hospital bag

[KayTee87]

When did you have your hospital bag packed for? I'm 26 weeks on Saturday and was going to leave it a while yet but a couple of people have said to me to get it packed soon.

[Pinkheart5915]

I packed it at 30 weeks with ds1 and will do the same for this pregnancy

[Nicknamegrief]

37 weeks and not packed yet!
To be fair it is number 5 and a planned section and I have purchased all the relevant bits but even with number 1 I didn't pack my bag until my waters went at 38 weeks.
I've not even washed the newborn clothes in storage.

[insertimaginativeusername]

38 weeks and just done it!

[HarrysMummy17]

My first ds came at 32 weeks and I wasn't packed so I ended up in hospital overnight with just a pair of pyjamas as that was the only thing dp picked up and I was bundled into the ambulance.

I've had my bag packed this time since 30 weeks. Currently 35 weeks and just checked through it to make sure I've got everything.

[Boogers]

I packed my bags with DS and DD at around 20 weeks because I fathomed if anything happened from that stage on H would not be in a fit state to pack things for me in hospital. I added to it as the weeks went on, things like baby clothes and nappies, and what started as a Tesco bag for life containing the essentials (underwear, pjs, toiletries) ended as a compact weekend travel suitcase containing everything for baby and me.

[Reebok]

First time I packed it by 37 weeks once I started maternity leave. This time I ended up in hospital at 33 weeks with a preterm labour scare. Started getting it packed as soon as I got out of hospital.

[KayTee87]

Maybe I will buy all the stuff I need for 30 weeks and pack it away just to get it done then. I have a list of everything I need just not bought most of it yet.

[FifiRebel]

KayTee - as you know I'm similar stage to you I had a wobble the other night about hospital bag. Have done my list and starting putting a few baby bits aside. I'm going to do a shop soon for the stuff I need (nipple cream etc) and keep a list next to bag of stuff outstanding, so if anything happens my mum can grab stuff from my dressing table etc in rush.

[HD18]

I'm 32 weeks and I've had mine packed for a few days now

[LBOCS2]

I'm 40+3 and I've got two half packed bags in my living room I keep thinking I should grab those last bits and pieces but then... Don't.

[Bejeena]

36 weeks but only because I thought we should go to the hospital as the pains could have been contractions, 5 hours later baby was born

[seven201]

I'm 30 weeks and haven't gone shopping for hospital bag bits yet. Our house is in builder chaos so I was planning on doing mine on a couple of weeks but after reading this I think maybe I should get a shifty on.

[CountessOfStrathearn]

Goodness me, I'm on to DC5 and have never bothered until about 37 weeks at the earliest!

[KayTee87]

Made me feel a bit better. Two women said to me they were surprised it wasn't already packed, I replied that if I went into labour now I'd have a lot worse things to worry about than a hospital bag

[JustMeAndHim]

I'm 35 weeks and haven't packed it yet!

[ALongTimeComing]

Pack stuff for your other half. It could be a long haul and he or she may want a teeth brush and clean pants! I ended up in my DH's spare clothes as they were even baggier on me than my specially packed comfy clothes. Also found it worthwhile labelling and packing everything in different clear bags as it helped people to find things when I couldn't!

[kiki22]

I think I started buying bits about 25 weeks I kept the bag its self in a cupboard and chucked things I would need n then took it all out checked and properly packed it at maybe 35ish. I think if you have the stuff sitting then it's not going to do any harm packing. I'm the kind of person who likes to just get things done now instead of waiting drives DP mad. I've almost finished buying/collecting for new baby at 20 weeks the few things we needed have been on offer at times and people have given me thing though, the rest is things from having DS that just needed checked over from years sitting in the loft.

[TwllBach]

I'm 38 weeks and have sort of packed but I know I don't really have everything I need... Does anyone feel like listing what they took/are taking?

[kiki22]

3 night dresses
5 huge pants
Socks
Pack of towels
Mini shampoo and shower gel
E45 & face cream
Brush and hair ties
Make up bag
Book (it was boring when ds slept and dp was away no one talked in the ward)
Slippers

3 vests
3 sleep suits
2 hats
2 cardis
22 pack of nappies

Anything else can be brought later, or visitors/birth partner can pop to the shop, the hospital usually has emergency supply's.

[LBOCS2]

I was given two A4 printed sheets of things they suggested I took into hospital with me. Ridiculous. Mostly I divided it into: things to wear/use in labour, things to wear/use after labour, things for the baby.

So, in labour included things like a nightgown, a soft bra/bikini top (hoping for a water birth!), phone charger, etc.

For baby: many clothes (layers), a blanket, lots of nappies, a hat. I've put the first outfit and nappy into a food bag so DH can just grab it easily when DD makes her appearance, rather than having to rummage about.

After labour was: towels/wash bag, clean nightgown, big black knickers, breast & maternity pads, outfit to wear home, book for the ward, etc.

If you end up having to stay in then your DP can always go home and grab longer-stay supplies.

[ALongTimeComing]

For anyone trying to under pack maybe think about having a bag at home as back up so you aren't having to send someone to rummage in your house. Me and DH both needed extra stuff despite me packing for both. We ended up both being stuck in the hospital due to a critically ill baby. It's honestly the last thing that you need!

[kiki22]

I forgot breast pads tshirt/leggings for going home and phone charger I took them too.

AlongTimeComing good point. I didn't end up needing any more as I was only in for 22 hours all in.

[TwllBach]

Ooh thank you! I think I'll do that - have a me bag and a baby bag. I've told DP he needs a bag too so it's down to him if he listens or not!

[AlfieandAnnieRose]

Or if you're going to the hospital in your car then you can leave extra supplies in the boot, things like nappies and clothes for yourself.
Also don't forget snacks! And lip balm, hand lotion and nipple cream just in case.
And have the car seat in the car ready as you don't want to be faffing about with that for the first time when you're admitted out with baby

[Wait4nothing]

I started packing around week 30 - just put two reusable shoppers and chucked stuff in as we bought it! Still haven't totally finished at 38weeks (need to add clothes for me and electrical chargers/earphones).

I've gone with three smaller bags, one for labour, a baby bag and One for after. The after one is currently still in a shopping bag! The idea being dh can take the labour one to the car and collect the other two when needed (labour bag has baby's first outfit + spare) so we don't have to lug tons of stuff around (I've probably overpacked - it's my first - and I've included lots of snacks for dh!)