Week 35: Pack the Hospital Bag
Bag packed, car seat checked, route planned — you're ready
It's time to pack the hospital bag. Not 'start thinking about it' — actually pack it. Put it by the door. Baby can come early, and you do not want to be scrambling for phone chargers and insurance cards during contractions. This week is about being physically ready for departure at any time.
What's happening this week
The baby weighs about 5.3 pounds and is around 18 inches long. The kidneys are fully functional. The liver is capable of processing waste. Most of the lanugo has shed. The baby is running out of room — movements feel more like rolls and pushes than kicks. She may be experiencing pelvic pain as the baby drops lower.
Your checklist
0 of 5 completeRobe, slippers with grip, lip balm, hair ties, nursing bra, comfortable going-home outfit (maternity size — she won't snap back immediately), toiletries, phone charger with a long cord, pillow from home if she wants. The hospital provides gowns, pads, mesh underwear, and basic toiletries.
Going-home outfit (newborn size + 0–3 month backup), swaddle blanket, car seat (installed in the car). That's really all you need. The hospital provides diapers, wipes, and basic supplies during the stay.
Change of clothes, toiletries, phone charger, laptop/tablet, snacks (serious snacks — vending machines get old fast), cash for parking. A pillow and blanket if your hospital doesn't provide for dads. You may be there 24–72+ hours.
Insurance cards (both parents), photo IDs, birth plan (3 copies), pediatrician's name and phone number, list of emergency contacts, pre-registration confirmation. Put these in a folder in the hospital bag.
Confirm the car seat is still properly installed. Do the inch test (should not move more than 1 inch side-to-side). Practice buckling a stuffed animal in it. Make sure the base is at the correct recline angle for a newborn.
Recommended products
Hospital Bag Essentials — long phone charger
A 10-foot braided phone charger. Hospital outlets are never where you need them. This one thing will save you more frustration than any other item in the bag.
The hospital bag should be packed and ready by week 35–36. While most first-time mothers deliver at or after 39 weeks, about 10% of babies arrive early. Having the bag packed eliminates a major source of stress when labor begins — especially if it starts at 2am.
The most commonly forgotten hospital bag items: long phone charger (outlets are never close enough), snacks for dad (you'll be there for hours and the cafeteria closes), lip balm (hospitals are extremely dry), and a comfortable going-home outfit in maternity size (the belly doesn't disappear immediately after delivery). Also bring a nursing pillow if breastfeeding — the hospital provides one, but having your own is more comfortable.
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