31 weeks pregnant and still not packed, what are your hospital bag essentials?

[Mumtobe2000]

31 weeks pregnant here and still haven't packed my bag, Is there anything you guys recommend that is an absolute must to bring to the hospital ?

...when are we meant to pack? I didn't realise we should be by 31 weeks.

i've heard mixed things, some do it in second trimester and some last minute, i was thinking in the next couple of weeks ! so around 34-35?

Well I packed at 32 weeks and had ds 3 weeks later.

Get packing.

I had an overwhelming need to pack at 36.1 and also to clean all the inside windows, the fridge, varnish the kitchen floor and vacuum throughout.

Baby arrived 36.3 :)

I'd packed the basics. In those days, that included change for the phone. One thing I wish I'd packed was a clean shirt for DH because they gave him the baby who promptly covered him in meconium. Apart from that, arnica tablets.

extra long phone charger lead,
button down front dark coloured nighties,
full pack of huge black coloured knickers,
2 packs of the big thick maternity pads,

Big bag of snacks (mainly for after labour, mix of sweet and savoury, substantial things too like cereal bars etc i was ravenous all 3 times after birth and it was the middle of the night with no food available!)
water bottle/cup with straw,
one pair of loose button down top pyjamas in dark colour for after birth (each time I’ve had a speedy shower immediately after birth, straight into clean pjs and then I wore them home too!)
Sliders or slippers as feet may be swollen after birth (I wore them in, and wore them home too),
hand held fan,
something to keep you busy whilst you wait to be discharged after birth (iPad and headphones, or a book etc just in case there is a delay for whatever reason)

Just to reassure you, you're unlikely to be in a mad rush to go to hospital. There'll be time in early labour to pack your bag. If there isn't time, that's an emergency situation and you won't care if you forgot your lip balm.

I never saw the point in packing early because you'll want your favourite nightie etc and you can't pack it because you're wearing it to bed each night.

Things I wished I'd had on me:

• Lucozade.
• Really good noise cancelling headphones.
• More muslins. However many you've packed, pack a few more.
• A couple of bin bags. You'll be amazed how much dirty washing you and baby accumulate even in just a day or two.

The Frida mom cooling liner things These ones

they have been a godsend for me! Also a travel pillow! I had a memory foam one and had it when I was giving birth and it made me so much more comfortable.

I’m 34 weeks tomorrow and no intention of packing for at least a month!

Pack a lot more outfits for baby than you think you’ll need.
My dd wasn’t so bad but my ds got through 5 outfits in his first 12 hours.
Also worth packing at least one or two outfits in tiny baby ime. Both of mine measured big on scan but were actually pretty small and were drowned in newborn stuff.