Pregnancy Week By Week : 15 Weeks Pregnant - What To Expect

Hello, ladies. By this week you're probably feeling a new surge of energy and the woes of the first trimester are forgotten by now. Your pregnancy is becoming more and more visible with the belly bump growing bigger, a little each week. It is a good time to start shopping for maternity wear although you will keep gaining weight till the last trimester. Your body this week is taking a little respite from all the overwork it has been doing in the previous months. However, it is still in the process of nurturing and nourishing your baby, who by this time has grown quite a lot. To find out about the changes and developments of your little one, keep reading.

Baby Development

Ear positioning

The eyes were coming closer in the past week and the ears were also taking shape. By this week, the ears have positioned themselves correctly at both sides of the head and the eyes are also taking their place from the sides to the front of the face.

Fetal movements

If you take an ultrasound scan now, here are some movements you may find: sucking the thumb, swallowing action, extending its legs, flexing its arms, turning and twisting. With the help of these movements, your baby is getting ready to take on the real world soon. By the end of this week, your baby will start curling its toes, kicking and stretching out. But don't be frightened if you cannot feel any of it. The weight of the baby is still too less, around 1.75 ounces for you to feel anything. Wait a couple of months more to feel the kicks.

Lanugo covering

In order to keep your baby warm and maintain its body temperature, body hair, also known as lanugo, forms a covering on the body. The lanugo had already appeared last week and by the end of this week, it would have covered the baby. Don't worry, your baby won't come out as a grizzly or a hairy ape. Most of the lanugo will be shed as fat cells develop in its little body to provide it with the required warmth.

Baby can hear

As the bone structures in the ears have almost hardened by now, your little one can hear the sounds of your heartbeat and blood flow. These sounds are called white noises and will soothe the baby when it is born.

Dimensions of your baby

Your baby has grown significantly in the last few weeks and by week 15 of your pregnancy, it is a good 4 inches long. If you want to compare the size of your baby, look at a navel orange. Your tiny one is as big as that now. With the arms and legs straightened, and the neck being longer, your baby is no more looking like an alien, but a real human baby.

Body Changes & Common Symptoms

The disappearance of certain symptoms: Your morning sickness, nausea, dizziness etc. is all disappearing gradually. At week 15 of your pregnancy, it's all a win-win situation. You are not distressed with early pregnancy symptoms, your energy levels have become better and you are not too big yet to restrict your movements.

Forgetfulness: This may sound funny, but pregnancy brain and forgetfulness are correlated. During your pregnancy, the volume of brain cells decreases. This makes things hard to remember. There is nothing to worry about if you forget a range of things such as where you kept your phone and your dentist's appointment. Try to write down things or use a digital planner to counter the effects of pregnancy brain. Once you complete your term, your memory will be back in action.

Food cravings: Your sensitivity to smell has probably gone and now you are experiencing food cravings. Your taste buds may urge you to have spicy foods, grilled meat, ice creams, or you may grow a sweet tooth if you are usually not into sugary delicacies.

Swollen gums: You may experience sore and bleeding gums during this time of your pregnancy, especially when you floss or brush. Pregnancy hormones are responsible for this state of your gums as these hormones often trigger the inflammation of the gums, a condition known as gingivitis. The hormones react with bacteria in the tooth plaque causing bleeding gums. You may also notice little bumps in your gum, called pregnancy tumors. These are painless and will go away once you give birth to your baby. Oral hygiene and medical attention are of utmost importance during this stage to prevent further damages such as periodontitis, a condition that affects the bones and tissues that support your teeth and gums.

Health Tips

• Dental care: As mentioned above, your gums stand a high risk of gingivitis and other dental infections during this trimester. Therefore, it is a good idea to consult a dentist and go through a pregnancy dental check-up to ensure that your oral condition is healthy.
• Steady weight gain: This point was talked about in week 14, and it is important for the rest of the second trimester. Weight gain is natural at this point. However, you should focus on gaining a pound each week instead of piling up on the pounds quickly.
• Maternity wear: You may not have grown too big as yet, but in order to remain comfortable it is a good idea to invest in some loose light clothes. Your breasts would have also grown in size, at least a cup size more. Don't hold on to your old brassieres that seem tighter, making it difficult for you to breathe. Get a couple of larger lingerie sets to feel comfortable inside.
• Ask your doctor for safe antacids: With your food craving higher than ever, you may end up eating stuff that causes indigestion and acidity. Consult with your gynecologist and take the prescribed antacids to counter the effect of acidity and gas. Eat lots of fiber for smooth bowel movement.

Enjoy this fun period of your pregnancy and indulge in your cravings (in a responsible way of course!) Keep a tab on your dental health and don't curse yourself if you forget important dates and appointments. Blame it all on your pregnancy brain and relax. In a few months, you will have to remember things for two people instead of one!