The logistics of packing and moving are stressful under any circumstances, but add pregnancy to the mix, and they can seem downright daunting. Local realtor Holly Beville offers these tips for smooth prenatal and postnatal packing, as well as some handy website on meeting other new parents once you move.
- The golden rule of prenatal packing is to avoid heavy lifting, start by consulting with your doctor about any guidelines specific to your individual pregnancy.
- To avoid overexertion, consider investing in hiring professional movers to pack and unpack your home. If your budget doesn’t allow for the expense, now is the time to ask for and accept help from your partner, family and friends. Be kind to yourself and accept generosity during this time.
- Misplacing important items seems to be a side-effect of any move, whether you have purchased a home across the country or down the street. Pack and label a special bag or box meant solely for essential items and store in an area where it can’t be misplaced, such as the trunk of your car. Especially if you are in the third trimester of your pregnancy, you’ll want to make sure you include your hospital bag while storing essential items.
- Once you are in your new home, it’s important to remember that just because there is a house to unpack doesn’t mean you need to do it all by yourself, or right away, for that matter.
- Childbirth may be followed by several weeks of recovery time, so just like moving before your little one arrives, you will want to consult with your doctor and avoid heavy lifting.
- Newborns do a fantastic job of sleeping in those first few months, so work with your baby’s schedule and pack or unpack boxes when there’s time. Above all else, enjoy these new moments with your baby when possible.
Helpful websites for meeting other parents in your new neighborhood
By far, the easiest time to make new friends is when your sidekick is a sweet little bundle of joy. Great local resources for meeting other local parents with shared interests include:
Red Tricycle (http://redtri.com/dc/) is a fantastic site with readership and reach throughout many major cities across the United States.
Meet Up (meetup.com) recently updated its site and is another great resource for new parent groups and special interest parent groups.
Holly Beville is a licensed real estate agent with McEnearney Associates in Alexandria, VA. Check out her bio at http://www.mcenearney.com/our-associates/info/hollybeville/.
