15 Weeks Pregnant

This week your baby weighs a little less than 3.5 ounces. Baby is still very small but is moving around a lot when not snoozing. Those eyes which have been positioned to the side of his face are now better placed and where they should be. Small breathing movements are clear on ultrasound at this stage; so are sucking and swallowing actions. Practicing these complex skills early on means that by the time your baby is born he will be more adept at them and better able to support himself.

By the time you are 15 weeks pregnant, that new burst of energy you've been looking forward to has probably kicked in. You could find you are able to enjoy food as you normally do and look forward to mealtimes instead of dreading them. Try to have a wide variety of foods which will help your body stay healthy and support your baby's growth as well. There is evidence to prove the recommendations that during pregnancy, women should not restrict their diets and eat foods with varying tastes and flavors. Doing this has a positive effect on a baby's willingness to accept different foods once they are introduced to solids. If their taste buds are already "primed" to a wide variety of flavors via the amniotic fluid, they tend to be more adventurous with their eating.

Nothing fits me!

You may be developing a bit of a tummy by now, or perhaps not. You’ll definitely be feeling pregnant, and you could find your legs and back are aching if you've been standing for a while. You're not quite at the stage of walking with a waddle, but there may be small changes to the way you normally walk. Your sleeping habits could be changing too, as you need to rearrange yourself in bed to find a more comfortable position to lie in. If you've always been a tummy sleeper, you may be discovering this is getting to be more difficult because your belly gets in the way. Think about investing in a long pillow which you can mold around your body and legs. These can be a great aid to sleeping and you’ll find you’ll get your money's worth by the end of your pregnancy.

Your physical changes this week

Don’t be surprised if your shoes are feeling a little tight. It's not your imagination. Progesterone, that all important pregnancy hormone, is great for relaxing the ligaments in your pelvis but that's not where its effects will end. You may find your shoe size increases by at least half a size by the end of your pregnancy, perhaps even more. Pass the tissues. If you've never had a nosebleed, don’t be alarmed if you start having them now. All that venous engorgement will make you more prone to the sniffles, nasal congestion, and nose bleeds. Nosebleeds usually stop on their own but it's important to not panic and just sit quietly until they subside. Notice your skin clearing up? Those pimples which took up residence on your face are probably clearing. Keep up your usual cleansing and moisturizing regimen. You may find your skin is oilier now and you might need to change your moisturizer to suit. You’ll be well aware of changes in your breasts as well. It's as if a switch has been turned on making them more heavy, sensitive, and sore. If you're finding your usual bra size just isn’t big enough, get properly fitted for new maternity bras. They are an essential wardrobe item during pregnancy.

Your emotional changes this week

Feeling all Mother Earth? That's not surprising. There's something very grounding about the second trimester of pregnancy, when you're awash with hormones and a sense of all being good with the world. Enjoy this special time when it seems that not much can phase you. Think about doing some yoga, massage, aqua aerobics or Tai Chi. Connecting with your inner Chakra is fun, even if you don’t know what it looks like. You could find yourself preoccupied with peering at your tummy at all times of the day and night, looking for any increase in size. Sometimes you may be sure you're looking bigger, though other times you might not. It really depends on what's happening behind your uterus, not so much what's inside it. If your bowel is distended with stool or gas, it will make your tummy stick out more. The thought of your due date being so far away can make this seem an endless time. Although you know there's all this activity going on inside, there's still not much to see and no end in sight. Try to do something every day which gives you pleasure and isn’t work or baby related. You still have your personality and interests which need stimulation and can’t be put on hold just because you’re pregnant.

Your baby's changes this week

Lots of arm and leg waving going on this week. There's not much coordination to it all though - lots of splashing about and then long sleeps just to recover. Wait a week or two and you’ll be feeling the effects of all that movement too. The three small bones in the inner ear start forming this week, so your baby will be able to hear you. Practice singing, saying hello, and generally building an emotional connection which will last between you for life. Your baby's legs are now longer than his arms and his little head isn’t the biggest body part. The body is becoming longer and isn’t as flexed and curled up on itself.

Hints for the week

Drink lots of clean, fresh tap water every day. The fluoride in it will help your baby's tooth formation and to build protective enamel. It also helps to liquefy your saliva and keep you mentally alert. Avoid getting a urinary tract infection if you can. This is a common condition during pregnancy and though not a major problem, can be more than a little irritating. Drink lots of water, and after you go to the bathroom wipe from the front to the back, not the reverse. Before and after having sex, go to the toilet and empty your bladder. If you have any problems with burning when you pee or it just smells odd, check with your doctor. Cranberry juice has good protective qualities and is high in Vitamin C as well. This is an important nutrient right now as it helps your body absorb iron from food and supports the formation of connective tissue in your baby. Week 16 comes next.