When to pack your hospital bag

[Lynne425]

Hi All

I'm 32 weeks pregnant with my first and as the title asks when did you pack your hospital bag?!

I'm just curious?

I think in my mind as I'm not due until February that's still ages away (I know it isn't) so I've plenty of time to think about it.

However two friends recently went into labour at 7 and 5 weeks early 😳 which has made me think about starting to pack my own!!xx

Primark is your friend for nighties! I got two button down ones, £5 each. I'm a size 10 usually and got a size 14/16 which fit with room to spare (39 weeks tomorrow).

I packed a bag for 'in labour' and one for after - in labour contained nighties, snacks, toiletries. After bag contained my clean clothes, baby clothes etc.

I’d pack now. You need very little in the bag and if anything happens sooner than expected, it’s better to have the things you have prepared and want with you than being relying upon someone guessing or having to go to your house to pick stuff up.

Managed to pick up a few things for my bag today so making me feel a bit more organised!! ☺️
Will get the rest after Xmas (actually hoping to get my toiletry bits & pieces as Xmas presents) 🤞🏻🎅🏻

Then it'll be time to pack/pick up things for babies bag in the new year!!
I don't know whether it's a prince or princess yet so just going white and relying on sisters/mum to help with pink or blue after Baby is born!!xx

I think I packed when I finished work - at 37 weeks. DD then waited until nearly 42 weeks before showing herself!

With DC1 I packed my hospital bag while on the phone to maternity because my waters went at 36+6. With first been early I packed for DC2 at 36weeks.

I'm 35 weeks and packed my bag at the weekend, i feel really good and organised now that it's done so kind of wish i did it sooner.

It feels like it's a lot bigger than it needs to be but i have a dressing gown and a towel (proper big fluffy one) which is taking up most of the room, did anyone else pack these?

I haven’t bothered with a dressing gown and towel. I was only in for a few hours after the birth so no need for a dressing gown anyway, and they provide towels. To be honest I’d rather their towels got covered in blood than mine! I was only in long enough to have one shower.

True @SoyDora i guess DH could always take me a towel after if i land up staying in a few days.

I packed for ‘best case scenario’, I.e no complications and a short stay. If I ended up staying in for a few days, that would mean there was an opportunity for people to bring extra stuff in. There isn’t all that much space for bags in a hospital! You could always leave one bag in the car or at home in case you need it?

Assuming everything is going well and I have no reason to believe she’ll arrive early, around 35 weeks. My first pregnancy I became unwell quite quickly at 35+4 and had to struggle round packing half the stuff while quite poorly, I then went to hospital and had ds1 delivered fairly quickly by emcs. Second time I packed by 35weeks just in case although he was full term and this time I’ll do the same although I’ll have an elective section date. And stick it in the car as we’re out and about so much during the week.