Pregnancy Week 15

Written by Lone Parenting Advisor

During pregnancy week 15 the experience should be plain sailing now as the energy that you once lacked is now fully restored, and then some.

The sudden nosebleeds or gums bleeding when brushing teeth should start to subside this week as the changes to the level of the hormone progesterone are almost complete in the placenta.

Clothing may still need to be loosened for comfort and ease of mobility. The feelings of being fat should also start to subside now as you are more aware that you are with child due to the fluttering sensations in your tummy.

Although some people say that it is not possible until weeks 18 - 22 of pregnancy to feel the baby, I disagree, it is still very possible to feel the foetus in the fifteenth week of pregnancy, however small the flutters of the baby are.

Foetal Development

The foetus will probably now weigh approximtely 90 grams now and should measure up to and around 12cm in length as the growth is happening constantly.

The rapid growth of the foetus is ongoing and the head of the foetus should still be growing faster than the rest of the body. During examination at pregnancy week 15 your midwife should be able to locate and find the fundus (top of the uterus) almost halfway between the naval and pelvic bone.

The umbilical cord has started its formation during week 15 of pregnancy. The umbilical cord conists of one vein and two arteries wrapped up in a tough jelly like substance often referred to as Whartons Jelly.

The amniotic fluid fills up around the foetus allowing freedom and comfort to float around and most importantly stretch out and wriggle.

The foetus is becoming able to make and form facial expressions due to the formation of the vocal chords, this can be noticed on ultrasound scans if the foetus is looking in the correct direction.

Tiny hands and fingers can now stretch out and grasp around them, do not be alarmed if your baby wants to explore you properly, their tiny fingers can feel around the uterus and should you gently press your tummy then you can communicate with your fifteen week old baby, thoroughly amazing concept, but do remember to be gentle.

Ultrasound

The crown to rump length of the foetus will now be around 9cm in length during pregnancy, week 15.

The doppler device will be used to measure and monitor the heartbeat of the baby with much more clearly defined results at this stage of pregnancy.