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Are You Pregnant Living in a Tiny Home?

January 31, 2020 | Comments 0 Comment

I was watching a documentary about tiny home living the other day, and something caught my eye. There was this pregnant woman who lives with her husband and a kid, and it led me to this question. Is a tiny home an ideal place for a pregnant woman?

Pregnancy is an exciting yet challenging time for any woman, especially if they live in a tiny house. However, because there is limited space to move around, it can be quite difficult for a pregnant woman to live in a tiny house.

Several situations can also be a bit dangerous for pregnant women, such as climbing a ladder to reach the loft. For these reasons, it’s crucial to plan your living situation in a tiny house.

Are Tiny Houses Safe During Pregnancy?

Generally, spending time in a tiny house is mostly safe because it also provides comfort and necessities like your traditional houses. However, because of its smaller liveable space, there are a lot of adjustments that you will need.

Aside from a limited living area, tiny houses also have smaller storage for the additional items you will need during pregnancy. Hence, you might want to prioritize things that you need during this period— medicines, extra sets of clothing, and additional food.

Tiny houses also have less comfort-centric amenities that you might need during pregnancy. For example, it doesn’t have the best heating system to keep you warm during the winter months. As such, you may need to buy an additional portable heater to ensure you get the temperature just right.

On the flip side, if you are pregnant during the summer months, you may need better air conditioning and ventilation system. Tiny houses can get warmer because of its compact space. Hence you need always to keep your windows open to let the air in.

Overall, tiny houses are safe for pregnant women, provided that you have prepared everything to make yourself more comfortable. Just make sure to plan specific changes during this time with your family so that everyone can cope with this new setup.

Main Challenges of Pregnant Women Living in a Tiny House

The key to a good plan is to preempt what problems or challenges lie ahead, so that you can come up with advanced solutions. Most of the challenges during this time revolve around two things— ensuring the comfort and safety of the pregnant woman.

For this reason, we have listed some of the challenges that pregnant women encounter when living in a tiny home. Based on their experiences, we have also listed some suggestions on how you can prevent accidents and better cope with the situation.

Here are some of the situations that you have to be prepared for:

1. Moving Around the House

As your belly grows in size, it will be more difficult to navigate around the cramped tiny house. Depending on how your small home is designed, moving from one part of the home to another can be daunting to almost impossible.

Make sure that you have plenty of room to move around by rearranging your furniture, if necessary. Removing or relocating any item that can stop you from your track is also crucial at this stage. If you have wall decorations that stick out and can hinder your movement, you should consider removing them for your safety.

Moreover, you also have to watch out for sharp edges of tables, cabinets, and other furniture. Hitting these places, especially with your baby bump, can be quite painful and can even threaten your pregnancy. One of the quick-fixes you can do to prevent such a dilemma is to install safety edge strips and corner guards.

2. Taking a Bath

Most tiny homes have small bathrooms that pale in comparison to their traditional house counterparts. A typical tiny house bathroom measures 4’ x 3’ or 3’ x 3′. It also has just about a foot between the toilet and shower, which also makes it harder to enter and exit this room.

Given its compact space, taking a bath is also quite challenging for pregnant women. The worst thing that could happen is the soap sliding out of your hand, and you have to pick it up on the floor. To avoid this, you can instead use liquid soap and place it on an easily reachable height or about your chest level.

If you have a tub in your tiny home, you may want to install new handlebars where you can hold on for extra support. It’s also recommended that you place anti-slip floor mats right after your shower or tub to prevent you from falling over.

3. Going to the Second Floor

Going up and down the stairs (or ladders) is something you should avoid while your pregnant. Not only will it be challenging to do, especially in the later stage of pregnancy, but it also exposes you to unwanted accidents.

As such, we recommend you and your household to make certain adjustments. For example, if you have a loft that is accessible only via a narrow ladder, then you might want to take extra care when climbing it. If you sleep on the loft, you can instead buy a foldable sofa or another bed so you can stay on the first floor.

Better yet, you may want to swap beds or rooms of those who are staying on the ground floor of your tiny home. If you don’t have a bedroom on the first floor, you can buy a foldable sofa bed and make it comfortable enough for you to sleep in.

4. Cooking and Dining

A mother’s work doesn’t stop just because they are pregnant. Preparing meals for the family is a choir that you don’t merely delegate to another member of the household. As such, you need to make sure that even when you are cooking meals, it won’t pose any harm to you and the child you are carrying.

Hence, make sure that all of your kitchen cookware and utensils are placed where you can easily access them. Preferably, this should be around easy to reach cabinets or drawers. If you need any cookware that is on the top shelves, ask someone to bring it down for you.

Additionally, avoid bending down to reach any housewares that are placed on the bottom cabinet. If you frequently use a particular pot or skillet, you can instead bring it out and put it somewhere more accessible.

5. Cleaning the House

A tiny house can get messy fast, especially if you have a kid around. Hence, even if you are under prenatal care, you can’t help but clean your abode now and then. Be careful, though, as you usually shouldn’t stress yourself with all the chores during this period in your life.

Limit your cleaning chores to simple tasks that don’t require any complicated movements. You can dust off the house or even vacuum the floor. However, please avoid anything that puts your body in awkward positions like squatting.

If you still need to clean the house, you can hire someone to tidy your dwelling for you. You can also delegate the task to other occupants of your home— be it your husband, partner, or even your children.

How to Cope with Living in a Tiny Home During Pregnancy

Pregnancy can bring a lot of changes not only to you but also to your household. Women who are pregnant are more vulnerable to different ailments and conditions such as anxiety. As such, it’s paramount that their environment must not cause any stress or strains.

Fortunately, a tiny house can be the perfect dwelling to carry your pregnancy because of its homey feeling. If you live in a tiny house on wheels, you can also get around places, such as a nature park, where you can de-stress and relax.

As much as possible, you want to be as safe and comfortable during pregnancy. However, it shouldn’t stop you from doing the things you want to do. Some pregnant women even continue to work until the last couple of months of their pregnancy.

Coping with pregnancy usually revolves around dealing with common pregnancy symptoms such as morning sickness, lightheadedness, and feeling tired. Below are some things you can do to ensure you have a safe and comfortable pregnancy.

1. Focus on Your Baby’s Development

Don’t forget to take a breather if you feel tired. During these small breaks, you can just pause and feel your baby bump. Some studies have suggested that unborn babies can hear sounds as early as the sixth month of pregnancy.

Reading books and chatting with them is an excellent bond with you and your baby. Several pieces of research also pointed out that early reading can help them develop language learning much sooner.

2. Get Plenty of Sleep and Rest

During your pregnancy, your number one priority is to listen to your body. People usually need at least eight hours of sleep each day. However, pregnant women may require 10 hours or more to ensure that they are fully recharged, both physically and mentally.

If you have another child in the tiny house, perhaps you can ask your partner to look after them while you take short naps. To ensure you get a good night’s sleep, cut down your caffeine consumption, put aside your worries, and try relaxation techniques like deep breathing exercises.

3. Eat Well

Make sure that you are getting all the nutrients you and your baby need. Eat regular meals on time so you won’t feel irritable and keep your blood sugar level in check. Some of the so-called superfoods for your baby are spinach, carrots, bananas, avocados, broccoli, nuts, salmon, and yogurt.

Furthermore, you should also be consuming at least six to eight glasses of water a day. Dehydration can significantly affect your mood and harm your pregnancy. Most physicians also advise pregnant women to skip alcoholic drinks, especially during the early months of pregnancy.

4. Try Simple Exercises

Even if your movements are limited, don’t forget to do light exercises now and then. Scientists have found out that exercising and doing other physical activities make the brain release feel-good chemicals like dopamine.

Exercising and doing other gentler physical activities is perfectly safe, especially during the first half of your pregnancy. You can also try an aquanatal swim class or a prenatal yoga class to keep your body toned and in great shape. Even walking around your area or a nearby park, for at least 10 minutes, is already a great stress reliever.

5. Try Complementary Therapies

There are plenty of ways to help you lessen your stress and relieve the pressure of pregnancy. For example, getting a massage and spa baths can help relieve stress and give you a good night’s sleep. The great news is that your husband or partner can learn or apply some of these messages.

Another great way to help you relax is through the help of aromatherapy. Certain plants and mixtures can help you feel calmer and reduce anxiety. Overall, these complementary therapies can help you lessen the discomfort brought by your pregnancy.

6. Talk to Your Midwife or Physician

During your consultations and scheduled checkup, don’t be shy to discuss any worries you have for your baby. Tell your physician and midwife any concern you have on your pregnancy. Most of them can give you not only their professional advice but also their reassurance.

You can also talk with your partner about your worries, so both of you can feel better and not keep any secrets. Moreover, you can also go to group sessions with other moms-to-be and meet people who can relate to your situation.

7. Resolve Money Worries Early

Financial matters are one of the things that may always bother you and your partner. More so during pregnancy, when you will spend on prenatal items and medical care. As such, you need to sort things out the moment you know you are carrying a child.

If you want to save money, you can instead borrow items such as maternal dresses from your friends or relatives. Some charitable institutions also give out used prams, cots, and other maternity items that are still in good condition.

8. Learn to be Mindful

Pregnancy is such an excellent time to practice mindfulness. Being mindful of the world around you and the moment you are in can help you remove any negative thoughts. Just by paying full attention to simple things, like your baby’s kicks, will help you achieve this state.

Recent scientific research has found out several benefits of mindfulness to the mental state of a person. It’s one of the best practices that can help fight depression, which affects more than 20-percent of pregnant women.

Below are some ways you can practice being mindful in your daily life:

Spend at least five to ten minutes to just focus on your breathing and the sounds around you. This practice will help your mind to wander and improve your focus.

When you feel at peace, allow your mind to drift and explore the thoughts you have at the moment. Try to analyze these thoughts and feelings and notice if they have positive or negative patterns.

Try doing something new each day and break away from your usual daily routine. You can even learn new crafts such as knitting or tailoring clothes for your baby.

Practice just being in the moment and pay close attention to your senses. By bringing your consciousness to higher levels, you can better perceive the child you are carrying.

Safety Tips for Pregnant Women Living in a Tiny House

Pregnancy can be quite a delicate time where you have to put some safety mechanisms in place. Some pregnancies can also be quite unpredictable, so you need to be extra careful in almost everything.

For these reasons, we have compiled some safety tips which can help you have a comfortable pregnancy:

1. Practice Safe Commuting

A new study from the Economics and Human Biology has shown that there are significant dangers for pregnant women who commute long distances. According to their research, traveling more than 10 miles can increase the probability of low birth by 0.9 percent and intrauterine growth by 0.6 percent.

Hence, if you need to commute to work or to do groceries, choose the most comfortable means of transportation available. Avoid crowded mass transportation such as trains and buses, especially during the rush hour. If you can ask a friend or an acquaintance to drive you to your destination, then go with that option.

If you can’t avoid riding public transportation, make sure you head to the seats reserved for the elderly, pregnant, and disabled. It’s usually on the first row of the bus or the lead coach of the train, which makes it easier to board and alight the vehicle.

2. Wear Loose Clothing and Footwear with Good Grip

You should wear maternity clothes that are comfortable for you. Make sure that they are loose and laid back, so you can quickly move around without being restricted by your clothing. Avoid wearing something that feels tight, especially around your waist.

Start wearing maternity clothes on your first trimester or by the time your baby bump appears. The great news is that most of these garments are quite trendy and can become your fashion statement.

Furthermore, choose footwear that has plenty of grips so you won’t slip in wet and smooth surfaces. Make it a habit to wear shoes or any footwear, even when inside your tiny home. Doing so will prevent potential injuries from sharp and pointy objects lying around.

3. Park Your Tiny Home Close to a Hospital

If your tiny house is parked somewhere remote, you might want to relocate it to a community near a hospital. As you progress to your third trimester of pregnancy, you need to make this into your priority. If you have a relative or acquaintance living in an urban area with access to a hospital, then you might want to park your tiny house on wheels there temporarily.

There are numerous advantages to putting your mobile home to an area with access to a medical facility. If you ever get yourself involved in an accident, like slipping off, you can get treatment or be rescued much sooner.

Just make sure to stay in a quiet area. It should also have all the necessary facilities like access to water, power, and sewage. During the last trimester of your pregnancy, make sure you always have someone monitoring you just in case you unexpectedly give birth.

4. List Emergency Number Contacts

Always keep a list of emergency numbers in your smartphone- from the local fire department and rescue centers. It’s also essential to get to save the contact info of your midwife and physician. Register them on the speed dial just in case you ever find yourself in a fickle.

If you have a neighbor or a friend who lives near your area, get their numbers, too, as you will never know if you might need assistance. Make sure that you keep your smartphone with you or place it somewhere easily accessible.

Three Stages of Pregnancy

Most pregnancies last 40 weeks from the time of your last menstrual period to the day you give birth. It’s usually divided into three stages, which are called a trimester. Each semester consists of three months and is based on the maturation of the fetus.

When you find out you are pregnant, through pregnancy test kits or other methods, you need to see a physician the soonest. The doctor can give you a blood test to validate or invalidate the results of the test and give you an estimate when you give birth.

1. First Semester

During the first semester, your ovulation will cease, and the fetus begins to grow. Hormonal changes will start affecting your body and develop different symptoms. Things like mood swings, fatigue, frequent urination, cravings, and weight gain (or loss) are every day during this period.

Pregnant women at this stage need to eat more frequently, but with smaller meals. They also need to get to bed much earlier and avoid stress. Given that you are more mobile during the first trimester, you should do a bit of exercise.

2. Second Semester

The second semester is often much more comfortable than the first one. However, you will notice more physical changes, such as your baby bump expanding. During this time, you will likely experience less nausea and finally will be able to sense your baby move.

Changes like stretch marks, numb hands, itching abdomen, swelling of the ankles, and dark patches on your forehead are frequent during this period. It’s essential to be vigilant during the second semester and report to your doctor if you feel or experience something out of the ordinary.

3. Third Semester

The discomforts you felt during the second semester will likely continue during this period. Additionally, you may have to urinate more often and even experience difficulty in breathing. Contractions will also be quite frequent, which can be a sign of false or real labor.

As your due date approaches, it’s important to make necessary arrangements such as making sure you have your maternity kit ready. Also, you need to have a vehicle available just in case you get into labor earlier than what’s scheduled.

Raising a Baby in a Tiny Home

When you have given birth, the next question you might have is, “Can I raise my newborn child in a tiny home?” And the answer is yes.

However, you need to prepare a few things to ensure that you can take care of your new baby to the best of your abilities.

Ideally, you want to have storage for your baby’s stuff, such as food, toys, and clothes. They also need additional space in your tiny home for their crib or a hammock.

Here are five crucial tips for raising a healthy baby without stressing yourself too much:

Use a smaller or compact version of anything such as a mini crib or a collapsible bathtub to save space.
Create a schedule for you and your baby such as when to sleep, eat, play, and maybe even go outside for a walk
Buy items that are needed at the moment. For example, you only need a high chair when your baby is about six months old.
Cleverly use every space in your tiny home. Think which part of your tiny house can be used as a nursery or crib while still retaining a secondary function.
Create a dedicated and safe baby space. Baby proof this space or crib, so they won’t be harmed in any way.

Conclusion

Pregnancy is a great time to celebrate life. Spending your pregnancy in a tiny home can help get your family much closer. While there are certainly some challenges ahead, coping up with the situation is much easier if everyone’s on board.

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