What Exactly is Pregnancy Nesting and is it Safe?

Nesting is the term used to refer to an expectant mother’s instinct which gives her a surge of energy which prompts her to clean and do various chores around her home. Nesting usually arises as the mother nears her due date. Whether you tend to be domestic or not, nesting while gestating can bring deep satisfaction and a sense of anticipation. It’s not just redoing your house, there is a definitive reason for adding paint to those walls. Soon a very important person will be living in that room and you want them to know you took the time to make it special for them.

Some women are nesting and are mentally unaware of it. Their nesting instincts may be subtle, yet they are going around their living quarters doing tasks in preparation for their child’s birth. When nesting is subtle, it is thought to be because the woman may be energetic or active naturally, regardless of her pregnancy. Other women report a surge of energy that is impossible to still. These women know they are nesting and they are unable to quell the surge of energy.

While nesting can take on the characteristics of normal household chores, when a woman is nesting, she will probably carry out the tasks more meticulously and persistently than usual. These can include cleaning our cabinets, rearranging furniture, steam cleaning carpets and upholstery, and stocking the kitchen with food and cooking.

While you enjoy becoming this new domestic goddess as you nest for your new little one, there are a few safety guidelines you should follow:

Changing your mind about furniture placement and rearranging it yourself are two very different things. When you’re pregnant you should definitely leave the heavy lifting up to someone else.

When possible, let your partner do the painting. Prolonged exposure to the smells of paint toxins can be bad for the baby.

Cleaning is a big part of nesting, so choose to use non-toxic cleaning products. You will want to stop using them anyway when the baby arrives, so starting early will get you into the new product buying routine.