- 15th week of pregnancy - what happens in week 15
- How your baby develops in the 15th week of pregnancy
- How you feel in the 15th week of pregnancy
- What investigations are now pending?
- What special features are there in the 15th week of pregnancy?
- What you should look out for in week 15 of pregnancy
- Useful tips for the 15th week of pregnancy
15th week of pregnancy - what happens in week 15
The 15th week of pregnancy begins: You are now in the third week of the fourth month of your pregnancy.
How your baby develops in the 15th week of pregnancy
Your baby is now around 10 centimetres tall - so already about the size of an orange. It weighs considerably more than in the previous weeks: In week 15, the foetus reaches a weight of between around 50 and 70 grams. Compared to the beginning of the 2nd trimester, this is almost twice as much.
This is how far the little baby's body has developed
The baby's hair structure develops in week 15 of pregnancy. However, please note: when it is born, it does not necessarily have a fully developed head of hair. Hair needs time to grow. This also applies to the little heart: the heart is now fully developed and beats strongly. But the organ needs time to grow bigger. It is already working hard and pumps around 100 litres a day through your little body. In the current week, your baby's skin is still translucent. This means that the foetus's blood vessels are clearly visible.
By the way: Sometimes pregnant women report "butterflies in the stomach" in the 15th week. This means that the movements of the little belly inhabitant can already be easily felt by the expectant mother. You can feel the gentle fluttering in an area that starts at the pubic bone and ends about 3 transverse fingers above it. This is because the uterus has already grown this week. If you don't feel any fluttering yet, there's no need to worry. You don't need to feel your baby's movements yet. Nevertheless, your baby is already practising moving its body and continuing to train its reflexes. This applies to the cheek area, for example: The swallowing and sucking movements cause the muscles in this area to become stronger and stronger.
Is the gender recognisable in the 15th week of pregnancy?
Some parents-to-be are still eagerly waiting to find out the sex of their little darling this week. As in the previous week of pregnancy, the following also applies during the 15th week of pregnancy: the sex can theoretically already be determined - and many expectant mothers and fathers are looking forward to finally finding out now. Nevertheless, it is possible that no gender is yet recognisable on the ultrasound image. If this is the case, patience is still required. Only the second screening from week 19 of pregnancy will give you certainty. Patience pays off: Later on, you will have greater certainty of knowing the correct gender - and preparing yourself accordingly for boy or girl.
How you feel in the 15th week of pregnancy
By the 15th week of pregnancy, your body has already adjusted well to the changes that come with your pregnancy. At the beginning of the second trimester, you may have already noticed that things are getting a little calmer: Your initial nausea is over. Many mums-to-be decide during the 2nd trimester to devote yourself fully and completely to "beauty": Try on comfortable clothes or find a new idea for relaxing, for example. If you feel a pulling sensation in your abdomen during this relaxed phase, this is often due to the growing uterus, which is creating more and more space. This is why your belly is now bulging more and more, as you could already read in week 14.
If you have not yet decided on a Birth preparation course you should tackle this now. Because: You still have time to do this in the current week of pregnancy - and the physical changes are signalling this to you. After all, the second trimester is usually the quietest phase of pregnancy. Use the peace and quiet to think about the upcoming birth - and stop letting yourself be stressed by worries and uncertainty.
Your body and your diet during the 15th week of pregnancy
While your body is slowly changing for all to see, it is still important to pay attention to your diet during the 15th week of pregnancy. Therefore, focus on a varied and wholesome diet with all the important minerals and vitamins. Go for fruit and vegetables, low-fat dairy products and wholemeal products.
Which examinations are due in week 15?
If you would like to have a first trimester screening, this will take place between the 10th and 14th week of your pregnancy. It is therefore important that you make an appointment beforehand. This particular type of screening is often carried out, for example, if you have a high-risk pregnancy. Additional tip for you: Find out everything you need to know about prenatal care here.
You don't have any special examinations coming up - but you have complaints, questions or uncertainties that you need to clarify? Contact your emergency midwife now. If you have acute problems, it is also important to consult a doctor.
What special features are there in the 15th week of pregnancy?
The next check-up is due around the 16th week of pregnancy. Make an appointment now at the latest if you haven't already done so. Incidentally, it's not entirely unusual for you to be a little more forgetful. Scientists believe that the many hormones that are now flowing through your body are having an effect on your brain. Specifically, your neural pathways are being affected. It is assumed that you are now focussing more on the mother-child relationship. Over the next few weeks, you will hone your ability to recognise facial expressions. This is important so that you can understand your baby well later on. Tip: Simply orientate yourself on your Maternity passport. You will also find your most important dates in the booklet. If you are particularly forgetful at the moment, you can also ask your partner to help you with all the organising - and thus integrate them even better into the exciting time of your pregnancy.
What you should look out for in week 15 of pregnancy
Your little miracle's eyes are a special feature in the 15th week of pregnancy: the cornea and iris are already fully formed. This also applies to the lens. However, the foetus will not yet open its eyes. Your baby will wait a little longer - and will not open its eyes until around the 23rd to 25th week of pregnancy.
You may notice the first signs of water retention this week. Water retains especially on hot days or if you have had to stand or sit a lot. During this week, however, the water retention usually goes away with a few simple tricks. Many women who are expecting a child have heavy legs during pregnancy. The reason: the blood volume in your body increases significantly so that your body and therefore your child can be optimally supplied. Your legs also have to cope with the force of gravity and the increasing pressure that your uterus and the weight of the baby exert on the pelvic veins. If you stand for long periods of time, you encourage the accumulation of fluid in your legs - which leads to oedema.
Useful tips for the 15th week of pregnancy
Would you like to do something good for yourself and your baby during the 15th week of pregnancy - or are you worried about the future division of labour with your partner? Here are some practical tips for:
1. get water retention under control: If you are already struggling with oedema or want to prevent it, it helps if you put your feet up. Make sure that your legs are positioned so that they are higher than your pelvis. Regular exercise helps you to combat water retention. Important: Don't stand for too long and wear loose, comfortable clothing. Also make sure you drink enough water or tea. Alternating cold and warm showers for your legs in the morning gets the blood flowing and is not only a perfect pick-me-up, but also a good way to prevent oedema in the legs.
2. proclaim gender? Coordination with your partner is important now: Did you find out the sex of your baby in the 15th week of pregnancy? Maybe you want to share the news with your loved one - or maybe not. If the latter is the case, it is important to consult with your partner. It's not uncommon for us to accidentally blurt out the news out of sheer anticipation. Clear communication as Team is now required.
3. discuss division of labour with the partner: It is not only important to talk to the father-to-be about the current division of labour during pregnancy. It becomes particularly difficult after the birth: What about work? What working time models are possible? Now is the time to look at family-orientated solutions. After all, family work still falls almost exclusively on women. This doesn't have to be the case if you agree in good time and think about a good plan for your family life. By the way: If your child is ill later on, both mum and dad have the right to time off work from their employer. The prerequisite for this is statutory health insurance.
4. fancy feasting during SSW 15? You can now treat yourself to treats from time to time. However, you shouldn't overdo it with the unhealthy calories. Too much sugar affects your insulin balance and the development of your baby's teeth. As a rule, you can eat whatever you feel like as a pregnant woman - provided you are in good health. However, there are some foods that you should avoid in order not to jeopardise the health of your unborn child. These include, for example, raw meat and fish, coffee and energy drinks, undercooked eggs and poppy seeds.
