When to get your hospital bag ready?

[Hollyhop17]

Hello, it's my first and I'm wondering when I need to pack my hospital bag? I'm 30+5 and quite organised, so dont want to be behind!

Also, is your hospital bag different to your baby bag?! I haven't got one yet so will look to buy one asap. Sorry for the stupid questions...

[MamaTT]

I'm 31 weeks today and I've packed baby's stuff and hoping to have my bag sorted by the end of the week. I didn't do one with DC1&2. I had a homebirth with dc1 and planned another for dc2 but it didn't work out that way and I rocked up to hospital with nothing but a bottle of lucozade. I'm aiming for a homebirth this time so hoping I won't need them but don't want to be in that situation again. Poor lateDH had to run home at 1am to get our stuff and I hadn't told him where anything was. He came back with 3-6 months baby grows and DDs size 4 nappies 😂

[Hollyhop17]

Haha, I fear my DH would do something similar!

I haven't got a baby bag yet, the one with changing stuff, but I guess all the clothes for the baby, nappies etc will go in there and then I need a separate bag for myself? A small suitcase or just an overnight bag? Hard to say I guess as you dont know how long you'll be in!

[ICanTuckMyBoobsInMyPockets]

My advice would be to pack 2 bags.

One to take with you with when you go in with the normal stuff, there's a list on the Mumsnet website somewhere, or just google it.

And a second one for if you have to stay in a bit longer. Extra pyjamas for you, extra clothes and nappies for baby.

I'm currently on bag 2 and thank god, otherwise poor DH would have to be all over the house looking for stuff going off my vague descriptions!

[MoonlightMojitos]

It's up to you if you put it all in one bag or have separate ones for you (and dp?) And one for baby, I've done separate as just thought it'd be easier to find everything.

I haven't bothered with a 2nd bag of spare things as partners can only stay for the first night anyway so he would have to go home if I was in any longer than that. Seems unnecessary to have a bag of spare things when he could just get it and it'll all be sorted clearly in drawers in the nursery anyway :)

I started putting things in about 32 weeks I think but only finished it all about 36 weeks as I figured if anything happened before that it wouldn't be a normal labour/delivery and baby wouldn't be coming straight home so again would have time to go home and get anything needed.

Make a list, tick it off as you put it in and then double cross it all off when you properly pack it again if you're a bit ocd like me!

Good luck!

[akpounce]

This time around I will have it done by 30 weeks. My 2nd was unexpectedly born at 31 weeks and I had nothing prepared, nothing bought. My husband had to run to the nearest supermarket and spent a fortune on really random clothes and nightgowns and stuff.

[TestingTestingWonTooFree]

I had 2 bags this time. One that was mostly for me (clothes, pads, nightwear, snacks, tiny concentrated squash, phone charger, book) but one baby outfit and a few nappies. I packed a babygro, vest and nappy into a sandwich bag so I had an outfit ready and easy to find. Then I had a top up bag with more clothes for both of us and more nappies.

I don't think the size of the bag matters particularly, although I might have had some raised eyebrows suggesting mine was too big. I would recommend that you don't pack it too tightly though as you may need to repackage quickly to move between wards.

[TestingTestingWonTooFree]

Oh, in answer to your actual question, I'd do it now(ish). I kept mine in the boot of my car from about 34 weeks.

[toomuchtimereadingthreads2016]

Am 34 weeks... was just thinking this morning I should start getting it together! This is a strange time in pregnancy... on one hand you need to be ready to go just incase, but equally it could be another 8 weeks so hard to know whether to get psyched up or not!

[Hollyhop17]

Thanks for all your tips. Definitely going to go with a separate bag for me and the baby. Will get his bag this week and pack his stuff and aim to have mine done by 32 weeks.

AK that sounds a nightmare, poor you! Hope DS was ok. I would not want to trust my DH to get me clothes

[Hollyhop17]

Exactly what I was thinking Toomuch! I had my NHS email on Friday saying I should have my bag ready so I panicked a bit...

My DS is bloody breech at the minute and in general have had a very complicated pregnancy so worry that he wont actually come for ages.

Thanks for all your replies, very helpful.

[kel1493]

I packed mine a few weeks before my due date.
I just had a suitcase and put all the stuff in that as I found it easiest to do it that way.

[isittheholidaysyet]

Yes pack now (or at least write a list of the stuff you can't pack yet)

I would pack the bare minimum (plenty of lists available on line.) I had never set up a 'change bag' at this point, but no reason not to.

Then I would leave at home another pile or bag of stuff with extra pj's, clothes, underwear etc for you and Extra nappies, vests, babygros etc. That way if (God forbid) things didn't go to plan, you could say to DH, MIL, or your cousin's boyfriend. 'If you go to my bedroom, there a blue bag on the chair, bring that please'

[arbrighton]

Planning on sorting mine this week, 33 weeks tomorrow. Certainly want it done for the weekends away for weddings at almost 35 and almost 36 weeks! Baby's stuff is in their changing bag, and has been for weeks but I'm finding it a bit harder for me as i need to buy things I wouldn't usually necessarily wear, e.g. a nightie

As for what i'm going to wear at those bloody weddings, i have no idea!

[NotAnotherUserName5]

I'm 35 weeks and it's more or less packed.
One bag for me, one for baby. Also will do a back up bag to leave in car in case we need it full of extras if needed.

[Hollyhop17]

Thanks all. Will make a list today and look online for a baby bag. (Would quite like a Cath Kidson one but not keen to spend £100!)

I found a wedding bloody hard at 17 weeks, I feel for you at 36 Brighton!

The extra bag at home is a good idea, thanks for the tip Holidays.

I like making lists and currently signed off work with HG so there is something to do in between the vomitting...

[Oysterbabe]

I had a cabin bag sized suitcase and put babies stuff in the top and my stuff in the bottom. I packed lightly and DH ended up bringing more stuff in as we were in a week in the end. Also I went into labour at 35+5 so will make sure I'm packed by about 32 weeks this time I think.

[lockie1983]

Holly pink lining ones are cute in a similar but maybe less floral way to Cath Kidson and can be reasonable if you can find them at TKMaxx (who now do online click and collect I think)

Anyone have any good lists for packing bags?

With my DS I left it until first day of maternity leave (but had already gone into labour so was packing between contractions in the middle of the night). 32 weeks now and thinking I should probably get myself organised.

For us its: in-pregnancy bag (small with snacks, lipbalm etc for actual labour) we took this in with us. Small baby bag + bigger for me bag (wash stuff, pjs, pads etc) left in car and brought in once baby was born.

We were lucky as had him at small birth centre so not far to go for extra bags ! This time I'm also packing overnight bag for the toddler + a bag for life in bottom of my wardrobe with extra pjs, clothes, pads etc for if I need a longer stay !

[oliversmummy26]

I would pack now if I were you, then at least you're all ready to go.

Recommend having a "labour" bag, so everything you'll need in labour, plus clean nightie for after and an outfit and nappy for baby.

Then leave a "ward" bag in the car which your OH can collect when you're moved to the recovery ward. So PJs, going home outfit (for you and baby) extra baby clothes and nappies etc.

Definitely have a bag ready for OH to pick up in a hurry if you end up staying in longer than a few hours/day or two...so 3 bags really!

[akpounce]

Hollyhop he had no issues from being premature but did have some issues that meant it was actually lucky he came earmy as could have ended tragically. He is a very chatty and active 4 year old right now!

My husband brought me horrendous sparkly NYC tops from Asda that zipped up the back and creepy nightgowns with monkeys on them. Never again!

[Hollyhop17]

Ak that has made me laugh, which I have needed today! Glad to hear your DS was just fine.

I have now purchased my baby bag, found a bargain on Amazon which will match my pram! Now to sit down and list out what needs to go in it and convince DH I also need a new overnight bag for me....

[NetflixandBill]

Oh dear; i'm 30+4 and have not even thought about packing my bag! We've only just made a start on the baby's room!

Think i might need to start getting into gear a bit more....

[Hollyhop17]

Well you're ahead of me on the nursery Netflix! Got a mortgage appt tomorrow, not sure if we will be able to move this year or not, so unsure on whether we need to decorate the spare room or not, given he will be in with us for 6 months anyway...

We must order the furniture though. We have decided on the Lawson set from Mamas and Papas but I keep holding out in the hope it might go in the sale!

[Notyetthere]

Going by your weeks I take it that you are due sometime in July. If you read the antenatal 'Due July' thread you will find 2 ladies on there have already had their babies! Both before 31wks so I would get on with it as you never know. I remember most of us on that thread were dithering about when to pack but once one of them told us they had gone into labour we all leaped to packing asap.

As for me, I'm 33+2 today and I have packed 2 bags, one for baby and one for me. I haven't split mine into labour and afterwards bags as I don't want to end up with too many bags. Someone will have to carry all them. I can only imagine that for labour, I will wear one of the massive tshirts I see knocking about in our house, lip balm, fluids and snacks. The rest of the bag has my after birth stuff like pads, massive panties, towel, shower things and moisturising/deodorant things, dark nightie (no pyjamas just in case catheter, examined, etc need easy access), leggings and nursing top if reqd, 2 nursing dresses if I am in hospital longer than a couple of days.

To leave at home I have prepared a pile of things that we might need if we stay in hospital longer than a few days- nappies, pads, a few baby vests and gros, panties for me, a couple of outfits that are easy access for breastfeeding and pjs. Dh can bring these to the hospital if needed.

I have pinned a list of last minute things to pack last minute like the bottle if squash in the freezer to sip on while in labour, make up bag to do myself up when leaving hospital (won't bother if it's at night though), chargers, etc

[Hollyhop17]

Thanks Notthereyet. Yes, I am due in July, blimy, that is early. Hope the mothers and children are doing ok? I will check out the thread, thank you.

I am desperate to try and do things while O am off work, although tje HG can be a bit limiting. Definitely going to get on it this week. Will be 31 weeks on Wednesday.

[MiniMaxi]

I never got around to preparing a hospital bag as my DS arrived at 33+6...! So the earlier the better I reckon