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thread: Moving house - before baby or after baby? HELP!

  1. #1
    Registered User

    Apr 2008
    4,427

    Moving house - before baby or after baby? HELP!

    I am 35 weeks pregnant and found out yesterday that we need to move out of the house we have been renting for the last 6 years.

    The landlords feel awful as they know I am pregnant but we all dont really have a choice as the house has active termites and has done structural damage to some of the main supporting beams near the back of the house. They need to do major structural repairs and it's just been a nightmare for the last 3 years for the owners. I do really feel for them.

    Anyway, it means we have to move out They have said we can move out whenever we like but really by May 1st at the latest so they can begin work.

    I am so stressed. We have 2 dogs, an almost 4 year old DD and a baby on the way. There is sooooooo much to pack and clean out, etc and I know it will be difficult to find some where that will accept 2 little dogs even though the landlord said they would give us great references for them.

    So I am trying to decide what is best to do. Try and move within the next 5 weeks or wait until free the baby is born?

    What would you do?

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Jun 2009
    913

    What/who have you got in terms of support?

    Big hugs!

  3. #3
    Registered User

    Apr 2008
    Home, where else??
    1,177

    If at all possible, I would do it before the baby came as long as your eldest DD can handle the multiple changes.

    Also, I would enlist absolutely everybody I know to help as it is a big job when pregnant.

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Jun 2007
    Dandenong Ranges, Melbourne.
    5,673

    Moving house - before baby or after baby? HELP!

    I would definitely do it ASAP. Ring the real estate agent that you got this rental through and see if they have anything pet friendly available

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Jun 2012
    South Australia
    1,097

    this is a REALLY really tough one.... really sucks . 5 weeks to find a place, pack, unpack, get settled before bubs comes along could be really really cutting it short.. if there was more than 5 weeks i would probably say move.. but i would probably wait a few months

  6. #6
    Registered User

    Apr 2008
    4,427

    We rent through them privately which I think is going to make things even harder for us. Not sure?

    I just can't believe it. Still in shock a day after hearing the news. I had only just finished setting everything up for baby including wall stickers and all. My sister is calling me back after 6pm. She is going to come around this weekend so I might rope her into helping and I know my mum will help. DH is so busy working to bring money in so I know I am going to be the main packer.

  7. #7
    Registered User

    Jan 2013
    Geelong
    1,364

    That's hard, looking for a place is time consuming and stressful at the best of times! If you can afford the expense of a removal company that would my suggestion - get one who comes in & packs everything & then transports to the new house. Good luck!

  8. #8
    Registered User

    Sep 2008
    In a cloud of madness.
    4,053

    Not sure if you remember hun, we had a similar thing when DD2 was born (about 3months I think from memory). We waited until she was born. dd1 was in daycare on the day we moved and dd2 was little enough I put the portacot up and/or had her in a carrier while I did what I could to help. Probably would have been easier to do it before she was born buit thats how it happened.

    I'm more than happy to come and help you in the evenings when I can.

  9. #9
    Registered User

    Jul 2008
    summer street
    2,708

    I would wait so you can save a bit and find a place you like. Moving with a tiny baby is hard, but you just need your mum or an older person to sit and hold baby while you do other stuff. I would also recommend professional packers too.

    I would start looking now, but only jump into a pre-baby move if the place is perfect and you can afford professional removalists.

  10. #10
    Registered User

    Mar 2007
    6,900

    Oh moving house is so stressful.

    I would do it ASAP. I would just want to be all done and settled before baby arrived. Wish I was closer and could help! xx

  11. #11
    Registered User

    Mar 2009
    2,269

    We moved when DD2 was a week old, wasnt an issue really. Id start packing what you can live without slowly and look then just move when you find something suitable. Having a flexible end date could be a blessing.

    Good luck, it must be a huge shock after so long in one place. I hope you find somewhere perfect!

  12. #12
    Registered User

    Dec 2010
    The zoo
    735

    My gut feel would be before as you never know what might come with the birth - you might need a c-section which would put you out of physical action for a while, or you may need a longer stay in hospital etc. I know that sounds paranoid but I guess for me I would consider that there are more unknowns after the birth than before if that makes sense.

    What a horrible position to be in - I hope you can find another place easily.

    The other thing maybe you could do is ask your landlord (since they are already feeling bad) if they can give you a month rent-free or something so you can take up a lease sooner on a new one and do stuff gradually? Just an idea...

  13. #13
    Registered User

    Aug 2006
    1,074

    Moving house - before baby or after baby? HELP!

    Sorry to hear you have to move I'd do it before bubs arrives. Our Dd was hard work and I can't imagine moving during all of that when she was so unsettled and wouldn't sleep. Try to get as much help as you can so that you don't feel stressed. It might be a lot for your 1st child to gain a sibling then move, they might think its the baby that brought about all the change.

  14. #14
    Registered User

    Dec 2005
    Melbourne, Vic
    4,338

    That really sux, personally I would try move before bubs but does mean rushing, you'll need find something asap which might not be exactly what you want.

  15. #15
    Registered User

    Jan 2010
    1,975

    I've moved twice when heavily pregnant and again when DD2 was a few months old. (Hmmm... there's a pattern here! I love this house, maybe no more kids!!) I found moving when pg a lot easier, particularly if you have plenty of support. I suffer SPD when pg so I was pretty useless physically but I could still stand around and boss everyone else! I really enjoyed the nesting and setting up of a new place and it certainly gave me plenty to do in those last few weeks of pg which just seem to crawl by.

    Perhaps you could ask your current landlords for some rent relief to put towards the cost of removalists?

    Good luck, I hope you find a lovely new home.

  16. #16
    Registered User

    Apr 2008
    4,427

    Things are just so hard...

    I am so tired, dragging dd around to look at places that seem good on (website name removed by moderator - please read guidelines) and turn out rubbish. I have started the whole throwing stuff out process when I have energy but I am just so tired.

    I had the biggest cry tonight as I took down all the wall stickers and all the nursery stuff that I took so much time placing up for this bub. It just felt so depressing and overwhelming.

    I know moving before bub will be easier but right now it all seems hard.

    To make matters worse, last night I threw up in the bath and today I threw up in the car while at traffic lights. I grabbed some serviettes from centre console but it wasn't enough, so I cried all the way home with Dd telling me it's ok mummy. Not sure whether it's stress related or morning sickness back.

    I have plenty of offers of help from family and friends which is great but it's limited what they can do at the moment.

    My mum is coming over tomorrow with about $100 worth of boxes and packing stuff that she is shouting me and is going to come with me to look at places, then my sister is coming over in the Arvo and is going to stay the night and help pack some stuff. I am really lucky to have them.

    I just feel so lost, unsettled and in limbo land. I hate it

    Sorry for the vent. Just needed to get it out.
    Last edited by Amity; February 9th, 2013 at 05:08 PM. : removing reference to website

  17. #17
    Registered User

    Nov 2008
    Perth
    3,686

    Moving house - before baby or after baby? HELP!

    That really sucks. You poor thing, I really feel for you. I'd definitely move before the baby arrives though too. We moved 6 weeks before DD2 arrived and it was really tough but we did it. Mum and I did most of the packing and all our family pitched in on moving day.

    I'd avoid moving after the baby is born if you can because firstly, packing with one child to look after is hard enough (I've done it three times with kids, twice with just DD1) and secondly you just don't know what's going to happen with your newborn. DD2 had a tongue tie, annihilated my nipples which lead to an array of feeding issues and 7 weeks of exclusive pumping. She also had reflux. That thrown in with the usual newborn stuff and sleep deprivation, well yeah, moving wouldn't be easy.

    Good luck hon. I'm so sorry this has been dumped on you unexpectedly.

  18. #18
    Registered User

    Apr 2008
    4,427

    Thanks taurean. It is reassuring to hear others have been through similar situations.

    Fingers crossed we find something today! Then the next step is to have our application accepted! Arrrhhh! With 2 little dogs it might be difficult but I can't lie about them.

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