15 Weeks Pregnant – Pregnancy Symptoms and Baby Development

What’s new this week?

Your body

Physically, you’re probably feeling great at this stage of your pregnancy — and hooray for that! But emotionally, you may be in a somewhat awkward body image phase. A lot has to do with being in preggie limbo: Your belly is definitely bigger than usual, but maybe not to the point where you’re visibly showing off to the world. Result: You just feel a little fat. It really helps to talk about it with other mom friends — because chances are they’ve gone through that same schlumpy feeling themselves. It’s always good to know that you’re not the only pregnant woman on the planet who worries about such things. Oh, by the way, don’t think you’re superficial about it either! The body you’ve known and lived with for decades is going through some important new changes. It wouldn’t be normal not to have a few mini freak-out moments on the whole! Know that you will soon reach a point where everyone will be oozing and ahhing over your totally adorable baby bump. And look for other ways to cheer yourself up, like treating yourself to a facial, pedicure, some cute pregnancy duds, or a long soak in a warm bath. (Read here 5 Tips for Managing Your Weight Gain During Pregnancy)

during you first trimesterIn fact, your body really didn’t need more calories than usual — and honestly, eating a few Saltines and some ginger ale might have been all you could do. But from now on you have to eat more, girl! You probably know that the “eat for two” advice your own mother may have followed is a myth. You don’t have to double your daily calorie intake. If you started at a healthy weight, you really only need to add about 300 calories per day. That’s the equivalent of a cup of yogurt and a banana. Your healthcare provider can give you more details about your specific needs and how you can adjust your diet to meet them. But generally speaking, a few extra bites here and there are really all you need. Did someone say dark chocolate? (Read here Diet tips to eat healthy during pregnancy)

DID YOU KNOW?

4-4¼ inches

Height of your baby

2-2½ ounces

Weight of your baby Gewicht

Orange

Size of your baby

your baby

At this point, your baby’s skin is very thin, so much so that blood vessels are visible beneath the surface. His body is also covered in a fine, fluffy hair called lanugo, which will fall out as your baby gets closer to full-term pregnancy. The heart is now pumping about 25 liters of blood a day, and by this week it may also start sucking its thumb in the womb (which you might see on future ultrasounds – too cute!).

Your life right now

Your doctor can schedule you for the: maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) screening. This blood test is now commonly known as the triple or quadruple screen and is usually performed between weeks 15 and 20 of pregnancy. MSAFP measures levels of certain substances in the mother’s blood that are linked to genetic disorders, birth defects and pregnancy complications in the baby. Usually, if abnormally high or low levels are detected, follow-up with ultrasound and amniocentesis may be recommended for a definitive diagnosis. The MSAFP test is safe, but it can produce false results. For example, while 50 out of 1,000 women will have abnormal results for Down syndrome, only one or two of those women will eventually have a baby with the defect. For the majority of women, normal test results usually indicate a healthy pregnancy and perhaps some post-pregnancy relief first trimester anxiety.

How have you been sleeping lately? At this point in your pregnancy, even if you were a champion snoozer, you may find it difficult to sit comfortably at night, especially if you’ve always been a stomach sleeper. It may take some getting used to to get used to your side. And you may also notice that you wake up more during the night. It helps to keep your bedroom dark and cool. Avoiding caffeine from midday and getting regular exercise can also improve your sleep. (Read here Benefits Of Yoga During Pregnancy) Some women also find that the long body pillows or tummy tucks commonly used later in pregnancy help them sleep better now, too. Play around and see what works. Mom needs her beauty rest!