Hospital bag checklist for mom and baby

Having everything you'll need for your hospital stay organized well in advance of your due date can help you feel more secure and prepared.

Here's what you need to know about packing your hospital bag.

When to pack your hospital bag

Have your hospital bag ready by the time you're about 36 weeks pregnant, recommends Layan Alrahmani, M.D., a board-certified ob-gyn and maternal-fetal medicine specialist and member of the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board.

Dr.

Alrahmani, who is an associate professor at Loyola University in ChicagoOpens a new window, adds that you may want to be packed even earlier if there's a chance you could have preterm labor.

Once you're 37 weeks pregnant, you could go into labor at any time.

"Only 5 percent of babies are actually delivered on their due date," says Dr. Alrahmani.

Jennifer Shu, M.D.Opens a new window, FAAP, a pediatrician and member of the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board, says you may want to start the pa

when should you have your hospital bag ready for labour

when do you get your hospital bag ready