5 Great Ways to Harness Your Pregnancy Nesting Superpower

When I became pregnant, I wanted to experience everything pregnancy had to offer—no matter what! My prayers were answered, and I had my fill of morning sickness, cravings, prenatal kicks, and a rapidly expanding waistline. In the last trimester, I was thrilled to have the insatiable desire to nest.

73 percent of pregnant women experience the urge to nest in some fashion.

A babycenter.com poll showed that 73 percent of pregnant women experience the urge to nest in some fashion. Instincts play a part in nesting at the end of pregnancy—a mom-to-be wants to make sure her home is clean and organized for the baby’s impending arrival. If you're pregnant, you might find that this urge can have you doing anything from stocking the freezer with hearty casseroles to alphabetizing your entire pantry … right after you surprise your partner with a garage makeover.

Regardless of how much time or energy you have to spend on this pivotal part of your pregnancy, take advantage of these inspired ideas when that yearning to start feathering your nest strikes.

1. Plan in advance for your nesting surge

It’s difficult to predict what your energy levels will be throughout your pregnancy, so take advantage of the first trimester and craft a detailed list of all the decluttering, organizing, and home projects you want to tackle when you embrace your inner nesting.

Here are a few ideas you might feather your nest with.

• Straightening your home’s closets
• Scrubbing all the door and window frames
• Eliminating cobwebs lurking in ceiling corners, and under beds and sofas
• Organizing your Tupperware and silverware drawers
• Ditching the spices you haven’t touched in years
• Streamlining your laundry room—babies make lots of dirty laundry
• Cleaning neglected things like cobwebby corners, window screens, and ceiling fans
• Deep cleaning your kitchen and bathroom

You get the idea. Now’s the time to plan ahead so you won’t waste precious time when the urge hits to make your home shine.

Bump it up a notch: Keep this nesting list as part of your baby book or journal. You’ll be able to reflect on all the neat projects you were brave enough to take on before your sweet baby arrived. What a keepsake!

2. Simplify your surroundings

Organizing expert extraordinaire Marie Kondo took the nation by storm with her heartfelt approach to decluttering. Kondo’s goal of tidying is to make room for meaningful objects, people, and experiences. Her philosophy involves simplifying...

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