Have you packed your bag?

mysweetpeasWil&Wes wrote: I just read that you should start packing your hospital bag around 31 weeks! I think that's a bit early, but it said that 60% of babies come early. So have any of you that are in 30+ weeks, packed your bag yet? I'm thinking of doing it today, but I'm not very motivated. Should I wait or just go for it?? I never know what to bring for the baby. I printed out a list, but I remember taking WAY more than I needed last time. And now I have to think about packing a bag for Wil if we have to drop him off somewhere.

I did write a birth plan yesterday, so thankfully that is done!

coasterqueen replied: I say pack it. I say that because I was going to wait til the last week or so with Megan and she came 4 weeks early. It was a disaster. I had to have DH go home and get me things and he didn't bring things I asked for and brought things I didn't ask for. I say better to be safe than sorry.

1lilpeanut2love replied:
!!

I waited until the last minute! I was packing a bag while dilated 5cm at home! OMG! Next time I will follow others orders and pack it earlier!!

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied:
Good point Karen! I'm someone who likes to be overly prepared...so I would totally get discouraged if DH brought me the wrong stuff.

PrairieMom replied: I'm resisting temptation for a few more weeks. I still have to wash some of the baby stuff, but I am waiting until the carpets are cleaned so I can put the nursary together and have a place to put the clean stuff! The Boy is staying here, so I won't need a bag for him, but I have made a list of instructions for who ever is watching him, and we have the car seat in the Jeep!

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied:
Ooooooo instructions on how to care for Wil....GOOD one! Hopefully my dad will be here in time, but if not, he's going to a nearby friend's house. So I'm thinking a little bag for Wil just in case. I'll have DH put the carseat in too, thanks for the reminder!

Heather77 replied: Nope! I usually don't until the last week.... I'm a big time procrastinator!
I'm having my baby on June 2nd, so I'm sure I'll be packing my bag the eve of the 1st .

MyBabeMaddie replied: I still have a ways to go before I need to think about packing but how do you know what to take with you?.. And what is a birth plan, how do you write one?

MyLuvBugs replied:
Birthplan.com

Here's a good site for you to write a free birth plan. Has it all laid out for you, you just select what you want it to say.

There's also suggested lists on the web for what to pack in your bag for you and your newborn.
Things like: Clothes for baby to come home in, toiletries (shampoos, toothbrush, etc.), clothes for you to come home in, maxi pads, etc.


With Lorelei was was packed at 30 weeks and the bag sat there in wait for 10 weeks. I think this time I'll wait until around 35 weeks before packing. Just about where you are now.

CantWait replied: I say pack early. I had Robbie at 35 weeks, and had nothing packed. When I wanted to brush my teeth my friends bought a tube of toothpaste but Ron forgot my toothbrush (can ya say use your fingers), but he did have a pack of mint gum My mom brought me my tights to wear home, but they were light brown in colour, not exactly something you want to wear when you're still bleeding. The point is, you know what you're going to want and need, so pack early because if you go early and it's not done, the chances of you getting what you want or need is pretty slim.

MomToJade&Jordan replied: Pack early! LOL! I was all ready for Jade, but had no bag packed with Jordan. I thought I would be having the baby a week later then I did so I figured I would get it done in that week. Well that didn't happen and I was at the hospital when they said it was time for this baby to come out. Needless to say I was given this big bag full of all sorts of stuff because daddy put it together.

AlexsPajamaMama replied: I was packed at 30 weeks or so, I am all about doing this early anyway. I wrote a list of things like tooth brush and shampoo that I still needed left out before I had the baby so that if I needed some one to grab it for me there would be a list and they would to get the right stuff!

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied:
Tights? What do you need tights for...just curious?

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied:
A birth plan is a worksheet that you can go over with your doc and the nurses which lists methods on how you want the labor and delivery to go. Plus, how you want your baby taken care of while in the hospital. Examples are: do you want an epidural? If you have a son, do you want him circumsised? Do you want to BF exclusively? Are you okay with the nurses giving your baby a pacifier? Do you want the baby put on your chest immediately after the birth? Do you want the baby with you at all times or can he/she sleep in the nursery? Etc, etc...

It just helps the docs and nurses know what you want ahead of time, especially if you or your DH/SO are too stressed out to go over it verbally. I've heard that not all hospitals will use them, but it never hurts to have one on hand. Go to any PG website and they typically have a layout you can use. Same goes with a list of what to bring to the hospital. Google birth plan.

CantWait replied:
Tights as in leggings or yoga pants. LOL

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied:
Okay, gotcha! I was thinking like thick pantyhose! How uncomfortable would those be???

Kaitlin'smom replied: I say pack NOW, if I ever have another I will not waite. Kait was 3 weeks early and I only had a few things, and was tring to get the rest together after my water broke, still forget things and trign to describe to DH what I wanted well that did not work out very good.

daycare mom replied: I'm packing this week I think, because our hospital is a 4 hour round trip away! I won't be able to send anyone home to get anything I've forgotten

Adrienne522 replied: I have not started packing my bag yet. I guess I just haven't realized how close I am. July 1st will be here before I know it. I do not even have an outfit to bring my child home in yet. My mom keeps telling me not to worry and things will get done. So...I guess I am going with the flow.