34 weeks - hospital bag help

[Rooroo1012]

Sorry I know this has been asked.
Should I have my bag packed yet? I’m 34 weeks.
I haven’t got anything packed nor do I know what I should pack. This is second pregnancy but I’m brain dead at the moment on what I should take. Thanks

I’m 34 weeks tomorrow and haven’t packed my bags yet so if nothing else then we are in this together! (First baby for me so completely clueless though!)

At least I’m not alone! I just can’t seem to get my brain engaged on what I need and if I should have bought it already!
Constant brain fog lol

I’m 36 weeks and only got my bag packed this week. The most helpful list I found was the Mothercare one, a lot of the lists are completely ridiculous, I didn’t have a suitcase big enough!

I would start packing now you never know what will happen! I had my first at 37+5 weeks and my second I was 40+5!

What id advise is not to over pack! However, if you are induced then I suggest packing a bit more!

Not sure if this list will help but I have mine from both of my children still..

Baby’s bits
3x baby grows
2x long sleeved bodysuits
2x short sleeved bodysuits
Unopened pack of nappies (a whole pack)
One pack of wipes
Nappy cream
Nappy sacks
(Dummies if you want to use them)
x2 Muslins
A hat
Cardigan
“Going home outfit”
Blanket
Musical toy

(Car seat)

Mummy’s Bag

-4x BIG KNICKERS - make sure they’re almost a size if not two sizes bigger than you are.. it’ll be worth it.. high waisted is a good idea too
-packet of maternity towels
-Face towel, flannel, body towel
-Shampoo, conditioner, shower gel
-Face wipes
-pillow
-pjs
-big, baggy t shirt for labour
-slippers
-fluffy socks

• clothes for going home
• lip balm
• deodorant
• make up (if necessary)
• ear plugs/blind fold if you plan on staying in, you will still hear your baby with ear plugs! Just to help with the other noises
• phone and phone charger
• body mist/cooler or a small fan
• SNACKS !! Always. My partner was the one eating them but they kept him sane while we waited for me to be induced
• drinks.. personal favourite was lucozade sport so someone could squirt it in my mouth while I was in labour haha!
• music if that’s your thing!
• birthing plan if you wanted to have one

If there is anything you need that isn’t on the list and forget to take it, just make someone bring it up!
But I think that covers a lot. I stuck to that list both times. The only thing I regretted was only having one outfit for going home as I got induced and wore the same outfit two days in a row haha!

I didn’t take any milk powder or bottles for baby as I planned on breast feeding but the hospital/birthing centre happily supplies some milk if it’s needed!

I would start packing one, once it's ready it's something you can tick off your list.

You need:

stuff for you to get through labour (drinks, snacks, hairbrush, comfy clothes etc)

Stuff for you post birth (maternity pads, big pants, comfy clothes, pyjamas in case you stay in, more snacks, shampoo)

Stuff for baby post birth (cotton wool, couple of vests, couple of baby gros, handful of nappies)

If you end up staying in for a couple of nights for some reason, your partner can bring you in anything else you need.

In regards to your partner bringing in stuff for you please pack an extra bag at home with kickers etc in other bags inside it labelled. I've heard horror stories of partners being sent home to get things and bringing back the wrong stuff.

In regards to the baby stuff -again pack each set in a separate bag inside the baby's bag that way whoever dresses baby has everything at hand.

Pack one. My lo came at 29 weeks for unknown reasons so I wasn't packed or prepared at all and it just added to an incredibly stressful situation. This time I'll be packed by week 24!

Wow thanks everyone. I’ll make a start on it this weekend, that’s all very helpful.

I had a pph my first pregnancy and was in for 4 days. There’s a higher chance it will happen again so I will pack extra clothes for a few days just in case.

I’ve told my partner to pack a separate bag for himself so he’s got his own phone charge, snacks etc...he went as far as asking if he can take his xbox!!! Like wtf! Obviously tongue in cheek. Anyways thanks again for the lists, time to get cracking x

My friends told me hospitals were boiling. “Don’t take a dressing gown” they said. It was freezing. If you’re a cold soul, take a dressing gown. I didn’t have enough clothes either because my bleeding was savage so had to change more than I thought. Look on google for hospital baby bag list, print it off and go from there.

It all really depends on what you think is necessary. I gave birth to my fourth 7 months ago (currently 15weeks pregnant with my fifth). With my first I completely over packed wayyyy too early. With the subsequent I found the following sufficient.... 2 babygrows/sleepsuits 2 vest (short sleeve if summer long sleeve if colder weather) pack of nappies, wipes/cotton wool (whichever you prefer) hat for baby. Change of clothes for you going home, nightie/big t-shirt for labour, big pants(2 pairs) maternity pads ( i find Tesco ones the best) breast pads, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, sponge/flannel/pouff whatever you use, towel (hospital ones are Tiny and rough). I don't really bother with music, snacks etc but obviously pack as you see necessary. I've never stayed in overnight except with my first and TBH if you and baby are given the all clear it is so much more relaxing to recover at home. HTH xxxxx

Oh and I usually pack around 38 weeks x

For some reason it deleted where I put coat for baby. Oh and have the car seat next to your hospital bag xx

I would pack now - my daughter was born at 35 weeks after a short spontaneous labour. I had packed stuff for me before the christmas rush, but had put off sorting out the bags of baby clothes people had given me until christmas was over. I was sorting out the clothes to see what I had/what I needed when my labour started. I flung the lot in the wash and set it to wash and dry, thinking I could send my DH back for baby clothes as first labours tend to be long and the chances are mine would stall even if I didn't get sent home and I could send him back in a lull. Nobody even left the room after we got there and more and more people got brought in as things got more serious. When she was born/checked over/skin to skin was done they asked me where her clothes were to get her dressed. I had to admit the whole lot were still in the washing machine at home. Luckily there are lots of donated clothes there for such instances. We ended up in for a week, but my husband was back and forth daily to take dirty stuff home/bring in fresh. I would suggest having clothes to labour in plus a couple of fresh nighties and underwear for you and clothes to go home in. If you stay longer, your DH can bring you things. You probably need a minimum of 4 changes of everything for baby. Plus toiletries and snacks and I used tena pants instead of maternity pads for the first couple of days (PPH here too). Make sure that there are plenty of complete outfits at home too in case your DH has to bring more in. If he is like mine and panics at the thought of having to put together full outfits maybe put a few complete outfits in large ziplock freezer bags so that he just has to pick up a few more bags for you (I still have a stack of giant freezer bags as I planned to do that for the baby items in my hospital bag so that DH wasn't rummaging frantically through my suitcase for fresh clothes if I was bed bound - oh how my baby laughed and laughed at my carefully crafted plans).