Pregnant and feel the need to scrub the skirting boards, or clean the cupboards out? Unless you’re normally mad about housework, it’s probably your nesting instinct kicking in.

What?

Nesting is the often insatiable desire to get your home prepared for your new baby. ‘You may feel a need to get things ready... and don’t want to be far from home,’ is how the Bounty Your Pregnancy guide defines it.

Why?

Nesting is common in animals and is considered to be a primal instinct to prepare for birth, though not all pregnant women feel it.

Who?

Some theories suggest that women who are naturally energetic tend to feel less driven to nest, while those who are more easygoing are big nesters, as one Bounty mum, SMPH, explains:

‘I didn't think that I would [nest]. I know it’s tried to rear its head before, but I remained stubborn and stayed lazy. I am usually a lazy person!’

When?

Nesting can start any time in pregnancy, although it is common from around the 5th month. It’s often experienced in the last weeks when it is thought to be sign that you’ll be going into labour soon.

How?

Nesting can take many forms: you may want to wash the floors, sort out your cupboards, or buy vests for your baby, or you might feel compelled to knit baby clothes, pack and repack your hospital bag, or simply be at home.

Some women experience nesting subtly and may simply want to arrange their baby’s clothes in a drawer, while others, such as Bounty mum, fullhouse, may be overwhelmed by the desire for housework:

‘Since I woke at 7, I’ve been non-stop: I’ve scrubbed every tile in the bathroom, skirting boards, door frames, in fact anything that has stood still has been scrubbed and I still feel like I could go on for hours, but just ran out of jobs. I’m sure come 5 this evening I’m gonna be shattered and moaning about backache.’

Bounty mum, mum2ethanandbump, went even further and had the urge for major home improvements when she was pregnant with her first baby:

‘I started painting everything and moving furniture… probably what put me into labour with DS! I was resting one of those really old, heavy microwaves [note: don’t try this yourself] on my bump to move it across the kitchen!! Madness, lol. I’m still waiting this time... although about 2 weeks ago I had the paint out and scrubbed walls and floors too and actually got to the bottom of my ironing!’

Need to know

Nesting isn’t harmful unless you start wanting to move heavy objects around, or climb ladders, in which case find something else to do or ask for help! Your ligaments are softer in pregnancy which makes you less steady on your feet and more likely to strain your back, pelvis and knees. Other things to avoid include harsh chemical cleaners such as bleach and oven cleaner, and cleaning out the cat litter (or gardening without gloves where cats may have soiled) because of the risk of toxoplasmosis.