Packing a hospital bag at 31 weeks?? WHAT!!!!

CaitNMatt

Ok so I'll admit with my DD, I had my hospital bag packed and car seat installed around 34 weeks? But DH and I were commuting an hr to work and the hospital in the same town where we worked. So it naturally made sense. This time, I am a SAHM and our hospital is literally 3-5 minutes away! So I never even gave the subject a thought until today when I got one of those email pregnancy updates saying I should PACK MY BAG this week?! This shit just became real. Haha

So my question is... When are you all packing a bag and doing the car seat?

ksyknelvr73

I think with DS1 I packed my bag around 36 weeks and we installed the car seat around 37 weeks.

This time, my bag is mostly packed right now, I started a couple weeks ago. Still have to throw in my toiletries. We just put the car seat in last weekend. I kind of lean with @Qfrump in that I feel like there would likely be time to pack things unless you were aware of maybe a scenario that you may need things prepared earlier.

slensic

I don't know, the planner in me would start packing it today but I am having a RCS and never even had the slightest sign of labor with DD and instead got induced 10 days late. My Dr. doesn't think that I will go into labor before my section. The car seat probably a few weeks before, mostly so DD can get used to it being in the car. 

kimmyberly26

I had mine done around 34/35 weeks and everything in the car.  I'm in the same situation as you and work closer to the hospital than I live by 45 minutes so it just makes sense.  I still think I'd be ready around 34 weeks if I lived closer to the hospital because DH would definitely be frustrated trying to find everything that I needed.

SandSunBliss

Well, I've been meaning to pack our bags for 2 weeks... But I lost my mucus plug yesterday and officially freaked out. Then, I was so busy and tired, I fell asleep in the couch at 9... Fast forward to 11:30 and a very cranky, yet supportive, DH helping to pack bags. We finished about 12:45. I do feel a lot better now though! I am 37.5 weeks, so I probably should have done it earlier.

[Deleted User]

We'll do the car seats before DH leaves at the end of June. I've started a list of what to pack in my bag but I'm thinking I'll start packing it around the beginning of July (I'm due 7/25). I think by the time I'm doing weekly appointments it's good to have it mostly ready just in case they're not liking what they see on the NST or something and want to send me to the hospital. BUT considering DH is supposed to be away until about 5 days before my due date I most certainly am hoping I don't need my bag until he is back. :P

longcat07

with DS, i deliberately left packing the bag to do when i actually went into labor.  my genius idea was that it would distract me from the waiting to go to the hospital part.  in retrospect, it was really dumb, because it worked more the other way around (labor was distracting me from my packing and i forgot some things).  DS was born 3w early and my life was kind of in the midst of a major upheaval at the time so i never actually got the car seat installed...my mom had to do it and have it checked on the way to come get me and DS on the day we were discharged.  i'd actually just washed all the clothes and sheets for his bassinet like the day before i went into labor, so that was lucky.

CaitNMatt

Thanks ladies for all the input!!! I know I still have a while to go (hopefully) but it's definitely something to start thinking about. We are going on vacation the second week of June and I'll be like 35-ish weeks then? It's only 2hrs away from home but I'm planning to have a bag for baby and some essentials for me ready just in case!!

CaitNMatt

SandSunBliss said:

Well, I've been meaning to pack our bags for 2 weeks... But I lost my mucus plug yesterday and officially freaked out. Then, I was so busy and tired, I fell asleep in the couch at 9... Fast forward to 11:30 and a very cranky, yet supportive, DH helping to pack bags. We finished about 12:45. I do feel a lot better now though! I am 37.5 weeks, so I probably should have done it earlier.

@SandSunBliss‌ holy sh***!!!! You are so calm in saying that you lose your plug I almost skimmed right over it!! How exciting! Yaya!!!

MrsWallick

Qfrump said:

SandSunBliss said:

. But I lost my mucus plug yesterday and officially freaked out. 

Perfect gif!!! That is EXACTLY what I did when read that!! @SandSunBliss‌ OMG! I'm sooo freakin excited for you!

@CaitNMatt‌ - I will be starting my bag this weekend thanks to this post lol. I guess I better get on the ball! I also work way closer to the hospital so it will be a good idea to be prepared for that situation.

danalawrence

@MrsWallick‌ - pack the bag! I didn't pack last time, and at 31w4d, my water broke. Like, explosively broke. I got to the hospital with nothing. My uncle, bless his heart, stopped at my house and attempted to pack for me. Hysterical: he brought a hairbrush, PJs and tampons. Yes, tampons.