When are you packing your hospital bag?...

[clarebear1]

Im 35 weeks on Weds, not sure when to do it, i know it wont hurt if its done. When did you/are you doing yours?

I would do it now, doesn't hurt to have it packed and saves you a job if you do go into labour early.
I packed mine about 32 weeks but I had a liver problem and was concerned I may have to go in.
This time I am having twins so am contemplating doing it about 30 weeks!!

I'm actually putting mine together now and I'm only 23 wks. Its because a couple of friends have been caught out with immediate hospitalisation due to PE. I would get really stressed if that happened to me and I didnt have my comforts with me, let alone essentials. I should say though that I dont have a partner here who could bring things to me so I need to be more organised than most. Maybe for other people just having a list of things for partners to bring if the worst happens, would suffice?

Good question clarebear1....I am 30 weeks, and have just started thinking about when I should go shopping for hospital paraphernalia??

I'm just 37 weeks, and only just fully packed my bag this past weekend.

I have packed:
towel, going home clothes, giving birth nightie and nightie for afterward, toiletries (I just went to boots and bought travel size eveything so I didn't have to worry about grabbing things from my bathroom at the last minute, including a new toothbrush), lip balm, massage oil, arnica tablets, Tena ladies pants (have been told they are better than any maternity pads you can get as there is hardly any chance of leaking), snacks (hula hoops beef flavour and monster munch for hubby), bottles of drinks, baby clothes (gros, hats, scratch mittens, vests), swaddling blankets, antibacterial wipes (for the toilet, have been on ward tour...eeuuuggghh), breast pads and nursing bra, nappies and wipes for baby, some muslin cloths, a soother, a deck of cards, a CD of music I like, flipflops, socks, an extra t-shirt and pants for hubby, will take tens machine with me but haven't packed it as I will be using it at home first, birthing ball will also come with me.
I think that's it, there might be more but that list is off the top of my head.

I'm hoping the birth will be straightforward, but just in case I end up having to spend a few days in hospital I've tried to cover all the bases. Of course hubby can go home and get more stuff if needed, I just like to be as ready as I can.

I'm 38 weeks and mine is mostly done. I need to put in a going-home outfit for me (something comfy), a bath towel and some snacks for DH (and me). But the rest of it is done. Still no signs of needing it imminently...

OOPS....sorry, I read the title of this thread as "What are you packing in your hospital bag?"

Ignore my lengthy list!

how long do you stay in after giving birth? or even before? i was planning on taking a book and that was about it!

Totally depends on the birth, could be 6 hours, could be a week.

Best to go prepared!

I'm am 30 weeks today and was wondering about this, but I work with a lot of babies who were born prematurely so have a skewed perception of how usual it is to have a premature birth. I am planning to go and buy a bag (we don't own anything suitable as we take huge camping-type backpacks on holiday) at the weekend and think about some of the things I need to put in it.

:o

My waters broke at 30 weeks and was put on bed rest. My bag wasn't packed. DH came in to hospital the next day with an plastic bag with my toothbrush and a pair of knickers

Luckily my Mum came to the rescue but seriously - get it packed now!!!

I'm 33 weeks and will probably do mine this week :)

However hubby is very good and organised and is more than capable of getting me anything else I need while I'm in hospital.

Agree with gabity, get it done!!!I packed mine whilst in labour and managed to forget nappies, dressing gown and slippers, clothes for baby and yet packed a huge box of straws . Get it packed and sorted or risk ending up sending your MIL out to buy you maternity pads and nursing bras .

bored i thought your list was v useful - ta!

I am 36 weeks. C-sec in 2 weeks. Not packed hospital bag but all the bits and pieces are in various shopping bags. Still in denial...

I'm 22 weeks today & started picking up bits yesterday to start a "this is my hospital stuff" drawer in the dressing table - it is probably worth noting that I'm at high risk of pre-eclampsia so I'd rather have a drawer of stuff ready for DP to grab easily if needs be than end of with toothbrush and a pair of knickers-gate like gabity heheh!

DP did comment that I'm "a bit mad" & said he would just go to Tesco if that happened & buy everything, he's lovely.

I'm 35 weeks and I just started packing mine today - bought a pack of size 1 nappies and went all gooey at the picture of the baby on the front...

I have laid everything out on the bed but not got the bag out yet - it is in a box under the bed and I can't be arsed to get it out tonight!

I have deliberately not packed much as I am only going into hospital under duress - wanted another homebirth but have agreed it's safer in hospital so will go in for as short a time as possible (hopefully for birth and up to a couple of hours after only as comm mw will do baby checks later on etc). But I have packed 5 pairs of pants / 3 changes of clothes for me and baby just in case.

I won't bother with towels / toothpaste etc as I work in a hospital (different one but still) and I know they do actually have that stuff on the wards for people who don't bring it, so even if I do end up staying it will be OK.