Nesting: myth or reality?

You’re pregnant and probably in the last trimester of your pregnancy. You’ve got a huge belly that hardly lets you move, but suddenly you’re filled with an inordinate amount of energy and your head starts to buzz: tidy, clean, wash, prepare. If this is your case and you can’t stay still, there’s no doubt about it, you’re nesting!!

You can’t help it and most of the time you’ve got no control over it. Instinct comes knocking at your door to prepare for the baby’s arrival and then you get this unstoppable urge to clean the top cupboards in the kitchen, leave the windows looking spotless, rearrange the house or sort out all the cupboards. There really must be some kind of physiological explosion to make a heavily pregnant lady get up and set to work like that.

Just go with it! That need to tidy and leave everything ready and spotless will take your mind off any worries about the baby’s arrival. If you keep busy, you’ll feel much calmer. But be sensible, don’t take any unnecessary risks. Don’t climb a ladder when no one else is at home, and carefully plan what needs to be done in order to ensure your own well-being and that of your baby.

How can you make the most of nesting?

• Organise a weekly schedule and plan the tasks you want to do.
• Remember you’re not as quick as you used to be, so don’t try to do everything yourself.
• Ask for help from your family and especially your partner. They’ll be only too happy to help and that will also allow you to take care of lots of other things so that you don’t have to do them during the last few weeks, when you’ll be feeling much more uncomfortable.
• Make a list of priorities. Start with the most necessary things and leave any other little bits and pieces for afterwards.
• Set yourself a limit so that you’re not working into the evening. You need to rest so that you’re not agitated and exhausted by the evening, otherwise you’ll find it hard to get to sleep.

Have you felt the urge to nest? Did you leave your house sparkling clean before your baby arrived? Tell us about your experience!