14 DAY TRIAL // Psychologists at the McMaster University in Canada have recently published a paper saying that it is normal for pregnant women to feel the need to clean and organize both their home and their lives, especially during the third trimester.
This behavior, known as “nesting,” is by no means irrational, the specialists argue.
On the contrary, it is deeply rooted in the human species' evolutionary past, and its purpose is that of allowing the woman to feel in control of her surroundings prior to childbirth.
“Nesting is not a frivolous activity. We have found that it peaks in the third trimester as the birth of the baby draws near and is an important task that probably serves the same purpose in women as it does in other animals,” argues specialist Marla Anderson, as cited by EurekAlert.
“It ties us to our ancestral past. Providing a safe environment helps to promote bonding and attachment between both the mother and infants,” she goes on to say.
What's interesting is that nesting behavior in pregnant women reaches its peak right about the time when their energy levels are fairly low as a result of the extra strain on their bodies.
“One of the apparent paradoxes of nesting is that in the third trimester of pregnancy women tell us that they are more tired while simultaneously showing an increase in activity. So the urge to nest is a very powerful motivating force,” Professor Mel Rutherford explains.