15th Week Of Pregnancy

Baby development: How is your baby growing when you are in 15 Week Pregnant?

At 15 weeks, the bones in your baby’s ear that are responsible for hearing are developing, and her taste buds are sprouting, too. From now on, she’ll get a flavor of whatever you eat via the amniotic fluid. One study shows that unborn babies swallow more amniotic fluid if it tastes sweet, and less if it’s bitter. Pass the cookies!

This week sees a period of rapid growth, with your baby starting to lay down fat under her skin. Her sex organs are maturing, and a highly skilled ultrasound technician might be able to tell the sex at this point. She’s also gaining more control of her movements. Scans at this stage have shown babies playing with the umbilical cord, snuggling up to the wall of the uterus, apparently for comfort, and even fighting with a twin. Your baby will probably get regular bouts of hiccups from now on, which help her lungs prepare for breathing.

15 week Pregnant: baby and body development

Your placenta is now 1 centimeter thick and 7 to 8 centimeters in diameter, and you’re carrying around a paper cup full of amniotic fluid.

Wow! Did you know…

Your baby can suck her thumb already, and scientists think that her preferred sucking thumb is an indication of whether she’ll be left- or right-handed later in life.

Body changes and symptoms during 15th week of pregnancy

Your body is producing large amounts of estrogen, which can have weird side effects, such as darkening the pigmentation of your skin. You may notice a dark line running from your belly button down (linea nigra), as well as darker nipples and more prominent moles and freckles. Stretch marks might crop up around now, too. On the positive side, those same hormones tend to make your hair and nails grow longer and look healthier. Yes, you’re blooming at last.

Signs and Symptoms of 15th week pregnancy

As your bump grows and your center of gravity shifts, you’re likely to develop backache, especially if you stand for long periods. Work on your posture, dropping your shoulders, tucking your bottom in and tightening your abs. And ditch the heels for flats. But severe pain around the lower back and pelvic area can be a sign of pelvic girdle pain, a pregnancy-related condition that occurs when the joints of your pelvis become misaligned. In extreme cases it can leave you virtually immobile, so speak to your doctor. A support belt may help.

Your to-do list and care during 15th Week of pregnancy:

If you’re planning to have the blood test (serum screening) to screen for chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome, make sure to tell your doctor. It needs to be done at around 16 weeks.

Content provided on this site is for educational purposes only and should not be construed to be medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.