🌙✨ Zwischen: Between Worlds — Embracing the Sacred Pause Before Your Baby Arrives

There is a word in German — Zwischen — that means in-between. Midwife Jana Studelska borrowed it to name the last days (or sometimes long weeks) of pregnancy: that tender, timeless space when you are no longer simply pregnant as you were, yet not quite birthing either. “The last days of pregnancy – sometimes stretching to agonizing weeks – are a distinct place, time, event, stage,” she says. It’s a quiet threshold — a sacred pause between worlds — where your body, your baby, and your heart are doing their final, invisible dance of readiness. It can feel achingly slow, deeply restful, wildly restless — and impossibly precious, all at once.

In this post, I will share with you tips, tools and ways to honour your Zwischen gently: with small daily rituals, trust in your body’s perfect timing, and the comforting truth that you and your baby already know the way.

What does zwischen feel like?

It’s a swirl of excitement and restlessness. You might feel done — oh so ready to meet your baby — yet pulled to nest, tidy, nap, cry, laugh. Time feels strange. Each niggle or twinge makes you wonder, Is this it?

There can be so much pressure: When is baby coming? Are you still pregnant? Any signs yet? But here’s the truth: zwischen cannot be rushed. Your body and baby are finishing their final, quiet conversation.

🌿 Ways to Soften Into the In-Between (Zwischen)

✨ 1️⃣ Gentle Movement & Yoga Keep your body open and your mind anchored. Gentle prenatal yoga, birth ball hip circles, or slow walking help baby find their best position and ease the restless energy of waiting.

✨ 2️⃣ Meditation & Mindfulness Start or end your day with a short breath meditation or guided hypnobirthing script. Even 5 minutes can reset your thoughts and bring you back into trust.

✨ 3️⃣ Prepare Nourishing Meals Stock your freezer with hearty soups, easy-to-grab snacks, and simple meals for postpartum. It’s a comforting way to ‘do something’ that your future self will thank you for.

✨ 4️⃣ Plan for Postpartum Use this in-between time to think beyond the birth: set up your rest space, gather postpartum pads and cosy clothes, and talk to your partner or support people about how they can care for you, too.

✨ 5️⃣ Build Your Village Check in with friends, family or your doula. Let people know how they can help: meals, errands, watching older kids. This is the time to weave your web of support.

✨ 6️⃣ Nesting Rituals If the urge strikes, lean into simple nesting: wash baby clothes, tidy your birth space, set up a cosy corner with blankets and snacks for those first cuddly feeds.

✨ 7️⃣ Create a Birth Playlist Collect songs that make you feel calm, powerful, or simply happy. Listening to it now helps your body and mind link these sounds with safety and relaxation.

✨ 8️⃣ Rest Without Guilt Give yourself permission to nap, to slow down, to cancel plans. This is a precious window to gather strength.

✨ 9️⃣ Journal Your Feelings Write down your hopes, your worries, or even letters to your baby. It’s a gentle way to release swirling thoughts and ground yourself in the present.

✨ 🔟 Be Kind to Yourself Remember: you are not waiting wrong. Your baby is finishing their final perfect touches. Trust that this in-between is doing sacred, invisible work.

✨ 🌷 Do One Thing Every Day Pick one small thing daily — a nap, a cup of tea in the sun, a song you love on repeat, a bath with your favourite oil. One thing that says: I trust, I am ready, and I am worthy of gentleness.

💆‍♀️ If You’re Feeling Really Uncomfortable…

The last days (or weeks) of pregnancy can feel physically heavy and exhausting — it’s okay to feel so ready for baby’s arrival and still need ways to soothe your body now. Here are some gentle ways to ease the aches and restlessness:

✨ Pregnancy Massage: A specialised pregnancy massage can release tension in your back, hips and legs — and give you an hour of deep calm. Always choose a therapist trained in prenatal care.

✨ Acupuncture: Many mums find acupuncture helpful for easing late-pregnancy discomforts and encouraging relaxation. It can be an incredible support during this final stretch — ask your care provider for a trusted referral.

✨ Physio or Osteo: A women’s health physiotherapist can help with pelvic girdle pain, lower back discomfort or any nagging tension that makes sleeping hard. They can also give you safe exercises or gentle adjustments to feel more comfortable.

✨ Baths & Warm Showers: A deep soak with Epsom salts or a few drops of calming lavender oil can soothe tight muscles and calm a busy mind. Or simply stand under a warm shower and let the water run over your lower back.

✨ Time in Water: If you have access, floating in the sea or a warm pool can take the pressure off your hips and belly. Many women say it’s the one place they feel weightless and free at this stage!

✨ Gentle Swims: Slow laps or just gentle paddling can help with swelling and soothe restless legs — plus, the cool water can feel blissful on warm days.

🌙 Trust the Zwischen

When the days feel endless, come back to this truth: you and your baby know the way. One day soon, the threshold will open and your birth story will begin. Until then, wrap yourself in rest, small daily rituals, and deep trust.

You are not alone — I’m right here beside you every step of the way. 🌿✨