Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Flip

Original poster

When did you pack your hospital bag?

17 replies

poppyxmas · 17/12/2004 14:15

There was a brilliant thread recently on WHAT to pack, but WHEN should I be thinking bout packing?
Am planning a 300 mile journey to see family at Christmas and will be 34 wks with first. Think unlikely to be that early but would hate to be miles away without the necessaries! Prob is still need to buy most of the stuff to go in bag and havent finished xmas shopping so its just one more thing to think about! Advice please?!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Sallie · 17/12/2004 14:18

We went away for a short break in Norfolk when I was 36/37 weeks and I put my hospital bag and the car seat in the car just in case. DS was two weeks late in the end....If you have space in your car, it won't hurt to just take them with you. You never know.....

NomDePlumPudding · 17/12/2004 14:38

I packed mine at about 30 weeks ! I realise I was a tad early (DD was born at 37.5 weeks), but I was soooooooooooooo excited

NomDePlumPudding · 17/12/2004 14:38

If I was you, I'd take the 10 mins out to pack it and just chuck it in the car and take it with you.

pixiefish · 17/12/2004 14:40

dh was in a stress cos i hadn't packed at 39 weeks. he literally forced me to do it one night- said that if he had to take me in and then do the packing himself then he'd do it all wrong and he'd feel like shit. I did it that night just to keep him happy- dd was born at 40+5.
As you're going away I'd pack and take the bag with you 'just in case'

Socci · 17/12/2004 14:45

Message withdrawn

Socci · 17/12/2004 14:46

Message withdrawn

Hayls · 17/12/2004 14:48

I went away for Christmas at 35 weeks last year (350 miles) and it didn't even occur to me to pack a bag to take with me Akthough I was going to stay with family so I suppose I knew that I could get hold of everything I needed if it happened. Just make sure you take your notes with you! IN the end I packed at around 36/37 weeks after going shopping in New YEar and dd was born at exactly 40 weeks.

bakedpotatohoho · 17/12/2004 14:59

i packed in early stages of labour last time. i felt superstitious about doing it earlier.

went on to use about .5per cent of the stuff in there. the rest birth balls! kendall mint cake, FGS! came home untouched. i agree, the only things you really need are your notes.

i was too shy (?) to buy paper knickers and sanitary towels beforehand -- i made DH buy them in the chemist near the hospital after delivery. it was meant to be his penance . but actually he got a big pat-on-the-back from the ladies at the till who recognised him as a new dad and made a real fuss of him.

jofeb04 · 18/12/2004 13:11

I packed my bag in early labour, and i also wrote my birth plan then to!!

Seabird · 19/12/2004 20:24

I wrote a list for dh when I was in hospital at 38.5 wks about to be induced! (I'd got the tube in to hospital to be checked as I suspected my waters were leaking and they kept me in.) The first night he had to blag an emergency washkit (toothbrush etc) for me from the posh hotel opposite St Thomas's. I had convinced myself that dd would be late and hadn't got my bag ready because I thought it would make the waiting harder

PickasillyChristmasName · 19/12/2004 20:27

I kept having to go in and out of hospital from 35 weeks (DS born at 38 weeks) so glad I packed it at about 34 weeks

fisilhohoho · 19/12/2004 20:57

I went away for the day on Xmas day when I was 39 weeks and just took my notes - but it was only 100 miles, and I figured someone would drive & pick up my bag if necessary. The bag was packed and in the hallway from about 34 weeks. Car seat was in the car from about 37 weeks (when I stopped work). DP doesn't drive much and is not great at technical type stuff, so I figured I should work out how the car seat worked before it was necessary, and before it was him on his own! (he would have figured it out, of course, but I prefer not to have to worry!)

kinderbobsleigh · 20/12/2004 03:00

I packed in labour - would not recommend this.

Original poster

poppyxmas · 20/12/2004 11:19

Thanks everyone, Hadn't thought about notes! Have been more stressed over the fact that don't own a nightdress or pj,s of any description and waiting till last moment to buy in case suddenly balloon! Have at least got around at weekend to buying essentials for baby but as going to stay with family and have such a lot to do this week think will be taking notes and praying baby stays put for holidays!! I know it would be the sensible thing to pack just in case but if only were that organised!

OP posts:

motherinfestivemood · 20/12/2004 11:40

First time round I think I packed at about 38 weeks. Second time round I never quite got round to it, as it was an early home birth.

biglips · 20/12/2004 11:47

i packed in 39 weeks as i had a feeling that baba was gonna be born late (10 days overdue i has to be induced in the end). on the day i went in, i just took my labour bag with me and the following day, my fiance went home and got the big bag of my stuff in it...

Newbarnsleygirl · 20/12/2004 11:59

I packed at 30 weeks! But we were going away for a week when I was 32 weeks so I took it with me just to be sure. I actually did think I wa going in to labour on the way aswell. Turned out to be just very regular BH's!

Flip