Packing hospital bag at 31 weeks. Am I mad, I have reasons.

[OnTheFenceWithMostViews]

Altho a non complicated pregnancy as such. We've already had a trace for dipping heartbeat at 28 w
I've been under a lot of stress and worry with other things and tbh hadn't even been giving the pregnancy much thought.

I originally said I'd pack it week before Xmas 35 weeks ish so I know it's done and we have a hectic festive and new year period. Baby due within days of ds birthday

All weekend dh keeps saying he's got a feeling he's gonna come early and he's not fully cooked and that he's worried.. He can't explain why. And keeps saying how my bump looks different to dds at this stage. That I was this size full term. (, I've explained muscles are more relaxed as they are close)
It got my mind going to over drive..
He has said he'd feel more comfortable if
we had everything packed.. Most is purchased except my slippers and pjs which he's asked me to get tomorrow or tell him what I want for him to get and hell go tomorrow night.

Is it a silly. Idea

The worst that’s going to happen is you have to stare at a packed bag for a few weeks. Breyer to have it packed and not needed than the other way round if you ask me.

Not silly at all. It needs to be packed and ready to go at some point anyway. If doing that a few weeks earlier than most gives you some peace of mind, then do it.

I “knew” DS was going to be early, on the basis that neither my mother, sister or grandmother had ever carried a baby past 38 weeks (I came at 33 weeks). My bag was packed at 33 weeks. DS came at 36+5.

No harm in having your bag ready at all. Don’t forget one for your older child, if they are going somewhere.

No if he’s offering to help might has well get it done, then you won’t have to put up with him fretting and will avoid having to do do it nearer Christmas. He can then concentrate on taking the pressure off you.

As a parent of a 33 weeker who tried to come at 30 weeks, I don't think you're mad at all! I intend to be packed by 28 weeks for my current pregnancy 🤷🏻‍♀️

Hope all goes well Op x

Having had two at 34 wks, I don,t think your mad.

A packed bag is amazing! Just don't forget it like my partner did 😂

Thanks. OK will buy the rest tomorrow when finish Xmas shopping and pack the weekend. The case fits under dds bed so it's not in the way but will be there ready.

Lol My dh is very forgetful. But with dd I was induced for reduced movement so there was no panic to remember it. I just piled it all by the door the night before

As regards for the older ones hoping inlaws or my dm will come round as they're local. But there's always a changing bag packed with everything and I'd leave a note where everything is

My teen can do is own of needed last min.. He's a boy so prob all fit in a sandwich bag lol

Same boat OP. I’m 32 weeks with first baby and I started packing at 30 weeks due to high blood pressure, baby measuring small and a scare that the placenta wasn’t working. So now my bags are packed as I’m absolutely sure she’ll be here early whether that naturally or induced.

My mum had pre-e and it tends to run in the family and so far I’ve followed in my mums footsteps in regards to symptoms and complications, even with anterior placenta.

She was induced 3 weeks early and I’m having weekly monitoring so we’re taking each week as it comes.. but we’re ready and waiting now. We’re just on very early baby watch.

I'm 30 weeks and starting to sort my bag out now.. Nothing wrong with being organised. X

I'd pack too. I wanted to pack at 32w but didn't. At 34+5 I ended up in a hospital with pre-e diagnosis. Luckily they were able to put it under control as it was caught immediately (blood pressure and swelling just started creeping up, protein only just appeared in traces) and now I am home on meds and bed rest but being monitored in the hospital 3x per week. When I was in the hospital I regretted not packing the bag as I was convinced they'd keep me there until birth.

No, but I'd also pack a quick grab bag too with essential items in. You don't want to be scrabbling about for things if you end up having to go to maternal assessment unit at short notice - I had a DVT investigation at nearly 34 weeks and then within the week another trip within the week for leaking waters. Completely uncomplicated pregnancy up to that point!

I’ve just started packing mine at 33w. Both older ones were late but with Christmas coming up I’d rather have it ready before the mayhem starts!

My husband was paranoid we wouldn't be ready so ours has been packed for a few weeks and I'm only 32 weeks tomorrow! I'm apparently growing a chunk and at 5ft with SPD we've discussed being induced too. I figure the worst that happens is that the packed bag just gets in the way.

I wasn't prepared for DS to come five weeks early, so it fell on my Husband and Dad to pack the bag and bring it to me at the hospital, where I was with my Mum.

I was so so embarrassed when they walked in- huge suitcase, literally every item we had bought for the baby including big plastic bath, cuddly toys, pillows for me, blankets, a bath toy (!!!) - my mum drew the curtain around them and I remember her whispering 'for Christ's sake get all this back in the car without being spotted' as we were so embarrassed. He had bought thee of my childhood teddies just in case.

So no, pack you bag now!

I'd asked for a dressing gown and he didn't know which one to buy in Tesco so bought three for me to choose from

I was packing mine in while in labour at 37 weeks - had assumed first baby would be late and that I had plenty of time. So go for it!

I’m 32 weeks and have collected a pile of hospital bag stuff - will pack in the next week or so to have it neatly out of the way, but ready.

I will never forget being in hospital having a miscarriage and one of those funny moments between the sadness was when DH brought in supplies. He got the massive Kotex right, but the clean knickers were tiny lacy white things 😂 So I’m going to make sure the bag is DH proof!

Why would it be silly? There is no harm at all in having it packed early.

Not a bad idea at all; maybe once it’s packed ask your DH not to keep mentioning his worries. I only say that as I know I’d find that caused me to worry more.

I think it’s absolutely fine packing the bag and shoving it out the way somewhere for peace of mind (just make a note of anything you will need to add at the last minute)

I actually think the bigger problem here is your DH. Surely his job here is to reassure you? It’s one thing sharing concerns and being open about worries; it’s quite another to get you all wound up and worried by repeating baseless assertions that he “feels” the baby is coming early.

Thank him for being open about communicating his worries; but also tell him to please stop repeating his assertion that the baby is coming early as it’s not helpful and is getting you stressed.

Its a long time ago but i had mine packed at about 20 weeks. Came in handy for issues with blood pressure, going in for reduced movement etc. Second pregnancy i was so big and so ill towards the end id rather not have packed it then anyway.

Very sensible imho

My friend’s first came at 32 weeks so when I had my first that was my deadline to pack by. The bag sat there for 5 weeks until I went into labour at 39wks and then it was moved to the car and went everywhere with us for 3 days until I was finally ready to go into hospital.

I never regretted packing it early, and I kind of started with DC2 but never quite got around to finishing it - cue a mad dash for batteries for the TENS machine and grabbing the last few things when I was 3 days over and the MW has suggested I might want to get something sorted! (In the end I barely touched the bag with DC2 because she was born so quickly that I was in hospital for all of 3 min before she came out and was home the same day - still glad I had it packed though and I do wish I hadn’t been doing the mad dash at the last minute!)

I'm 36 weeks tomorrow and my bag has been packed for about 3 weeks. I just wanted it done and out of the way so there'd be no last minute packing or leaving it to DH!