Pregnancy is an exciting journey with many changes in you and your growing baby. Each semester marks a new dawn in this journey, with new milestones for you and your baby. One of the ways you can keep up with this journey and monitor your well-being and that of your baby is through regular ultrasounds. The 15-week ultrasound can reveal quite a bit about you, your baby, and how the pregnancy is progressing.
What is Happening to Your Body at 15 Weeks Pregnant?
At 15 weeks, your baby is growing rapidly and comes with extra packaging, such as the amniotic sac and fluid. They also have their own food supply through the placenta.
At this stage, you might start experiencing some odd japing pain on the sides of your tummy. This is known as round ligament pain. You can manage this pain by putting up your feet and resting.
Your skin might also start feeling itchy. Using unperfumed moisturizer, wearing loose cotton clothing, and having a cool bath can help. If the itching gets worse, especially at night, you can talk to your doctor about how to manage it.
You might also notice some discharge in your pants. It’s common among many women. During this time, there is more blood flowing around your pelvic area, and that can cause your body to produce more leucorrhoea, a milky fluid that keeps your vagina clean and free from infection. While this discharge might not be a concern, there are some instances in which a discharge could be a concern, such as:
- If the colour of the discharge changes. It should be clear, white or creamy
- If the discharge has a bad smell. It should smell slightly musky, not strongly of fish or anything else
- If the texture of the discharge changes. If it starts going frothy or looks like cottage cheese
- You experience pain when urinating
- Do you feel itchy or sore
At 15 weeks of pregnancy, your immunity is still compromised, and you might have a vaginal infection which is likely to be thrush. This is a common yeast infection.
Signs of thrush include a white discharge, itching around your vagina and stinging when you have sex or urinate.
You can prevent thrush by wearing loose cotton underwear, using unperfumed soap or body wash and abstaining from sex until the infection has cleared up.
What’s Happening to Your Baby at 15 Weeks
The ultrasound captures some of your baby’s development at 15 weeks, while others cannot. Some of the ones that will be captured in your 15-week ultrasound include the size and shape of the baby, and the sonographer can also determine the baby’s weight.
How big is the baby?
At week 15, you’re probably starting to look pregnant. Your baby is growing bigger much faster each week. The baby can be as big as 4 inches and weighs as much as an apple or a pear.
From the ultrasound, you will also notice that your baby is starting to look more like a baby. The ears are positioned properly on the sides of the head, and the eyes are moving from the side of the head to the front of the face.
There are other details the ultrasound might not be able to pick up, but they are still happening to our baby. By this time, the baby is working on their breathing, sucking and swallowing motions. They also exercise by kicking, curling their toes and moving their arms. But you might not feel the foetal movements because they are only a few inches tall.
At week 15, the baby’s tastebuds are also developing, and nerves begin to connect them to the brain. By about 20 weeks, the tastebuds will have fully formed. During pregnancy, molecules of what you eat will pass through the bloodstream and make it to your amniotic fluid. However, the baby can’t taste what you’re eating, so don’t worry about them not liking what you have at supper.
Another interesting development to look out for during your 15-week ultrasound is your baby’s heartbeat. This week, we can use the Doppler to hear your baby’s heartbeat clearly, which is one of the most amazing experiences for most parents.
Pregnancy Symptoms During Week 15
Most nagging early pregnancy symptoms will subside once you enter the second trimester. However, new symptoms might also start popping up, such as:
Nasal congestion
Hormonal changes that will lead to increased blood flow to your mucus membranes can cause you to have a stuffed nose, which is quite common. It is so common it has a name for it: rhinitis of pregnancy. You can get relief from the condition by using a humidifier or vaporiser in your room at night. You can also try elevating your head with extra pillows when you sleep and drink plenty of fluids. Saline nasal sprays can also help. However, you should not use decongestants or other medication during pregnancy without taking it to your health provider first.
Nose bleeds
A congested nose isn’t the only challenge at week 15. Thanks to the increased blood volume and blood vessel expansion in the nose, a considerable number of women will also have nosebleeds at this stage of the pregnancy.
The nosebleeds are usually harmless. However, if they are frequent, you should consider notifying your healthcare provider. If the flow is heavy and doesn’t stop after 30 minutes of applying pressure, you should also visit the nearest medical facility.
Heartburn
Heartburn, or a burning sensation in your chest, is quite common during pregnancy and usually happens after eating or at night. You may experience heartburn for the first time during pregnancy due to the physical and hormonal changes, largely progesterone. Heartburns are usually harmless but can be uncomfortable. Luckily, they are easily manageable.
Swollen gums
If your gums bleed when you brush or floss, there’s no need to be alarmed. It is another symptom of pregnancy. About half of pregnant women will have swollen, red, and tender gums because of pregnancy gingivitis, a mild form of gingivitis. It’s partly caused by hormonal changes that make your gums more sensitive to bacteria in plaque.
Brush twice daily and visit the dentist for a checkup and cleaning. However, make sure you tell the staff you’re expecting.
Weight gain
This is perhaps the most common pregnancy symptom in week 15. You may have said goodbye to food aversions and nausea, but you can finally start enjoying food again. You may add some weight for the rest of your pregnancy to keep up with the extra calorie demand.
Conclusion
Getting a 15-week pregnancy scan can be a great way to meet your baby in its true form. You can see your baby’s different features, including its limbs and head, and even get a clear heartbeat.
