How many weeks/ months were you when you packed a hospital bag?

[mumtobe23]

Afternoon ladies,

My baby is due end of Aug beginning of September, so I have a couple of months still but I was just wondering when you started to pack your hospital bags?
I really want to start gathering bits but think maybe its still a bit early, some places I?ve read have said 3 months before in case of a premature labour, some say leave it till 4 weeks before, just wondered when you ladies did it?

Thanks x

[Bettymum]

I packed after about 60 hours of on and off contractions at home just before my home birth turned into a hospital birth. I don't recommend this.
If you're thinking about it now you must be a little anxious about it, why not just pack a bag today and then you can relax and whenever your little one decides to arrive you know you're ready. One less thing to worry about .

[traceybath]

Am 34 weeks and bag now packed. However i tend to be early and have been having lots of pains so have decided by packing bag that will mean i will go to 39 weeks!

Does that make sense at all?

[Louby1983]

I had my bag packed at 5 months & ended up having the baby at home! lol! It was one less thing for me to worry about, I knew if there was any problems & I had to go in, I didnt have to rely on my dumb ass hubby to pack it for me & forget basic essentials. It sat in the bottom of babys wardrobe out of the way, not doing anybody any harm & gave me peice of mind in the process.

[WowOoo]

I'm 35 weeks and haven't done it yet. LAst time was homebirth that ended up in hospital so dh packed for me.

Need to get writing a list and gather some stuff soon I think!

[Louby1983]

u dont really need that much stuff in there. Its just an overnight bag 4 u & baby ( pack 3 sets of clothes 4 the both of u), extra knickers 4 u incase of accidents, some extra thick santitry towels, a couple of quid for the phone & sweeties & a camera. There will be that many people wanting to come & visit u & the new arrival - anything u forget, they can bring 4 u. DONT PANIC MR MANNERING!

[insertwittynicknameHERE]

With DD1 (my PFB) I had it packed by the time I was about 4 months gone

With this pregnancy, I have left it a little later, DD2 keep threatening to come early and I have been kept in the home so many times for observation I thought I should get it ready. So at 36 weeks I have finally finished packing it.

[Schoolgirl]

DD - 36 weeks (she was born at 41 wks)
DS - 39 weeks (about five minutes before we left for the hospital where he was born four hours later)

Honestly, don't stress. It's a good idea to buy all the stuff gradually and just make sure it's all in one place so you/DH/birth partner can find it quickly if you need to.

[SheWillBeLoved]

Finished packing it today, I'm 36 weeks tomorrow. Busy decorating our new house and knew that if I didn't get a move on with it, I'd be packing it whilst dripping my waters around the house

[wasabipeanut]

About 38 weeks - and even then it wasn't properly finished.

[Gromit78]

I'm being super organised in regards to packing my hospital bag as I am trying to consider every possibility.

I am 36 weeks now and have partly packed my bag but to be honest with you there are loads of things that I will need to use before going into hospital that I will have to pack closer to my due date or whilst in early labour.

I have written a list of what to take and where to find things so either my DH or Mum can finish packing the bag whilst I am in labour. My hubby had a look on the list and I have written down all the CD's I want to take as well so when returning home I will have a check list to make sure I remember to take everything back. My hubby groaned when he saw I want to listen to Godspell whilst in labour - ha ha. If I have to suffer the pains of child birth he will have to suffer the cheesiness of Godspell.

The baby's bag is already packed.

I have just finished working in a hotel so the cleaner allowed me to take some mini shampoos and shower gels to take to hospital. So slowly and surely i am getting the bag packed.

[difficultdecision]

I had a few emergency bits packed from about 24 weeks in case of problems and added to it bit by bit as it got closer. Then unpacked and repacked it about 100 x while I was on maternity leave.