15 weeks pregnant: how the fetus develops and what happens in the body

The second trimester, which includes the fifteenth week of pregnancy, is considered to be the most comfortable. Now the belly is small enough and does not interfere, there is still a lot of time before childbirth to slowly prepare for them. At this time, the child is already practically a small person, constantly actively developing.

15 week of pregnancy - sensations

The bad mood and irritability that often accompanied you in the first trimester no longer bother you at all. They are replaced by a drowsy state in some women, while others note a surge of extraordinary vigor. Both conditions can be considered normal.

Most pregnant women notice other sensations in themselves at this time:

• Either more or less often you may be bothered by nasal congestion. Rhinitis of pregnancy is associated with hormonal changes. This causes swelling of the nasopharyngeal mucosa, from where all the symptoms of rhinitis appear. This condition is a temporary phenomenon, after childbirth it disappears almost immediately, therefore it does not need any treatment.
• As the uterus rises, the fetus does not put too much pressure on the internal organs. This leads to the normalization of urination and stool.
• The pressure on the diaphragm increases. Therefore, from time to time you may not have enough air.
• Sometimes a feeling of discomfort may appear in the lower abdomen.
• In some women, at 15 weeks, the baby may move. This usually happens with repeated pregnancy or if the woman has a fragile physique.
• Now the child is actively taking calcium from your body, so teeth defects and bleeding gums may appear. If these signs appear, be sure to treat your teeth.

Some girls may have bouts of dizziness or even fainting at 15 weeks. This is due to the increased volume of blood that is constantly circulating in your body. You need to monitor your blood pressure especially closely if you have heart problems.

Periodic abdominal pain can occur due to the constant growth of the uterus. If the pain is mild and does not cause discomfort, then you should not worry. Its cause lies in the tension of the muscles and ligamentous apparatus of the uterus. If there is a pulling pain and contractions on its background, then this is a good reason for a visit to the doctor. It is especially worthwhile to be on your guard if at the same time appear excretions with blood. This may indicate a threat of spontaneous miscarriage.

Belly at 15 weeks pregnant

Now you can notice that the belly has increased in size even more. This is due to the fact that both the fetus and the uterus are constantly growing. Pregnancy can already be noticed by the people around you. True, in some women, abdominal enlargement only begins at the fifteenth week. And up to this point, it was noticeable that the future mom was just a little fat in the waist area.

It is during these periods that ultrasound examination is carried out. Moreover, during the procedure, you can see and learn a lot of interesting things about the fetus. Now, with some luck (if the baby is turned accordingly to the apparatus), you can examine his genitals and find out gender.

If there are serious suspicions of developmental abnormalities or the presence of some kind of genetic defects, the doctor may recommend an amniocentesis. With a similar procedure, a small puncture of the fetal bladder is made and a certain amount of amniotic fluid is taken for examination. This procedure is quite dangerous and can cause negative consequences. Therefore, it is carried out only in such cases, if there are no other research options left.

15 weeks pregnant - what happens to the baby

The circulatory system of the future baby is already quite well developed and is capable of pumping about twenty liters of blood daily. His heart makes up to 160 beats per minute. The baby's skin is still extremely thin and reddish due to translucent blood vessels and insufficient fatty layer. But with all this, it perfectly performs thermoregulatory tasks, since it is protected by a light fluff and a special lubricating layer.

By this time, the size of the baby from the tailbone to the crown is about 100 mm, and its weight increases to 70 g. At the same time, the head of the fetus is still quite large in comparison with the rest of the body. But the arms and legs are proportionally extended. The skeleton and bones of the fetus become stronger. He is quite active and often turns over in the amniotic fluid.

Now the process of functioning of the baby's gallbladder begins. Its contents enter the intestines. For this reason, the baby's original feces are black and green. The crumbs' bladder is also actively working. He urinates regularly in the amniotic fluid.

But, despite the active metabolism of the child, the amniotic fluid remains clean and sterile for him. The reason is their constant updating. This process occurs about ten times during one day. Because of this, amniotic fluid provides an ideal habitat for the unborn baby and protects it from external infections.

At this time, your baby already has a well-developed hearing, so you can and even need to constantly talk to him. He will hear your voice and your heartbeat.