When did you pack your hospital bag?

[oatlyexhausted]

I'm 29 weeks (+4 days) now.

Is it too early to pack my hospital bag? I feel like it is, but today I've got period-pain like feelings (no contractions) and it's making me wonder if I had better get organised.

Nothing feels 'wrong' as such, I've just got a feeling that things are shifting in preparation.

How soon did you pack your bag? Or, if you went into labour early, did you just do without?

Part of my reluctance to pack is that many things for the hospital bag will probably be needed at home over the next 10 weeks, and therefore get unpacked.

I was overdue before I packed mine. I was driving DH nuts but I just wasn’t ready! He did a bag for the baby. If you feel ready now then go for it

I’m 33 weeks but packed at 27 weeks, this is what I have in there right now

10 nappies
10 maternity pads
3 tiny baby grows
2 tiny baby vests
1 newborn grow
Bikini top (hoping for water birth/labour)
Small towel
Flannel
Soap
Lip balm
Black Baggy shirt and large leggings for going home
Very large (dark) button down top (goes down to my knees) if they force me to stay a night
Cotton pads for cleaning baby bum
Muslin
Cellular blanket
2 hats
Hair bobble
Snacks and drinks
3 pairs of 2 sizes too big granny pants (think they’re called mini briefs)

And I will pack my phone charger, hair brush and slippers when I go into labour (or rather I’ll get my husband to do that 😂)

I packed mine at 20 weeks with first cos I was so excited ha! There's no set time, if you want to do it - go for it!

At around 32 weeks with all of mine.

30 weeks with the first, slightly later with second but was set on a homebirth so was very organised with the home side of things. Currently 38 weeks with number 3 and only did it last week and packed a bag yesterday for dd1&2 in case they need to go to my mums. Proper 3rd child syndrome already for this poor baby

I did mine around 32 weeks; packed everything except the bits I would need (hairbrush, phone charger etc.) over the coming weeks and then just put a note on top of the bag that listed the bits I still needed to add, so I didn’t forget them in a rush!
Rather than having loads of extra bits to pack, I put together a wash bag of miniatures so I wasn’t raiding my shower when I needed to get out the door.

Think I was pretty early with my first but defo over packed 33 weeks pregnant with my second and I don't even have any my stuff yet to pack wasn't going to pack much this time but with everything going on I'd rather over pack as you can't have visitors to bring stuff in for you if you have to be kept in. So I defo need to get a move on and get stuff sorted 😂😂 x

I packed about 4 weeks before my due date. A bag for me and separate one for baby. I also packed a bag of snacks! 😁

You can never pack it too early. Only too late. I'm planning on packing mine at 32 weeks. But if you want to pack now then go ahead.

I had mine packed by 34 weeks . Went into labour at 37 weeks .

Baby bag was packed early on as we got stuff.... my bag half packed and completed while I was in labour- I was convinced baby would be late but arrived a day early.

37 weeks in 2 days and still haven't packed it...think I did it at 32 weeks last time.

I packed at 36 week and used this list www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pack-your-bag-for-birth/
Having had an EMCS and other complications and ended up being in for a week I would say you want (just in case) at least 10 maternity pads, 5 pairs of BIG knickers, plenty on snacks.

For my first, I packed between contractions!

I wouldn’t do that now though. I didn’t need to have more than 2 baby grows for example, or too many nappies because the hospital was close to home, so if we needed more stuff my DH could have popped back home for it. In the current situation I don’t think popping in and out is a good idea, so having a nice thoroughly packed bag in advance is probably a good idea (although I bet I’ll leave it till at least 38 weeks this time!)

30 weeks and Ive done mine, I would forget everything if I had to do it in a rush!

I think I packed mine around 26 weeks. But I had a high risk pregnancy and a few reduced movement scares. The way I see it is you're going to have to pack it at some point anyway and the contents wont need to be changed (unless perishable food) so why not? When I gave birth it was one of those check ups where they said don't go home, so I'm glad it was all ready to go.

You can just pop stuff in you wont be needing until the day, like maternity pads, baby's clothes, nappies etc and add everything else later. I would take a bag of mini toiletries so you dont have to run around grabbing wet bottles of shampoo in labour .

Just packed mine and am 36+2.
Didn’t use one thing from it last time until well after baby was born though 😂

Just packed my bag a few days ago at 40 weeks.

Sounds awful but I’ve put worst outfits in the bag and only 2 of everything as I don’t want to contaminate things, I’ve also put nappies, pads and things in sandwich bags so I didn’t have to take many.

It has gone from two weekend bags to half full weekend bag.

The night before I went into hospital - didn’t know at the time I’d be induced the following day!

Packed at 38 weeks a bag for me, a bag for baby and a changing bag as I found it easier to keep the nappies, nappy cream cotton wool etc in a separate place so like a go to changing bag. Only thing I haven't put in yet are my snacks

• Pineapplebaby

I did mine around 32 weeks; packed everything except the bits I would need (hairbrush, phone charger etc.) over the coming weeks and then just put a note on top of the bag that listed the bits I still needed to add, so I didn’t forget them in a rush!*

That’s what my friend told me to do, she went in at 31 weeks (waters went and they kept her in for 2 weeks before she delivered at 33 weeks) so told me to have it done by 30 weeks!!

I’m only 22 weeks but I’ve been adding bits as I go, with the covid situation I figured it’s probably not a bad shout to have a bag with clean underwear, spare change etc in anyway.

I’m 23+4 and will pack it in the next week-10 day’s. But I have a high risk pregnancy and don’t want to get to my 28 week scan (or before) on 12th may and they tell me I can’t go home, which is a possibility.
So I’d rather be prepared and stress free.
Will pop it in the car so it’s ready incase I’m not allowed home after my scan, I have a spare phone charger that I will use so I won’t have to throw anything in last minute xx

Whenever you pack, maybe do a decent list or check it every so often. I thought I'd packed properly but forgot any socks or bottoms so went home in the sweaty leggings and socks I laboured in. Nice!