36 Weeks Pregnant: Your Hospital Bag Should Probably Be Done Now
Okay, 36 weeks. This is where it gets real.
At this point, you're considered "early term" - which means if baby decided to show up tomorrow, they'd probably be just fine. Most babies don't come this early, but some do. Your bag should be packed and by the door.
If it's not? Stop reading Pinterest hospital bag lists and just get it done. This weekend.
The Reality Check
Here's what 36 weeks actually means:
- Baby is fully developed and could handle life outside
- You're probably uncomfortable and tired
- Labor could technically start anytime in the next few weeks
- You should stop traveling far from your hospital
It also means you've got maybe 2-4 weeks left. Probably more like 4-6 for first-time moms. But better to be ready and waiting than scrambling at 2am.
Finish Your Bag
If you've been adding things gradually, great - do a final check. If you've been procrastinating (no judgment), here's what needs to go in:
For you:
- Comfortable clothes to labor in (or just wear a hospital gown - easier)
- Going-home outfit (loose, stretchy, still looks pregnant)
- Toiletries (travel sizes are fine)
- Nursing bras if you're breastfeeding
- Thick pads (hospital provides some, but you might want your own)
- Comfortable underwear (or disposables - actually really nice postpartum)
- Slippers with grip (hospital floors are slippery)
- Phone charger, long cord
- Snacks
For baby:
- 3-4 outfits in newborn AND 0-3 month size
- 2 hats
- Socks
- Receiving blanket
- Going-home outfit
- Car seat (installed and ready!)
Documents:
- ID
- Insurance card
- Pre-registration confirmation
- Birth plan (if you have one)
- Pediatrician contact info
That's honestly the whole list. I know it seems like less than what everyone else packs, but you really don't need more.
The Stuff to Leave Out
You don't need your entire bathroom cabinet. You don't need 8 different outfits for baby. You don't need books, tablets, laptops, and three streaming devices. You'll be exhausted, overwhelmed, and focused on learning how to keep a tiny human alive.
Skip the stuff that makes you feel like you're packing for vacation. This isn't vacation.
Know When to Go
At 36 weeks, you should know the signs of labor. Here's the quick version:
Go now if:
- Heavy bleeding (soaking a pad in an hour)
- Severe abdominal pain
- Baby isn't moving
- Water breaks (even a small trickle)
- You feel something is very wrong
Go soon if:
- Contractions are 5 minutes apart, lasting 1 minute, for 1 hour
- You have bloody show along with contractions
- Contractions are getting stronger and closer together
Probably just monitor at home:
- Irregular contractions that don't get stronger (Braxton Hicks)
- Losing your mucus plug but no contractions
- Mild cramping
- That weird burst of energy where you want to clean everything
When in doubt, call your doctor or the labor line. That's what they're there for.
Have a Plan
By 36 weeks you should know:
How to get there. Drive the route to the hospital at different times. Know where to park. Know where the entrance is at 2am.
Who to call. Put your hospital's L&D number in your phone. Know your doctor's after-hours line.
Who's coming. Is it just your partner? Are grandparents meeting you there? Who's watching older kids or pets?
Your backup driver. What if your partner is an hour away when labor starts? Have someone else who can take you.
Partner: Get Your Stuff Together Too
Partners forget to pack for themselves all the time. Then they're stuck wearing the same shirt for three days and eating vending machine food.
Your partner needs:
- Change of clothes
- Toiletries
- Phone charger
- Cash
- Snacks
- Something to sleep in (hospitals are cold)
They should also know where everything is. If you've been doing all the hospital bag prep, walk them through it. Middle of labor is not the time to explain where you put the insurance card.
Make Your Home Ready Too
While you're at it, prepare things at home:
Stock the freezer. Make or buy some easy meals. You will not want to cook when you get home.
Set up the basics. Crib doesn't need to be Pinterest-perfect, but you need a safe place for baby to sleep. Diapers and wipes should be stocked.
Arrange help. If you have pets, older kids, or plants that need care - figure that out now.
Clean...ish. You don't need to deep clean. But coming home to a reasonably tidy house with clean sheets on your bed will feel really good.
Try to Rest
I know. Everyone says this and it's annoying because you're uncomfortable and can't sleep anyway. But these last few weeks really are your last chance to sleep without a newborn waking you up.
Do whatever relaxing things you can. Binge a show. Get a massage. Eat at restaurants that would be hard with a baby.
Your bag is packed. Your car seat is installed. You're as ready as you're going to be.
Now you just wait.
Related:
