Hospital bag

[stripes416]

Just wondering when everybody packed their hospital bag? I'm 33 weeks so need to start thinking about it properly. Did you use your changing bag as your hospital one?

Separate bag for baby's stuff and your own stuff IME - makes it easier.

I really recommend this company - www.birthbags.co.uk/ - as a starting point.

Also pack your bags now! I have never bloomin packed mine in time, you never know when you might go into labour or need a stay over night when pregnant.

Wishing you luck

One tip I heard was for you to collate all the stuff, but for your DP to pack it. Then he knows where everything is when you ask for something ( and really aren't in a fit state to find it!!)

36 weeks today and still haven't packed it... think that's my job for this afternoon now!

I've half had mine done since about 32 weeks. 34+2 now and feel like I should be completing it. I'm using a gym bag for me & DH and changing bag for baby's stuff - I think keeping our stuff and baby's stuff separate will help when I've lost my mind and need DH to find something!

No harm in having it done too soon.

A tip I had with my first and will do again with my second is pack full outfits in sandwich bags and label the size so newborn, 0-3 etc so if you're unable to get them for whatever reason somebody else can just grab a sandwich bag and have a vest, sleepsuit, nappy and hat ready to go without any rummaging :)

I packed mine around 34 weeks both times. I took a bag for baby and a bag for me. You could use a change bag, yes. In my experience maternity wards are hotter than hell so take breathable nightwear/clothing and a handheld fan to avoid melting.

Lay out all you want for yourself and get DP to pack it. Then get a separate bag for the baby which could even be left in the car as you might not need it for hours. Also get DP to pack it. Then DP gets his own small bag with change of clothes, phone charger, etc.

Mine wasn't finished but as I don't live very far from hospital anyway it didn't seem that important really. DH could always come back and get what we needed.

I had an overnight bag with a couple of babygros, scratch mitts, nappies, cereal bars and loose clothing in. I then just had a washbag with the usual items in it.

Im currently 31+4 and I'm using a medium sized suitcase to take mine and baby's things in, but have separated them into packing cubes.
Inside baby's things have been separated into small bags too (a few sleep suits, a few body suits, nappies, a few muslins & 2 hats - still need to pack her "coming home outfit")

Inside mine, I have my toiletry bag, a pair of phs, a nighty, clothes for coming home in, clean underwear & a towel.

Snacks will go in DH's backpack, along with his change of clothes, toothbrush & deodorant.

I only started packing mine today as my SIL mentioned it yesterday so it was in my head to do

I'm 34 weeks and have just sorted baby's bag out, the plan for this weekend is to get mine sorted, I just need to do a shopping trip for toiletries and snacks!

Hi, I had 3 bags, a labor bag which came in straight away and had DDs first outfit in it & a couple of nappies. Then the changing bag had more baby things and a post-natal bag with a big towel and clean clothes for me etc for afterwards - these stayed in the car till DD was here. This worked well for us and meant we didn't have loads of stuff to cart in or move around when we inevitably moved from birth centre to labor ward. Good luck 🙏

I packed mine around the 35 week mark I think. Here’s what I’ve done-

I’ve put everything in Ikea food pouches and written what’s in it in sharpie at the top, so DH can easily find what I need and pull it out.

Separate bags for me, DH and baby.

Complete baby outfits, again in Ikea pouches- every pouch has a vest, sleepsuit and hat, so DH can just pull out a complete outfit and we know if something has come out of the pouch it isn’t clean.

There’s probably some stuff you won’t put in the bag until you leave for the hospital if you use it regularly, like glasses or earphones. Write a checklist of everything you’re going to put in each bag and tick it off when you’ve packed it, so that when you’re getting ready to go to the hospital you can just look at the list, see what isn’t in the bag yet and chuck it in.

I have way overpacked, but then I always do (my motto is “it’s better to have and not need than need and not have)- we live a fair distance from the hospital so DH can’t really pop home for stuff, so I’ve packed enough for a few night’s stay in case we end up having a c-section.