At a glance
As baby gets bigger so will you. Moisturise daily to minimise stretch marks.
Move it. Say goodbye to morning sickness and hello to safe, second trimester exercises.
Be aware of sudden weight gain. It may be associated with pre-eclampsia in pregnancy.
Your sex drive and energy might go up a gear. Or down. Every woman is different.
Baby's development at 15 weeks pregnant
At 15 weeks pregnant your little bubba is about the size of a peach. Her body is even covered in a peachy fuzz called lanugo. Thankfully her shape is less peach-like and more human-like. Her legs are now longer than her arms so she’s looking more in proportion.
Baby’s sense of smell is progressing this week as the thorax, aka chest, starts to rise and fall. She’s learning to inhale which is the beginning of her smelling function. She won’t properly smell things until around seven months which is when the nervous system is more mature. And although her eyelids are still fused shut her eye structure has been developing since week eight and by now she’ll be sensitive to light. If you shine a torch on your belly she may even turn away. Wow.
Changes in you and your body at 15 weeks pregnant
You could be feeling pretty good in trimester two. Any morning sickness and tiredness may have lifted so this is a good time to think about second trimester exercises. Swimming, pregnancy yoga, brisk walking or just staying on your feet as much as possible will all build your strength for the birth and afterwards.
Added energy can often go hand in hand with a renewed sex drive - an even more enjoyable way to work out, perhaps? Of course, for some women it’s the last thing on their mind, and a decreased sex drive is perfectly normal too.
If your skin is feeling itchy now, that’s usual. During pregnancy your hormones can soften the fibres of your skin making it more prone to stretch marks, and it’s the stretching of the skin that causes the itch. You can try massaging some unscented oil or cream on your bump, thighs, and arms to soothe the itch. Gaining weight steadily during your pregnancy can help reduce the effect of stretch marks.
Pregnancy nutrition at 15 weeks pregnant
Fingers crossed, morning sickness has eased off, so you’re probably feeling a lot hungrier – this is your body gearing up to provide nutrients for baby. It’s also around now at 15 weeks pregnant you’ll start to notice weight gain. Every pregnant woman gains weight differently so there are no official guidelines for how much weight you should gain. The most important thing is to drink lots of water and have a balanced, fibre-rich pregnancy diet, which will help keep constipation at bay and keep weight gain at a healthy level for you and your baby. Most women put on between 10kg (22lb) and 12.5kg (28lb) during their pregnancy, although this varies from woman to woman.
If you notice drastic or sudden weight gain there is slim chance it could be an indicator of a serious condition called pre-eclampsia.
It’s relatively uncommon and only affects 6% of pregnant women but it’s always worth checking with your doctor to rule it out.
Extra pregnancy screening test options
Some mums might be offered extra optional screening tests, the HSE provide information of what’s involved and to help you decide whether or not to have them.
You’ll also get the chance to go over all the options with your midwife or consultant.
