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When you’re 15 weeks pregnant, your fetus would measure about 4 inches in length and weigh around 2.47 ounces. To put things in a better perspective, this will be about the size of a small pear or a small apple. But wait, how many months is 15 weeks pregnant? You’re currently in the fourth month of your journey, and there are five more months to look forward to. The countdown is still on, and you’ve got 25 weeks remaining!
So What Else Is Happening To The Baby When You’re 15 Weeks Pregnant?
1. The baby starts to see light
It is in the 15th week when the baby finally begins to sense lights. Their eyes will still be shut but if there’s a beam of a torchlight out on your belly, the baby will sense the light in the 15th weeks pregnant and perhaps will try to move away from it.
2. The baby’s skin develops
A baby’s skin, in the 15th week, begins to look translucent. After this point, the baby will soon begin to put on fat which will make the skin opaque.
3. The baby can move their joints
In the 15th week, the baby can also positively move their joints, beginning to move around more freely than before.
4. The Baby Is Learning Survival Skills
Your baby is getting ready for life outside the womb. Wondering what your little one does all day? Well, they’re basically in training, working hard to prepare for their grand entrance into the world.
During this time, babies are honing essential skills like breathing, sucking, and swallowing. These abilities will be crucial for their survival and comfort once they transition from the cozy confines of your womb to the cozy surroundings of your home.
In addition to these vital exercises, your fetus is also hosting daily aerobics sessions inside your belly. They’re kicking, wiggling their tiny toes, and moving their little arms and legs. However, because they’re still just a few ounces in weight, you might not feel these gymnastic movements happening in your tummy.
15 Weeks Pregnant Symptoms: What Happens To You When You’re 15 Weeks Pregnant?
Here are some of the most common symptoms experienced by most women in the 15th week of pregnancy
1. Increased libido
Experiencing random urges for intimacy is very common around the 15th week into the pregnancy. It is so because, in the 15th weeks pregnant, you will begin to regain the energy you lost in the initial weeks of pregnancy.
2. Nosebleeds
Your body, during pregnancy, makes a lot more blood than before, which could cause bleeding of the nose. It is normal to experience this and should not be worried too much about it. Just remember to mention it to your doctor in your next call regardless.
3. Swollen gums
All the extra blood production will not only potentially cause nosebleed but also swollen gums in the 15th week of pregnancy. Using a soft toothbrush could be of help.
4. Gas, indigestion, and/or heartburn
5. The return of the appetite
All the appetite that you lost in the earlier days of pregnancy should now be making a return in the 15th week of pregnant! However, while your appetite is back, it is advised to not indulge in anything that comes your way because, after all, you are eating for two. Foodborne illness is also very common and should be avoided as much as possible.
6.Weight Gain
Whether you struggled to put on any weight in the first trimester due to morning sickness or found yourself gaining more ounces and pounds than expected, it’s time to focus on your weight gain.
Once you reach the second trimester, your baby is growing rapidly, and it’s essential for you to keep pace. Your mantra should be gradual and steady progress, with a target of adding around 1 pound to your weight every week.
Remember, this is just an average guideline, so it’s perfectly okay if you gain half a pound one week and one and a half pounds the next, as long as you’re hitting roughly 4 pounds each month. Always follow your healthcare provider’s advice when it comes to managing your weight gain.
If you’re monitoring your weight at home, checking once a week or every other week is sufficient. Just ensure you do it consistently, at the same time and under similar conditions, like when you’re undressed and right after waking up. Alternatively, you can leave the weight checks to your healthcare provider during your monthly check-ups.
15 Weeks Pregnant Ultrasound
You might not be aware of it just yet, but if you were to have a 15-week pregnancy ultrasound, you’d see that your little one is getting pretty active in there. At this stage, they can move all their tiny arms and legs, and you might even notice them having hiccups inside your 15-week pregnant belly.
During the ultrasound, the doctors can often identify the baby’s gender in just a few minutes. However, their thoroughness doesn’t end there. They continue scanning and examine the gender from various angles to ensure they get it right.
What Pregnancy Tests Will I Need To Take At The 15th Week Of Pregnancy?
Here are a few of the most common tests you are most likely be suggested to take around when you’re 15 weeks pregnant–
1. Quad Screen Test
This test is run in order to screen hormones and proteins in your blood. By doing so, a baby’s vulnerability to having a neural tube defect, Down syndrome, and other genetic disorders can be identified.
2. Amniocentesis
The Amniocentesis test is advised so as to detect the aforesaid neural tube defects with 99 percent accuracy. This is a more invasive form of a test and requires the withdrawal of your amniotic fluid.
What Does Your 15 Weeks Pregnant Belly?
When you’re 15 weeks pregnant, you would feel the top of your uterus about four to five inches below your belly button. You might also be able to identify a baby bump this week! Besides, an average woman would have gained at least 5 pounds by now, when calculated from the beginning of the pregnancy. Do not worry about the weight of your 19-week pregnant belly since your doctor will anyway be keeping track and a healthy weight gain is a necessary element of a healthy pregnancy. In some cases, mothers may also be able to feel the baby fluttering and trying to move around in the belly!
Final Takeaway:
As some final words of wisdom, let us talk about the infamous pelvic pain. Most mothers happen to experience this sharp, swift pain in the pelvic region called Round Ligament pain. This pain can be expected when you’re 15 weeks pregnant and is a rather common second-trimester ailment caused by your expanding belly. While it is common, it is also advised to keep your doctor in the loop about it. Iron-rich foods are also advised for consumption in the 15th week as they support the extra blood that is being produced by the body.
