Getting your hospital bag ready?

I was about 38 weeks, normal pregnancy. My daughter arrived two days early!

Here are some things I brought to the hospital and things I WISH I had thought of to bring:

For Labor:

-Gourmet lollipops (you can find them at Raley's, they help with hunger AND distract from the contractions)

-Birthing ball (helps to sit on during contractions, my hospital provided one)

-Back massager (one of those little handheld ones)

-Over-sized nightshirt (my hospital let me wear mine instead of the hospital gown, it said "MOM")

-Parenting magazines/books (being in labor for hours gets BORING)

-Chap-stick

After Labor:

-Super soft slippers/robe (much needed comfort!)

-Snacks (all I wanted to do after giving birth was EAT, Rice Chex cereal was my craving)

-Breast pads/maxi pads (you'll definitely need both)

-Nursing bra (Motherhood Maternity has some soft sports bra-type bras for around $14)

-First outfit (nobody told me they would be taking a picture for the hospital website, I would have brought a cute onesie and a hairbow!)

-Baby book (not only can you record the weight, height, etc, they may put the baby's footprints right into the book for you)

-Camera

-File folder (for all of your hospital paperwork)

-The obvious (changes of clothes, toiletries, car seat....)

Congratulations!

At 32 weeks, since I started having signs of pre-labour then and my midwife was concerned baby would come early. I went until 39+. I would do it sooner, rather than later. We just left ours in the car, so if I had to take a taxi to the hospital while my husband was at work, he could drive straight to the hospital.

Good luck! I hope everything goes smoothly!

With my son i had it ready from 22 weeks because i'd already been hospitalised once.

with my twins i did the same thing cause i was worried about being hospitalised again. i'm 34 weeks pregnant now and i've not packed it yet but i plan to do it this weekend!

i would say 6 - 4 weeks before the due date.

I was about 38 weeks. I left it a little late for my liking. I wouldn't really leave it any later than 36 weeks to be honest. Better to have it packed and ready then having to rush it when your showing signs of labour.

I'll say two wks to a month before you're do because you can go into labor two wks to a month before your actual due date. I wasn't as fortunate. If I didn't have to induced four days ahead of time, due to complications I was having towards the end of my pregnancy,my son would've remained inside my stomach until the due date and beyond.

About 38 weeks. I only wanted to pack things I knew I would use, but I was using those things anyway so keeping them packed was hard. Make a checklist to help you.

i was 36 weeks when i got our bags ready,,,

i was 37 weeks