What does the 15th week of pregnancy mean for mother and baby
Pregnancy is a very special time in a woman's life. The prospect of becoming a mother and the presence of another small body inside your belly can certainly scare you, but with the right support from doctors, family and friends, the path from discovering pregnancy to childbirth will certainly be easier. Week 15 is the best time of gestation for many women, but what exactly happens at this stage of development? Read this article and find out all the information you need to know for sure what's happening to you and your baby!
But before you read this, watch this video and find out how to pamper the baby you are carrying.
What does the fetus do at 15 weeks
During the fifteenth week of pregnancy, the growth of the fetus proceeds regularly, the organs are almost fully developed, while the skin is still very thin and reveals the blood vessels. Lanugo, a thin layer of hair that wraps it during this phase, takes care of keeping it warm.
The main turning point this week is related to the movement. When a woman and mother-to-be enters the second trimester, she inevitably begins to notice a more frenetic motor activity on the part of the baby, even if it is only from the 20th week that one actually begins to feel the movements. The little one, in fact, will have a lot of fun kicking, moving legs, arms and even making some facial "grimaces".
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After the first trimester, the fetus still has the lids closed, but it begins to see the lights and to perceive the sounds as well as the heartbeat of the mother. If you've been pregnant for about four months, don't just talk to your baby, but also have him listen to music, which he can hear through the amniotic fluid. It is known, in fact, that some melodies have a beneficial and relaxing effect on the little ones in the belly.
During the fifteenth week, it happens not infrequently that the baby has hiccups, a phenomenon that is completely imperceptible from the outside. The taste buds are now formed and the new host begins to drink the amniotic fluid and urinate.
It is always in this period that the fetus delights in the practice of sucking and swallowing. In fact, it may happen that during the ultrasound you see it with your thumb in your mouth.
What month is the 15th week of pregnancy?
If you have been pregnant for 15 weeks, you are in the second trimester and, more specifically, in the fourth month of pregnancy.
What changes in the mother's body?
The second trimester usually marks one of the happiest periods of all gestation. During this week, women usually feel a certain degree of general well-being and the much more frequent and disabling annoyances of the first three months tend to be just a bad memory. However, it should be emphasized that there is no written rule and that the experience of motherhood is very subjective and changes for every woman.
Arriving at the fifteenth week, the mother begins to witness important changes in her body: the belly is increasingly visible, the breasts become swollen and painful and the needle on the scale marks about 2/3 kg more.
Hormonal activity due to pregnancy significantly improves the quality of skin and hair, making those annoying pimples that accompany many women disappear even after puberty. Also, if you look closely at your moles, freckles and the skin around your nipples, you will notice that their color has become darker. This phenomenon is due to the increase in estrogen which stimulates the production of melanin.
If you are a mother in the second trimester, know that it is normal to lose balance and feel a little unstable. It is only your body that is adapting to this huge and extraordinary change.
Do not be afraid if, at the dawn of fifteen weeks, your sleep will be interrupted by terrible nightmares. It happens to many pregnant women and the reason is soon explained if we consider that you are experiencing a very delicate and particular period of your life, the effects of which can also be poured into the dream activity. Furthermore, venting any anxieties in dreams, can help you to be quieter during the rest of the day.
Have you already chosen the name for your baby? If you run out of ideas, get inspired by our list of names for all tastes!
Nosebleeds
Since entering week 15, have you witnessed any unusual episodes of nosebleeds? Again, do not be alarmed because it is one of the most common symptoms of gestation. It is very common among pregnant women to lose nosebleeds since the increase in progesterone in the mother's body tends to weaken the mucous membranes. When you get blood, do not panic, but squeeze your nose with two fingers and put some cotton, previously immersed in hydrogen peroxide, inside the nostrils. This should be enough to stop the blood flow, otherwise you can also use a hemostatic cream.
The development of the fetus: weight and length
At fifteen weeks, the baby's weight in the tummy is less than 100 grams and is usually around 70 grams. As for the length, however, we can say that, at this point in pregnancy, the fetus will be about the size of an orange and more or less 9 centimeters long.
Some useful tips
Here are some tips to better cope with pregnancy and prepare for the arrival of your baby:
- Practice regular physical activity: prefer free body gymnastics and postural exercises for the back. The movement will help you feel more energetic and supple, making you ready for delivery. In addition, motor activity stimulates blood circulation throughout the body, preventing the swelling episodes that characterize pregnancy.
- Follow a rich and varied diet, eating healthy and balanced.Tasting very different foods will prepare the baby's taste buds to welcome ever new flavors.
- Drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated and facilitate the formation of teeth in the fetus. Plus, heavy drinking throughout the day will help prevent urinary infections. In this regard, be sure to always urinate both before and after sexual intercourse and to practice proper intimate hygiene.
- Limit sun exposure as much as possible, especially during the hottest hours. The combination of sun rays + hormonal changes could lead to the appearance of some unpleasant spots on the skin. If your pregnancy affects the summer period, remember to wear brimmed hats wide and to apply a protective cream with a very high index (50+) over the whole body several times.
All the exams to be done from the fifteenth week
Below, you will find a complete list of all the tests that can be carried out starting from the fifteenth week of pregnancy. These checks are necessary to monitor the health of the mother and baby as well as the development of the latter.
- Second prenatal visit, in anticipation of which the woman will necessarily have to undergo new blood tests and urine tests.
- Amniocentesis: this is an optional exam for mothers over the age of 35. It can be done between the 15th and 18th week and is used to identify any changes in the chromosomal set of the fetus.
- Toxoplasmosis: it may happen that the doctor has you undergo this test again to check that you do not have this infection.
