When to pack hospital bag?

[fififolle]

We went to our fisrt NCT class last night and people were talking about packing hospital bags. I am currently 26 weeks pregnant with our first child and wandering when the best time to pack "the bag" is. My feelings were that as I've had such an easy healthy pregnancy, I won't need to for weeks yet but am I being naiive?

[BornToFolk]

I think I packed mine at about 37 weeks as I thought I could potentially go into labour at any point from then on...in actual fact, I was induced at 42 weeks so had loads of time!

Some people do like to do it really early, some people sling things in a bag as they are going out the door - it all depends on your personality I think.

My personality meant that I read every single "what to pack in your hospital bag" list that I could get my hands on and agonised for ages over what to take, ended up taking too much and not using half of it.

[nickymorris]

i had mine packed for ages - couldn't see a reason not to. It also gave me time to change my mind and take out a few things which I decided I wouldn't use and add a few things that I decided I would.

Once you've got your bag packed it starts to get a bit more 'real'. It helped me visualise the whole experience.

[fernie3]

I pack a bag at 24 weeks which is just for me as I have been admitted into hospital on and off from then on in all pregnancies. I pack the baby things at around 34 weeks as my last two were a month early.

I would just put together somepjs etc just in case and then add the baby stuff later.

[verylittlecarrot]

I'm 38 weeks today and haven't done mine yet (still need to pack one even though I'm planning a homebirth)

DD arrived at 37 weeks.

Really must pull my finger out...

[mama2moo]

Whenever you are bored and want something to do! I have packed and re packed mine loads and this is my 2nd baby!

I think I did mine at 33 weeks, a few people I knew had babies at 34/35 weeks so I thought I would just in case

[hettie]

well had ds at 36 weeks- no bag packed, nothing to go in it (he was in the hospitals cast off cother for the first few days . Am cuurently 35 weeks and packed bag last week!

[linspins]

Packed mine last week...at 38 and a half weeks - but I think I was in denial!
First time round, packed it at about 36 weeks, all sorts of stuff, but ended up not having time to get it out car before baby was born anyway.

[randomimposter]

I hadn't packed one, and waters broke (and had to be admitted) at 36+5... so I would say after 35 weeks I would definitely be ready!!
Having said that (you don't (usually) have to rush off in 3 seconds flat) BUT make sure you have bought everything, even if not all in the bag yet...