By the time you're 15 weeks pregnant, it’s safe to say that your pregnancy is in full swing; your first trimester is in the rearview mirror, you’ll likely start to feel better than you did during the first months of your pregnant (yay!), and your baby is growing and changing more every day.
So what, exactly, can you expect when you’re 15 weeks pregnant? Here’s what you need to know.
How You’re Feeling at 15 Weeks
The good news about hitting 15 weeks is that many of the challenges you faced in the first trimester—like morning sickness—will be dissipating. By 15 weeks, “first trimester nausea and vomiting should be resolving,” says Dr. Greg Marchand, OB-GYN and founder of the Marchand Institute for Minimally Invasive Surgery.
Many moms-to-be also take a sigh of relief at the 15-week mark thanks to a decreased risk of miscarriage after the first trimester.1 “The 15th week is when the risk of miscarriage drops significantly,” says Dr. Marchand.
While there’s plenty to celebrate at 15 weeks, there are also symptoms you can expect around this point in your pregnancy. According to Dr. Matthew Casavant, board-certified OB-GYN and founder of Florida-based South Lake OB/GYN & Advanced Surgery, common symptoms around week 15 include:
- Mild swelling in the feet and ankles
- Nasal congestion
- Occasional headaches.
You can also expect muscle cramps and continuing weight gain—and, in addition, “some women may experience round ligament pain due to the stretching of the uterus,” says Casavant. As your uterus gets bigger during pregnancy, your round ligaments grow and can spasm, causing pain in your lower abdomen or groin.
Some pregnant people may, unfortunately, experience hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of morning sickness that can continue past the first trimester.2 Depending on the severity, hyperemesis gravidarum could cause dehydration that may require IV fluids and increase certain pregnancy risks—so if the nausea and vomiting continues into your 2nd trimester, make sure to talk to your doctor.
What’s New With Your Baby
At 15 weeks, “the baby is about 4 inches long and weighs around 2.5 ounces,” says Casavant. (If you need a visual, that’s about the size of an orange or small grapefruit).
In addition to growing in size, there are also a lot of changes happening with your baby’s development around 15 weeks.
For example, in week 15, “the baby’s skeletal system continues to develop,” says Casavant.
This is also the week when organs (like the ears and intestines) start moving to their permanent location—and, even though the baby is still dependent on amniotic fluid for breathing, it’s at this point that their lungs start to develop.3
15 weeks is also a point where your baby might start to wiggle around a bit (although you likely won’t actually feel that wiggling for another few weeks). “ may start to move around, although these movements might not yet be felt,” says Casavant.
Your Week 15 To-Do List
Want to make sure you’re taking the best care of yourself—and your baby—through week 15? Here are some things to keep in mind.
1. Get the right nutrients
Getting the right nutrients is critical at every point of your pregnancy—and that includes at week 15.
This week. “focus on iron-rich foods like lean meats and leafy greens to support increased blood volume,” says Casavant.
You’ll also want to make sure you’re getting enough calcium and vitamin D. “Calcium and vitamin D are also crucial for the baby's developing bones,” says Casasvant.
To ensure that you get those nutrients, “eat a balanced diet” says Casavant. Focus on eating a variety of nutrient-dense foods to get the nutrition you need to support your growing baby. (And don’t forget to stay hydrated!)
2. Hydrate and take your prenatals
Your diet plays an important role in getting the nutrients you need to support your pregnancy. But taking the right prenatals—and the nutrients they deliver—is just as important.
Perelel’s 2nd Trimester Prenatal Pack was designed by a team of leading OB-GYNs to deliver the optimal nutrition you need at week 15 of your pregnancy, including a prenatal vitamin, calcium, magnesium, and DHA + EPA (omega-3 fatty acids). The 2nd Trimester Prenatal Pack:
- Support’s baby’s skeletal development
- Eases muscle cramps and supports relaxation
- Supports brain development
- Builds strong teeth and bones
- Provides optimal nutrition
Make sure that you’re taking your prenatals on a regular schedule during week 15 (and beyond)—and getting yourself (and your baby!) the nutrients you need to thrive.
3. Exercise
When you’re pregnant, exercise can sometimes feel like the last thing you want to do. But now that you’re through the first trimester and are (hopefully!) feeling more energetic, make sure to “maintain moderate exercise, such as walking or prenatal yoga,” says Casavant.
Exercising during pregnancy offers a variety of benefits, including:
- Reducing back pain
- Easing constipation
- Promoting health weight gain
- Improving overall fitness
Regular exercise during pregnancy may also decrease your risk of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and birth via C-section.4
4. Stay on top of your appointments
As you move through your 15th week—and all the other weeks of your pregnancy—make sure to stay on top of any doctor’s appointments. “Attend regular prenatal checkups to monitor progress and address any concerns,” says Casavant.
5. Celebrate your progress
Finally, your last item to check off your 15 week to-do list? Celebrate yourself! “Stay positive that you've made it through the first trimester,” says Marchand.
Making it through the first trimester can be a challenge—so now that you’re over that hump and have landed squarely in your second trimester, make sure to take a minute to recognize how far you’ve come and give yourself a pat on the back (or belly) for how you’re taking care of yourself and your baby.
References:
- Miscarriage risk for asymptomatic women after a normal first-trimester prenatal visit.
- Hyperemesis Gravidarum.
- Cleveland Clinic: Fetal Development.
