My Hospital Bag Dilemma

As I was packing my hospital bag I kept Googling “hospital bag essentials” and “what to take to hospital” I think I packed and repacked my bag 10 to 15 times before I was happy with it. Even then the fear of forgetting something kept me up at night. Giving birth in the middle of a global pandemic was not on my list of worries when I was newly pregnant and shopping for all those cute outfits. Then suddenly the world changed and my hospital bag left me clueless.

Knowing my husband could not be with me in the post-natal ward meant that I packed everything and anything under the sun. 5 pairs of pyjamas, enough snacks to feed an army and far too many pairs of socks. In those moments when I was alone and a nurse was riffling through my suitcase of hundreds of items I thought to myself if only there was a place I could have just bought everything I need knowing that was enough.

I knew being alone in the post-natal ward would be hard but I didn’t think it would be pure hell. Part of me was so thankful that I had spent all those hours Googling what to take and part of me wished I didn’t overthink it. My first godsend was a portable handheld fan. The ward was so unbearably hot and that breeze was heaven. After my first shower I used the fan to dry my Caesarean scar. I kept thinking “Imagine if I didn’t have this fan” while looking into the beautiful sleepy eyes of my new born daughter. I knew it was just a fan but to me in that moment it was my saving grace.

I cried every hour for that first night. I suffer from anxiety and being alone made me scared and vulnerable. I knew I would have trouble emotionally even before the pandemic hit, so my husband and I did a Hypnobirthing class through Bump and Baby Club. The Midwife who took the class mentioned that making the labour room and postnatal ward as calming as possible with fairy lights or LED candles can really help with anxiety. I searched everywhere for good quality small natural flickering LED candles and packed them in my hospital bag. Even though I ended up having a Caesarean I flicked two on and left them on the table next to me during the first night in the ward. The comfort and soft low light was soothing for both me and my baby.

I came away from this experience thinking how I desperately needed to help other mums with their hospital bags and make sure they all know to pack a fan! I then went searching for suppliers and wholesalers who could help me on my quest to bring much needed essentials to new mums like me. This experience and motherhood sparked a whole new chapter in my life and this is how Belle and Pepper came to be.

Check out our hospital bag essentials range including my pick our number one selling portable handheld fan.

Amelia xx

Founder & Creative Director