Pregnancy Week 15
Your baby is getting bigger and bigger every day and is now outgrowing your pelvis. This means you will be able to feel your uterus growing up and out from above your pubic bone.
If you’re a front-sleeper, this probably won’t be as comfortable as you are used to. You may want to adjust to sleeping on your side, which is the best position for later in pregnancy. If you’ve been pregnant before, you may have been showing for a while – remember to get lots of photographs of your bump as it grows.
If you are not already registered with a dentist now is the time to find one. You are entitled to free NHS dental treatment during pregnancy and for one year following the arrival of your baby so make sure you use it.
Pregnancy can take its toll on your teeth so take extra care whilst brushing and use a soft brush. You may experience bleeding and sore gums so it is really important to brush and floss your teeth regularly.
Some women also experience nose bleeds because they have more blood flowing around their body and the increased volume can cause blood vessels in the nose to rupture. While this is not pleasant, it is not usually something to worry about.
As your body shape changes and your bump grows bigger, you may feel less stable and become unbalanced more easily. Do what you can to avoid situations where you might fall. For example, try to sit down wherever possible on public transport. You can even order a Baby on Board badge from Transport for London to encourage other passengers to give you a seat if it’s busy.
You might sometimes notice some jabbing pains or twinges at the side of your bump- this is usually due to your ligaments stretching and putting your feet up and resting will help.
As your skin is stretching, you might notice some mild itching. If you are feeling itchy, use a plain, unscented moisturiser, wear loose clothing in natural fibres like cotton and have a cooling bath.
Seek medical advice if the itching is intense or gets worse at night. You should also speak to your midwife or doctor if you are experiencing itching on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet.
What will my baby be like at 15 weeks?
Your baby now weighs about 70g and is around 10.2cm in length – a similar size to an apple. They will be practicing swallowing amniotic fluid and sometimes this will give them hiccups. As your baby gets bigger, you will actually notice these hiccups, which will feel like small, rhythmic, jerking movements which continue for a while before stopping.
Your little one’s eyelashes and eyebrows are now beginning to develop, alongside a soft layer of hair on their skin called lanugo. This is also an important time for their senses – their eyes can detect light and they can now hear too – so make sure you talk lots to your baby.
They will be able to hear your voice and it will be a familiar sound to them when they are born. Their daily womb soundtrack will also include your heartbeat and any noises made by your digestive system.
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