll enjoy a quick, simple and stress-free move.

Drink plenty of water on moving day to stay hydrated

Even if you’re not doing the heavy lifting, the experience of moving into a new home can be exhausting. Start the day with a big, energising breakfast to make sure you’ve got the energy you need to make it through the day.

Fill a bottle of water and keep yourself hydrated throughout the day. If you need to spend several hours driving to reach your new home, ask your partner to drive and set aside an hour or two late in the day for a nap if you start to feel tired.

Staying hydrated doesn’t just improve your health – it also gives you better mental alertness, making everything from unpacking to planning the new home’s furniture layout easier.

Avoid lifting heavy boxes – stick to smaller, lighter items

Pregnancy involves a lot of physical changes to your body, many of which make it far riskier to lift heavy objects than it used to be. In the second and third trimester, your body’s ligaments and joints become less rigid and stable, making lifting a risk.

Avoid lifting anything heavier than 20 pounds while you’re pregnant, especially odd-shaped boxes and objects. Focus on helping out by carrying small, light objects while leaving large boxes, furniture and other cumbersome items to the movers.

As much as you might want to get involved and help out, it’s best to avoid any heavy lifting while you’re pregnant. Focus on planning and organising the move and you’ll be helpful and involved without putting your health at risk.

Research your neighbourhood to maintain your daily routine

The key to a healthy pregnancy is consistency, whether it’s consistency in your diet, your activity level or your daily routine. Research your new neighbourhood before moving day so that you know the location of nearby parks, shops and restaurants.

If you’re moving close to home, spend an hour or two exploring your neighbourhood before moving day. A quick walk around your new block will help you find cafés and other grocery shops that make everyday life easier once you move in.

Create a checklist of your daily activities and make sure everything you need to stay consistent is available near your new home. The more prepared you are, the quicker you’ll be able to get back into your normal daily routine after moving in.

Bring your pregnancy essentials with you on moving day

Packing an “essentials” box is a great way to make the first night at your new home more manageable. If you’re pregnant, make sure you also pack a box of pregnancy-related essentials so that you’re completely prepared as soon as you move in.

Bring your “pregnancy essentials” box with you in the car on moving day instead of packing it into the moving truck with the rest of your possessions. This way, you’ll be totally prepared as soon as you arrive at your new home.

From body pillows to your favourite foods, pack some snacks and living essentials to help you make it through the first night. The first day in a new home is usually more stressful than the others, making it important to have your essentials available.

Are you ready to move house?

The key to a stress-free moving day is preparation, from to-do lists to scouting your new neighbourhood. If you’re moving house soon, start preparing today to enjoy an easy, stress-free experience when moving day finally arrives!