Week 32: Get packing!
Image: @martinelynn
Welcome to week 32 of the Happy Parents Happy Baby guide to pregnancy, birth and beyond.
This week we'll be covering:
We hope you enjoy it!
Ten top tips for packing your birth bags
Packing your birth bags can feel like a huge milestone in your pregnancy. Perhaps you’ve already started, or maybe you’re not really sure where to start.
So this week we are sharing our ten top tips for stress-free packing:
If you haven’t seen it already, you can download a copy of our birth bag checklist here.
Looking for stress-free packing? Our course graduates and specialists have recommended their must-have birth-bag items here.
Aim to pack your bags by week 37 of pregnancy. If you’re having twins or multiples, or have been told there is a chance your baby might come earlier it might be a good idea to have your bags ready sooner.
Pack three small separate bags rather than one large one: one for the birth, one for baby and one for after. It’s much easier to find things this way
Use sandwich bags or packing cubes to make things easier still. Group together items that you will need at the same time, for example baby’s first outfit. Put a nappy, vest, Babygro and hat in a sandwich bag and label it, so it’s easy to find when your midwife asks for it.
Involve your birth partner with packing if you have one. Perhaps you want to lay things out and your partner can put things into the bags. It will make it easier when they’re asked to find things at key moments.
Only pack what you and your birth partner can carry in one journey. Nobody wants to be making their third trip to the car park and missing the birth.
If you’re planning a home birth, it’s still advised to pack bags. Firstly, so you have everything you need in one place and secondly so things are ready if you need to transfer to hospital.
Don’t be tempted to leave packing for an elective Caesarean section /abdominal birth until the night before. Despite our best made plans, babies often surprise us and may come earlier than planned.
If you are planning to travel home by car you will need a car seat for your baby. If you live close to the hospital or birth centre you might prefer to leave this at home and ask your birth partner or a visitor to bring it after the baby has been born, so there is less to carry when you first arrive.
Your baby’s development in week 32
Size of a cantaloupe melon
Weighs on average 1.6-1.8kg
Around 42.4cm long
Your baby's organs are now all fully developed, except for their lungs which will continue to mature over the coming weeks.
Your baby is busy practising all the important skills they will need in the outside world including swallowing, sucking and kicking.
Around this time, most babies will start to move head down in your pelvis, getting into the most streamlined position to be born. Try not to worry if this is not the case, there is still time to turn and if not your team will be able to outline all the options available to you.
Week 32 Checklist
You might like to:
Pack hospital bag. We’ve already told you what you need for your bag but now it’s time to get it all ready so you’re prepared for when things start happening.
Stretch it out. Practising some simple stretches each day can really help to keep pregnancy aches and pains at bay. You can find some stretches here.
Spotlight on: Piles
Each week we'll be delving into the common symptoms of pregnancy and bringing you top tips for managing them from our team of specialists and parent community.
Piles
Piles are really common in the later stages of pregnancy. They may be uncomfortable but there is no need to be embarrassed.
Piles, which are also known as haemorrhoids, happen when pregnancy hormones cause your veins to relax. It means the blood vessels inside and around your bottom can become enlarged and sore. As your pregnancy progresses the downward pressure from your bump and uterus can also cause these blood vessels to swell.
What can you do to avoid piles?
Constipation can lead to piles so make sure you are eating plenty of fibre which will help keep your poo soft. Wholemeal foods, fruit and vegetables are all high in fibre.
How can I ease my symptoms?
Place a cool cloth on the area to soothe the swelling and discomfort
Avoid standing for long periods of time
Exercise regularly to improve circulation
If the piles pop out, gently push them back in using lubricating jelly if needed
After going for a poo, wipe with moist rather than dry toilet paper
Pat rather than rub the area when wiping
Ask your pharmacist, midwife or GP to suggest a suitable pregnancy-safe ointment to ease any discomfort
Birth story of the week
This week we catch up with Gemma from our Leytonstone course who shares the positive birth story of her baby Cora.
“This was my second pregnancy. My first was pretty ‘textbook’ in terms of mine and the baby’s health and I had a natural delivery. Emotionally however, the labour and start to motherhood left me a bit shell shocked and so I wanted to attend an antenatal course that would be both informative and give me a confidence boost! I found HPHB did just that during my pregnancy. I was particularly interested in learning about the benefits of hypnobirthing - a concept which I’d previously dismissed as ‘airy fairy’ - but I was really sold on the simplicity of the concept and enjoyed trying the techniques during the pregnancy. They were instrumental in helping me stay calm and positive, particularly when the labour started. My husband and I also found the session on medical care during labour especially useful - even though we’d been through it once before with our first baby – we felt far better informed about our options.
“Perhaps it was largely down to the surge of ‘happy’ oxytocin hormones you get after the birth, or maybe it was thanks to the amazingly supportive and complimentary midwives, or- indeed- the confidence I’d gained from the HPHB course or- most likely- an amalgamation of all of those things, but I left the hospital a few hours after giving birth feeling like an absolute superhero who could take on the world! I really remember just how amazingly powerful I felt; I couldn’t believe how positively the labour had gone and how strong and well I felt in my body. This I really think helped set me up for those first few days and weeks. Yes, I was exhausted from feeding around the clock and yes, my body had some healing to do, but I’d felt so empowered from the birth experience that I had a confidence that made everything feel manageable.
Welcome to the world Cora!
Treat of the week
Your changing bag will be by your side every day once your baby arrives. This Tiba + Marl changing bag is practical and stylish. It will fit all of your daily essentials in when out and about with your baby. It will also double up as work bag or overnight bag.
Use code HPHB15 for an exclusive discount
*15% discount on orders over £120
Join our community
Happy Parents Happy Baby is here to support you through every step of your pregnancy, birth and parenting journey.
Connect with other parents-to-be and learn everything you need to know, by joining our award-winning antenatal classes.
That's all for now...
Thank you so much for joining us!
Have a great week.
Team HPHB x
Information you
can trust
Our articles are based on the latest-evidence based guidelines and scientific research and are written by our team of medical experts.
Coming up
next week
What is Group B strep?
Spotlight on: stretch marks
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