The first thing every young family considers when moving is the baby. And often, couples get stuck in the dilemma of deciding if they should relocate while pregnant or after birth. Each has pros and cons, and ultimately, your unique situation and priorities will dictate which pros you want to pursue and cons to avoid.
Before the Baby
One of the perks of relocating before your bundle of joy comes is that you’ll have an opportunity to build rapport with moms in the neighborhood. You can get the support you need even before the baby arrives. Join pre-natal classes in your locale and find new-mom clubs in the community. Use this time to build your network. You’d need it for sure when the sleepless, lethargic days start.
And this is where the second benefit to moving before giving birth comes. Sure, it’s hard to declutter, pack and move stuff while you’re carrying a heavy tummy, but it’s going to be tougher when you’re dealing with sleep deprivation later and caring for your newborn, who needs all your care and attention, both at the same time. So in this case, you may want to choose the less stressful.
If you’re going this route, your health and safety should be your priority. As you know, strenuous tasks can increase the risk for premature labor and miscarriage. So, leave the lifting of furniture to experts offering moving and relocation services. As for the decluttering and packing, ask help from your family and friends. Or, take rests now and then to keep yourself from getting overwhelmed.
If you’re planning to buy new furniture for your nursery, do it when you’re settled in your new home already. It will take more expenses if you carry these new furnishings with your current belongings.
After the Baby
In the same way, though, there are perks to delaying the moving a bit, doing it after giving birth. For one, you’re able to focus on your pregnancy and avoid the health risks mentioned above. And since your back isn’t aching anymore, you can better help in the packing and lifting of some light objects. You’ll be able to sort through your items yourself in the meticulous way you want.
Moreover, you can pour all your time and love on your newborn, bond with them as much as you can, without having to think about the need to buy a new couch or digging through boxes and boxes of stuff just to find a nail cutter.
Finally, moving after the baby prevents the additional stress on pregnancy. It gives you time to recover, to take your pace after carrying a human inside you for nine months.
Similar to what’s above though, you have to keep an eye on your health and your baby’s when moving. Even though you’re not at risk anymore to miscarriages, you may be vulnerable to other problems, like infections, hemorrhage or postpartum depression. Your equally vulnerable baby may be exposed to germs and bacteria in your travel. So check with your doctor first when it’s safe to move and how you can better protect your health.
The tough decision on when to move boils down to your family’s needs and goals. Each choice has benefits and risks, and it’s up to you to weigh what’s more important. All the best in your decision!
