When Charlotte heard about Bellyful at a mothers’ group, she was already carrying more than most people could see.
“I had post-partum depression and as a first-time mum I didn’t realise how different it would be adjusting to a new ‘normal’. Even the littlest of help really lifted a weight off my shoulders. It was the help I never knew I needed.”
During that time, Charlotte says asking people close to her for help felt hard. Being able to receive support from Bellyful offered another way through.
“It relieved a bit of pressure while I was adjusting to my new normal as a mum. I was hesitant to ask for family and friends for help as I felt I was being a failure. Asking for support from Bellyful was a big first step into being more open with my family how difficult I was finding things.”
Bellyful provides home-cooked meals, made and delivered by volunteers, to families with babies or children under 12 who could use some extra support.
What stays with Charlotte most is the delivery itself.
“The relief when I got that knock on the door and the volunteer that had a chat to me and reassured me I was doing great. It wasn’t just the meal that helped but the volunteers that put their time aside to help a complete stranger.”
Now, looking back on that time, Charlotte says she wishes more people knew about Bellyful and that she knew about it sooner.
“It would’ve been really good earlier in my post partum journey as my village is small and sometimes asking for help is easier when it’s to someone you don’t know as I felt like I was failing as a mum asking for help from family or friends.”
Charlotte says the magic of Bellyful is that it’s not just a meal.
“The smile and kind words of reassurance at the other end from the volunteer were just as comforting.”
