Information About 15 Week of Pregnancy

You are fifteen weeks along now. With each day you may be getting more and more anxious to find out what your baby’s gender will be. You may be curious if she is going to look like you or look like dad. It won’t be too much longer before you can find out your baby’s gender on ultrasound, that is, if your doctor agrees to check for gender and your baby cooperates. You may have your own mother’s instinct about your baby’s gender or your partner may have instincts of his own.

You may have read some of the pregnancy wives’ tales. Even though they are by no means reliable, they are still a lot of fun to read about. In this week’s newsletter we are going to tell you all about the old pregnancy wives’ tales. We are also going to have a little fun with genetics 101 and see if we can help you predict what your baby might look like.

Baby’s Development

The baby is around 4 inches long and weighs around 1.75 ounces by now. The reddish and wrinkled skin gets covered with fine hair called LanugoLanugo, though experts say that each baby develops differently even in the womb. This Lanugo enables the baby to maintain a constant body temperature and it almost disappears by the time the baby is born. The baby can swallow food and hear you and other sounds by now. You might be able to feel moments of activity and periods of rest as the baby moves, kicks, sleeps and wakes. You might notice some fluttering movements but they might not be so profound.

The baby can grasp, squint, frown, grimace and suck the thumb at this stage. The skin is very thin and the blood vessels are visible. The baby’s legs have grown longer than the arms and the body is now longer than the head. Fingernails and toenails are growing and the eyebrows develop including some hair growth on the head. The baby has taste buds and can develop hiccups from time to time. The three little bones in the middle ear start hardening. The auditory centers in the baby’s brain do not develop so soon so the baby might not understand what he/she hears but the hearing capacity is developing very rapidly now. The amniotic liquid that surrounds the baby carries external sounds to travel to the baby especially the mother’s heart beat, stomach and voice.

At this stage of pregnancy, many women begin to wonder about pregnancy weight gain. On an average most women gain around 5 pounds of weight by now which is quite less compared to the end of the pregnancy which is around 25-30pounds. Gaining a little more or less does not matter as the amount varies from person to person however if the weight gain or loss is significantly higher or lower than this you can consult the doctor. You can discuss your diet with the medical practitioner and what to include or exclude depending on the requirement. You can feel the top of your uterus four to five inches below the belly button. The healthcare provider will by now start measuring your fundal height at the prenatal appointments which is the distance between the top of the pubic bone to the top of the uterus.

Larger clinics may chart this to measure the growth. This can help to give an insight into the position of the baby such as normal or breech position. In a breech position the fundal height will be slightly high while a low fundal height can signify a sideways position. You might feel the ligaments stretching in your abdomen as the uterus expands and this can cause cramps, twinges or pulling sensations on one or both sides of your abdomen. You can soak in a warm water bath to reduce the cramps.

There are a number of common bacterial infections that occur in pregnancy like urinary tract infection, bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections. Bacterial vaginosis can increase the risk of preterm labor and preterm rupture of the amniotic membranes surrounding the baby hence this needs to be treated with antibiotics prescribed by your practitioner. A urinary tract infection can lead to a kidney infection that can make you seriously ill and increase your risk of preterm labor. A yeast infection in a new born baby is called as a thrush which is not serious and can be easily treated.

You can avoid these infections by wearing clean and breathable clothes, avoiding tight fitting clothes and undergarments especially as the pregnancy advances, avoid soaking for long periods of time in a bath tub or swimming in unclean swimming pools during pregnancy, avoiding sprays and perfumed soaps, avoid ignoring the urge to urinate and drink 8 to 9 glasses of water a day.

Changes With Your Body

Weight gain is always a concern with pregnant women. By this week in pregnancy women gain an approximately 5 pounds. You may have gained more than that. But is nothing to worry about if you are a pound or two over. At the end of the pregnancy an average between 25 to 35 pounds are usually gained but you hear stories of women who have gained 40, 50 or even 60 pounds. Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns about weight gain.

You can actually feel the top of your uterus about four to five inches below the belly. The doctor will start measuring your belly at the appointments until the end of your pregnancy. This is called the Fundal Height, this is used to measure and monitor the baby’s growth and even the position of the baby. The doctor can get an idea if the baby is in the breech position, as you get further along.

You may start to feel the ligaments stretching in your abs. The uterus will expand and cause cramps. You may feel some twitches or a pulling sensation to one or both sides of the abdomen. This is normal but it is your body and your pregnancy and if you have the slightest concern call your doctor right away. Taking a warm bath can help alleviate the pains. Never take any over the counter or prescription medication without consulting with your doctor first.

You will want to be careful of some common bacterial infections that many women come down with during pregnancy. Urinary Tract infections, Bacterial Vaginosis and Yeast Infections. Urinary Tract and Yeast Infections are common to some women without being pregnant. Buy bacterial Vaginosis can cause pre term delivery and a rupture to the amniotic membrane that surround the baby. Tract and Yeast Infections can cause kidney infections if they are not taken care of. Visit your doctor right away if you think you could have any of these infections. They can be treated, never take any over the counter medication before talking to your doctor.

To prevent these infections wear clean clothes every day and wear loose fitting clothes. Try not to spend too much time in bodies of water including the swimming pool or the bathtub avoid hot tubs altogether. Stay away from perfumes and body sprays. Stay hydrated by drinking at least 8 to 9 glasses of fluids a day.

Week 15 Pregnancy Symptoms

Heartburn Or Indigestion

Now that you’re hungrier, you may find that eating large amounts of food in one sitting can lead to heartburn or indigestion. Guard against gastrointestinal discomfort by eating several small meals throughout the day (rather than three large ones) so as not to overload your digestive system.

Flatulence

The hormones relaxin and progesterone are relaxing the muscles in your body (including those in your gastrointestinal tract), causing gassiness. Avoid gas-inducing foods such as broccoli, cabbage, beans, and fried foods.

Bloating

The hormones that are causing your gastrointestinal system to relax and produce gas can also lead to bloating. A solution you’ll enjoy: Take time out to relax and get pampered (massage, pedicure, you name it) because tension can also cause you to swallow air, both during meals and during the day increasing bloat.

Occasional Headaches

Headaches during pregnancy can be caused by just about anything hormones, fatigue, stress. To lessen your pain, place a cool compress on your forehead or on the back of your neck and sit in a dark, quiet room.

Occasional Faintness or Dizziness

If you can’t find a place to lie down or sit when you feel light-headed, kneel and bend your head forward as though you were tying your shoe. This will help prevent you from fainting and taking a spill.

Varicose Veins

The good news about varicose veins? They’re unlikely to cause any harm. Plus, their presence is a good excuse to sit down and kick back with your feet up, since elevating your legs helps keep blood circulating and reduces pressure on the veins in your legs.

Lower Abdominal Achiness

As the muscles and ligaments that support your growing uterus stretch, you might notice some pain on the lower sides of your belly (technically called round ligament pain). This is perfectly normal but if the pain becomes severe, let your practitioner know.

Tips/Advice

You should be attending all of your doctor’s appointments and listening to all of the doctors’ recommendations. Continue taking your vitamins and try to eat a bit healthier. There are plenty of books out there and websites that you can check out when it comes to eating right. Now that you have entered into your second trimester, you can start to look for baby names without worrying. Relax and have fun, you only get 9 months to enjoy the pregnancy.