Has your beauty routine changed during pregnancy?
"I've continued the same habits I had during my pregnancy with Sirius. This means I've chosen to exclude perfumes, as well as hormone-disrupting and allergy-causing substances. Generally, I rarely use perfume because I have sensitive skin and a tendency to allergies. To get an overview of the ingredients in my products, I use the app Kemiluppen (The Chemical Magnifying Glass).
I've been particularly fond of HONEY's products and use all of them, but their serum, in particular, is indispensable for me. It has done wonders for my skin, which has tended to be extra dry during pregnancy. In the colder months, I've also sometimes added Skin Food from Weleda as an extra protective layer over my day cream and serum. For my belly, I've used Weleda Stretchmark Oil."
What considerations have you made regarding diet and supplements during pregnancy?
"I take Baby-me-now Multivitamin with folic acid from Solaray, vegan fish oil from Biosym, Vitamin D from Puori, and calcium supplements, as I don't consume many dairy products.
From ovulation until week 12, I've also taken Fructus Femina drops to strengthen the uterine lining and hopefully help hold the fertilized egg. It's also called 'baby glue' and is known to support a healthy placenta.
Iron has also been part of my supplements, but since I have difficulty absorbing it, I've combined different forms – Jern Vital H-drops, Krauterblut, Haemo-iron tablets – and supplemented with a daily half-liter of nettle infusion. Especially the infusion and Jern Vital H-drops have been effective. To improve iron absorption, I've taken Krauterblut with a glass of orange juice, as vitamin C aids absorption. However, iron can cause constipation, but here psyllium husks from HUSK in capsules and plenty of water have been my salvation."
What do you miss most during your pregnancy?
"My energy and my surplus. I've felt overwhelmed and struggled with guilt, especially towards Carmen. I'm really looking forward to being more present for her again. At the same time, I try to remind myself that there's a deeper meaning to it all.
The little girl in my belly chose me and our family – even amidst sorrow and loss. I believe her arrival is for a reason. The past year has turned my fear into a strong muscle, while my ability to trust has weakened. Therefore, I consciously practice strengthening my belief that things will fall into place, instead of spending energy worrying about everything that could potentially be difficult."
