When to pack hospital bags?

[Heirhelp]

not sure when I need to do this by and how much stuff to take. At my hospital partners can stay over night in a pull down bed and they don't rush you out if you are struggling to establish feeding etc.

Going away to a wedding at 36 weeks. Will I need to take all my labour stuff?

[Missingcaffeine]

If I were you, I'd take your maternity notes and TENS machine at the very least if the wedding is far away from home - just in case.

I had my hospital bags ready by around 36 weeks.

[LittleGreyCatwithapinkcollar]

I think I finished mine last time somewhere between 34 and 36 weeks. I hardly used anything from it though!

[Wait4nothing]

I've started packing mine today - I'm 33w3d. Been looking at videos on YouTube and lists. I mainly started today so I could see what I haven't got to buy over the next few weeks with the shopping. Tbh there isn't much else I need - about 6 items.

I've decided to do a labour bag with a few baby things that will be needed straight away and then a hospital bag assuming a day or so stay. Will keep this in the car initially to save on carrying. Will get dh to pick up more bits at home if a longer stay is needed (he's quite good - managed to pack for me on a surprise holiday before) and the hospital is next door to a supermarket so we'll hopefully be fine!

I've enjoyed it (sad person who loves lists!)

[Runningupthathill82]

First time round, I think mine was packed by 30 weeks.
Second time, DH was chucking a few bits in a rucksack when I was 9cm dilated. And then the bag never made it into the hospital from the car anyway - he had to virtually carry me, and we thought he'd have time to go back to the car park for it. He didn't...

[katienana]

I'm 32 weeks and have been buying stuff for a few weeks now but nothing is packed. Need to wash all the baby stuff and buy nappies. Am anticipating a few days in hospital so going to have 3 bags: labour, baby, postnatal. Last time dh was asking me where specifically in the bag the baby's hat was while I was being stitched up so I think having things separated out will help.

[GunShotResidue]

With DD I packed at about 32 weeks, this time it was before 28 but only because we moved when I was 28 weeks and I wanted to grab everything before it ended up lost in random boxes.

I'd aim to be packed by 36 weeks. If you think you might stay in longer it is a good idea to have 2 bags, one for labour and maybe the first night, and one for a longer stay :)

[LBOCS2]

I'm 36 weeks and haven't packed mine yet but am starting to get a bit twitchy about it.

Last time around I was taken in for induction at 38wks and spent the last 10 minutes in the house chucking things into a bag. Probably going to try and avoid that for now.

[SaltySeaBird]

38 weeks ... going to try and pack it tomorrow. Or at least this week ...

Haven't stopped work yet and just too tired to sort stuff out in the evening and have been ill over the weekend.

[Whathaveilost]

Anytime before my expierence.
I already had the baby and had to send DH home to make me a bag up. I had to ask him to put nappies, baby grows, my nighties, sanitary towels, etc in.

I have no idea why I didn't make one up!

[tellmemore1982]

First time I packed at 36 weeks and sat and looked at the bag in the hall for another 6 weeks. I had a lot of time on my hands (little did I know) so rather over thought the whole thing.

Second time I packed half the amount of stuff at 39.5 weeks, perfect timing for a (nearly) due date delivery.

Anything extra, DH went home to get. The more you take into hospital the more you have to pack up when you leave.

Most useful things I had in addition to the usual were charged proper camera, bottled water (I love bottled water) and flip flops.

[5hell]

salty glad I'm not the only one...38w tomorrow and sort of packed bag yesterday, but poor baby has nothing in there yet

[Heirhelp]

Thanks guy. I think I will start packing in the next couple of weeks. I have heard lots of stories of early and late babies.

To the lady who's husband was looking for the hat (sorry cant find your post) I have read some where, probably MN that you should put baby's first outfit in a zip lock bag to make it easier to find.

[katienana]

That would be me Heirhelp! Good tip, it was a moot point anyway because DS was so big none of his clothes fit and my dad had to rush to Next to buy him some 0-3 month clothes. Needless to say I'm only packing 0-3 month this time!

[wonkylegs]

I'm 32 weeks and mine was packed last week. DS turned up at 36wks and I had a hospital stay a few weeks before that for a bleed which caught me out, so this time I'm ready.

[Oysterbabe]

I packed mine at 35 weeks then went into labour at 35+5.

[Hufflepuffin]

From about 30 weeks (when I had a reduced movement scare) I had a bag packed for myself with toiletries, kindle, spare phone charger, nightie and anything else I might need if i needed to stay in overnight for treatment. I didn't put any baby stuff in as I figured delivering so early they'd be going straight to the scbu (or worse).

We went away at 36 weeks and I didn't take anything special beyond my birth notes as I figured my weekend bag had most of the important stuff in it anyway, and dh could go buy some baby clothes if need be. We didn't take the car seat as we were actually camping so car was stuffed and we were close enough to home that my mum would have driven our car seat to the hospital for us.

When we got home I packed a bag for me/baby and a bag for dh (his bag had stuff I might demand in labour, plus snacks and q change of clothes for him, in our hospital they can stay in as long as you do). Then had an IKEA bag in the car with v shaped pillow, spare nappies, etc.

[Everythinggettingbigger]

Hospital advised that anyone 33 weeks + get their bags packed during a maternity services tour (I was only 16 weeks at the time, 30 weeks tomorrow so have a few weeks yet although I have started chucking things at a bag )

Wait4nothing that is a great idea for a labour bag and a post labour bag to be kept in the car, I definitely think I will be doing this! with my first I was lucky enough to be home during visiting hours so there was enough people to carry everything, I ended up with loads in the hospital so that should minimise the amount we need to take! and even had to wait for DP to come back the next morning after having DS the previous evening because he had vomited on everything and I had ran out of babygrows so can keep a few extra stashed in the after labour bag.

As someone who is super organised im glad I came on this thread now lol thanks for starting it OP!

[MrsRolly]

I had to go to a funeral at 35.5 weeks took both my DH & my labour bag just in case (it was 7 hours away from home and my first) didn't need it but had room in the car so made me more comfortable knowing it was there just in case!

[almmummy]

On a different point, that's so cool that dads are allowed to stay in the room. There was a ward where dads could stay at my hospital but no beds, just the upright chairs. Would have loved to have had him there, plus he was always so sad going home to an empty house.

[ohanami]

I'd planned to do mine at 35 weeks at the start of mat leave. Went in due to preeclampsia at 33 weeks - it hadn't occurred to me that they'd keep me in so I trotted off to triage with nothing. This time I'll have a spare wash bag, pants, a good book and a nightie in the boot a lot earlier just in case, and sort the full on bag later.

[Autumn2014]

I had an admissions bag packed from 24 weeks, I'd previously had a pre term delivery and so wanted to be prepared if I needed to be admitted early again. I have a separate bag for baby.

[Heirhelp]

I will start packing now then ladies.

[emmac3616]

36+5 and I think I have most of the stuff in the house... Not packed yet though... This is my first week of Mat leave so always planned to do it this week... DS1 was 40+4 when he arrived so I'm not too concerned!

Plus, DS1 woke up this morning with chicken pox... Which has somewhat hindered plans!

You have got to laugh...!!!

[ijustwannadance]

I packed mine when I was in labour on due date . To be fair though, I had been chucking the things I would need into the cot weeks before so it was all there.