The fifteenth week of pregnancy is the second week of your second trimester. You are still gaining weight and you will have added around five pounds while your fetus weighs around four ounces. During this week nausea has lessened but new symptoms are popping up.
Your Baby at Week 15.
During week 15, your baby is now looking more like a human baby with the eyes coming to the front part of the face and the ears starting to develop. The eyelids are still shut but the foetus is now responding to light. The ears are developing bones that are responsible for hearing; your baby can now hear your heartbeat and voice.
Changes are occurring rapidly during this period with the foetus now using its arms and legs to fidget and kick in the womb. Your baby is now five inches long which is the size of an orange.
Symptoms
As you might have noticed, every week brings new body changes and some of these symptoms are;
● More weight gain
● Bloating
● Darkening of the skin around the nipples
● Headaches
● Sensitive gums
● Nosebleeds
Exercise
An increase in weight gain should not bother you but you can still maintain your body and keep healthy with an exercise routine. Some of the light exercises you can try;
● Walking
● Stretching
● Swimming
What can you do during this time to ensure your baby stays healthy?
Avoid Alcohol & Smoking
For healthy foetal development, avoid alcohol and tobacco intake into your bloodstream. Also if you are under any medication, please inform your health practitioner.
Non-invasive blood tests
A visit to your clinic will have you doing many tests to ensure your baby is safe. During this week, your doctor may draw out some amniotic fluid to test for chromosomal abnormalities which may cause down syndrome.
Genetic screening is advisable for women over the age of 35 years.
Oral hygiene
To ensure your teeth are free from cavities and infections from swollen gums, you should maintain high oral hygiene. This includes regular dental visits, brushing your teeth at least twice a day and gently flossing.
Visit Jacaranda Maternity hospital at Umoja branch (Wallet centre, opposite Shujaa Mall) or Kahawa West branch (Kamiti road, Kiamumbi, Chief’s stage) for your antenatal clinic. The Midwife will take you through the danger signs, plan for your OGTT visit (Oral Glucose Tolerance tests for elevated blood sugar levels, which could indicate Gestational Diabetes) and book you for a nutrition clinic
Comments