Sissi with baby bump: 28th to 29th week of pregnancy

In Winter 2018, our LILLYDOO midwife Sissi Rasche is expecting her third child! Despite her expertise in pregnancy, these nine months with a baby in the belly remain simply magical for Sissi. And the best part: she takes you along on her exciting journey! Every two weeks, she provides an update on her pregnancy in our LILLYDOO magazine and shares her very personal experiences with you. In addition to five consistent questions about the current state of affairs, Sissi answers a special additional question in each column. We wish you lots of fun accompanying Sissi with her (growing) baby bump in the coming months!

1. What is your current waist circumference?

My waist circumference remains unchanged at 90 cm.

2. How are you feeling right now?

I'm starting to feel a bit restless because I'm already almost in the and I still haven't prepared anything for the baby. For my husband, everything still seems so far away, but we probably can't look that quickly and suddenly it's November and the baby is on the way. :) Of course, it's also quite normal that you're not as eager when expecting your third child as you were with the first, for which I had already bought the first rompers in the . ;)

3. What does your body tell you?

I am quite, quite exhausted. Over the past two weeks, I have overextended myself a bit and ended up in the hospital with . Luckily, the baby is still doing well, but that was really a warning sign for me that I need to take better care of myself and my body. Since then, I have been trying to take small breaks more often, for example by occasionally treating myself to a .

To counteract contractions, I like to prepare a so-called "Hot Seven." For this, I stir seven tablets of the Schüßler salt magnesium phosphoricum into a warm tea. This mixture works very well for a hard stomach, helping to slightly reduce muscle tone, and you fall asleep wonderfully afterward.

4. What cravings are you currently experiencing?

Lately, I often crave something sweet. You can find me more often in the organic store in the evenings, where I get my favorite chocolate. ;) Also, I currently love rice with vegetables in all variations – I would love to eat curry every day. And finally, my preference for sparkling water and other cold drinks has remained with me over the past few weeks.

5. What was your most beautiful moment?

Since I am so exhausted right now, I can't name a special moment this time. But I think it’s part of it that not everything is always sunshine and roses, and that pregnancy can sometimes simply be exhausting and nerve-wracking.

Nevertheless, I naturally enjoy the little things in everyday life. It is wonderful to feel the baby in the belly when it makes contact with us and its siblings – but of course also the other way around: My little daughter, for example, always kisses my belly when I leave or come home. :) Last week, we also had a great family photoshoot, which resulted in very beautiful pictures.

How do you prevent stretch marks during pregnancy?

Unfortunately, even I as a midwife do not know of any method to completely prevent . Ultimately, it has a lot to do with genetics and also a bit of luck (or misfortune) regarding how prone one is to developing stretch marks. To support the circulation of my connective tissue at least, I regularly massage my belly with a gentle sisal brush or perform a pinching massage. This not only feels pleasant but also provides a nice contact with my baby. I like to use a cream or a , for example lavender oil in the evening. I like to vary it a little, but what matters most to me in the products are high-quality, plant-based ingredients and avoiding unnecessary fragrances. Additionally, I am a fan of alternating showers. They stimulate the venous system and can thus help minimize stretch marks, especially on the thighs.

Stretch marks often only appear in the last days of pregnancy or during childbirth, so let's see what my belly looks like in a few weeks. ;)