There are very few things in life that can turn your world upside down quite like moving house – unless of course, you’re also pregnant. Balancing boxes and baby scans is no easy feat. It may even seem like a cruel cosmic joke that two life-altering events so often arrive in tandem. But such is life: messy, unpredictable, full of surprise – and, somehow, manageable.
I found myself staring at a wall of brown cardboard boxes while eight months pregnant with my first child. My ankles were swelling, our dog had been sick on the stair carpet (again), and everything I needed – the soft sleepsuits, the teddy from my childhood I intended to pass down – was in the box at the bottom of a pile marked “BEDROOM, MISC.” I laughed. Then I cried. Then, like all women do, I carried on.
Here’s what I learnt from the experience, and what I’d tell any other soon-to-be mum preparing for a big move.
Know That It Will Be Harder – And That’s OK
Let’s not sugar-coat it: moving is exhausting on a good day. When your body is growing a human, your energy levels are not what they once were. Tasks that might have taken a few hours pre-pregnancy – packing up a kitchen, sorting through old clothes – now demand more breaks, more snacks, and definitely more patience.
The first truth to accept is that you won’t be as productive as before. And that’s no failure. You are busy keeping someone alive on the inside. It’s not a weakness to need help – in fact, asking for help shows wisdom and strength, especially now.
Prioritise What Matters Most
One of the challenges of moving is decision fatigue. There’s a lot to think about: utilities, packing, change of address, new schools (perhaps), new doctors, transport logistics. You can’t do it all at once, so don’t try. Focus on what needs doing today.
One method that helped me was writing everything down: from the big things like hiring movers, to small but significant tasks like finding out where the nearest hospital was. Then I circled the three most urgent tasks each day – and let the rest go.
When you’re pregnant, your brain may feel foggy at times (hello, “baby brain”). A notebook or a simple spreadsheet can be a lifesaver. Don’t rely on memory. Take the pressure off by transferring the mental load onto paper.
Create a Pregnancy Box
If I could go back and do one thing differently, it would be to pack a ‘pregnancy survival box’ early on – a sort of emergency kit with everything you might need quickly and often.
Mine would have included maternity records, vitamins, a water bottle, comfortable clothes, body lotion for my itchy belly, a scented candle that made me feel calm, and maybe even that tiny baby onesie that always made me smile. Also, snacks. Always snacks.
This box should travel with you, not in the removal van. Think of it as your mobile comfort zone in a world of chaos. When things get overwhelming, it’s surprising how reassuring a familiar lip balm or soft cotton T-shirt can be.
Lean On Your People
Pregnancy is one of those rare times in life when you’re allowed to be a bit more selfish – perhaps not selfish, but self-focused. Let your family help more than they normally might. Ask your friend to drop off dinner. Say yes when someone offers to babysit your toddler or clean your kitchen. Now is the time to take support, not deflect it.
If physically moving boxes or scrubbing the oven feels beyond your limits, it probably is. There’s no medal for most exhausted expectant mother. Hire movers if you can. If funds are tight, ask around. You’d be surprised how many people are willing – even enthusiastic – to help a pregnant friend in a pinch.
Also, remember to let your midwife or doctor know you’re moving. They’ll help ensure your medical notes are transferred, and if you’re nearing your due date, they may provide advice specific to your region.
Rest – Even When It Feels Counterintuitive
There were so many moments during our move when I’d find myself halfway through a task, just standing still, unable to remember what I was doing. My husband would spot me, hand me a cup of tea, and gently push me towards the sofa. “Rest,” he’d say. “Everything will still be here in thirty minutes.”
He was right, of course.
When you’re pregnant, rest isn’t just helpful – it’s necessary. Your body is working all the time, even when you’re sure you’re doing “nothing”. Schedule in time to lie down, nap, or just sit with your feet up. Trust me, there’s no benefit to pushing through until you’re utterly spent.
Also, don’t underestimate the emotional labour of moving. Even if you’re excited about your new home, there’s always a sense of loss when you close the door on a chapter of your life. You’re not just changing address – you’re altering the setting of your soon-to-be family’s story. That’s huge. Let yourself grieve the place you’re leaving, and don’t rush the process.
Make the New Place Feel Like Home—Slowly
Once you’re in your new space, there’s a temptation to ‘get everything done’ immediately. But you don’t have to transform the house overnight. In fact, one of the most grounding things is to set up just one corner – a reading nook, your bed, or even just the kettle and some mugs – and let that be your safe space while the rest unfolds.
For me, it was the baby’s room. Not because I planned to use it right away, but because it helped me visualise the future. Folding tiny clothes and arranging soft toys gave me a sense of peace amid the rubble of unlabelled boxes.
It also helped to put up a few familiar photographs straight away. Personal items – even just a favourite cushion or a clock you’ve always had – create a thread of memory that links one home to the next.
Don’t Rush Life Just Because It’s Changing Fast
Pregnancy can already feel like a countdown: to your due date, to maternity leave, to your whole world altering. Add a move to the mix, and you might feel like everything is slipping past at breakneck speed.
But pause, whenever you can. Sip tea by the window. Note how the light falls in your new living room. Spend an extra moment feeling your baby kick, especially if you’re surrounded by clutter that makes you feel anything but calm.
Moving offers a chance to reimagine not just where you live, but how. Perhaps in your new place, you’ll be bolder about saying no. Or you’ll prioritise green space, or proximity to family. Let it be a true reset, not just a logistical upheaval.
You’re Already Doing Something Incredibly Brave
It’s easy to forget, when you’re caught up in the madness of bubble wrap and paint samples, but carrying a baby and stepping into a new home are both acts of optimism. To move while pregnant is to believe in new beginnings – to trust that something even better awaits on the other side of chaos.
There’s a quiet kind of courage in that. One that doesn’t need shouting about, but deserves honouring all the same.
One afternoon, a few days after we moved, I sat on the floor of our half-unpacked kitchen, eating toast and watching a single fly buzz around the window. My hips ached. My back was sore. But the baby was hiccupping, and outside the cherry blossoms were starting. It wasn’t perfect. But it was enough.
And that’s the thing I most want to tell you: you’ll get through this. Not by being superhuman, but by being gloriously, stubbornly human. By listening to your body, trusting your instincts, leaning on people you love, and allowing yourself both grace and rest.
Your life is shifting, expanding to make space – not just for a tiny person, but for a new version of you. And despite all the boxes and unknowns, that’s something truly beautiful.
Welcome home, mama.