Pregnancy Week 15
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Your Baby's Growth and Development
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Congratulations! During pregnancy week 15 your baby is a whopping 4.5 inches long (roughly) and may weigh as much as 1 ½ ounces. While this doesn't sound like much it is a significant change from the tiny being your baby was just a few short weeks ago. Remember each week of your pregnancy from here on out your baby continues to grow at an amazing pace.
During pregnancy week 15 specifically your baby is working hard to grow blood vessels. During pregnancy week 15 and beyond a fine substance called lanugo begins to cover your baby's body, except for her palms, soles of her feet, lips, genitals and nails. Most babies will have lanugo until roughly the eighth month of pregnancy when this fine substance starts to shed. Some babies however will have a little lanugo even at birth.
This fine hair helps protect your baby's body. Did you know some baby's start sucking their thumb as early as pregnancy week 15? It's true! Your baby's bones are also becoming harder during pregnancy week 15. By this time your baby is filling his days practicing inhaling and exhaling. While your baby's lungs are far from developed, this practice is very important for their birth day!
Changes In Your Body
By pregnancy week 15 your tummy starts to looked quite bloated. Your uterus will rise past your hip bones by about pregnancy week 15. Very soon your practitioner may start measuring your uterus taking fundal height measurements. This measurement helps reaffirm your due date and typically correlates with the weeks you are in your pregnancy. Most doctors won't start measuring your fundal height however until roughly 20 weeks pregnant.
You are probably experiencing some other unexpected side effects. One of the more humorous side effects I often noticed around pregnancy week 15 was increasing salivation. Excessive salivation is a common but not often talked about side effect of pregnancy. While not alarming or concerning in any way, it is very inconvenient at best sometimes.
Many women also start noticing their nose is more stuffed up than usual during pregnancy week 15 and beyond. This may not be because of a cold, but rather the result of increasing levels of estrogen circulating throughout your body. This causes swelling in the mucous membranes during pregnancy.
I often found throughout my pregnancies that my nose was most stuffed up in the evenings and mornings. Fortunately there are a few simple strategies you can adopt to help combat a stuffy nose. Good examples include using a vaporizer at night to help infuse a little moisture in the air. If you can afford a high quality air filter, this may help as well.
Of course, sometimes a stuffy nose is nothing more than a sign of a dreaded cold. Keep in mind that pregnant women are more susceptible to many common illnesses and viral infections including colds during pregnancy. While unpleasant, this is a reality most pregnant women have to face. Remember your immune system is slightly compromised during pregnancy.
You can help reduce your risk of catching a cold or the flu by washing your hands as much as possible during pregnancy.
One way to help bolster your immune system during pregnancy is to sleep more, not less. If you find you have a difficult time sleeping, one tool you can use to help clear your sinuses is simply running hot, steamy water under a sink and then placing your head above the steam with a towel. Just don’t get too warm, do this for a couple of minutes to help reduce phlegm. Then, get as much sleep as possible, as we all feel best after sleeping. If you find sleeping difficult, consider investing in a Snoozer Full Body Pregnancy Pillow. These amazingly adaptable pillows can easily be positioned to lift your head and neck slightly above your chest, so you are less likely to feel congested when sleeping. You can also use a pregnancy pillow to curl up on the couch, and later after you deliver for nursing. Aside from using pregnancy pillows to help you sleep, one last tool you may use is a nice humidifier in the room you sleep in at night. You might consider talking with your doctor to see if it is safe to add some aromatherapy oils that help alleviate congestion. Some oils are not safe however, during pregnancy, so be certain you consult with your doctor first.
Once your stuffy nose clears (and it will) you will reap the benefits of owning one of the world’s most comfortable pregnancy pillows ever created! Why not enjoy it, sleep more and cuddle up with another loved one.
Urinary Tract Infections During Pregnancy
Urinary tract infections or UTIs are quite common during pregnancy. Pregnant women are more vulnerable to UTIs in part because their ureters relax more during pregnancy due to rising levels of progesterone. This can increase your risk of developing a urinary tract infection, as can compression of the ureters from the uterus, leading to more slowly moving urine throughout the bladder. This gives bacteria more time to accumulate and concentrate in the urine.
Fortunately most healthcare providers screen regularly for urinary tract infections during pregnancy. When treated early and correctly a urinary tract infection poses little risk to a pregnant women. If left untreated however, a UTI can lead to a dangerous kidney infection.
Be sure you tell your doctor if you have any signs of a urinary tract infection during pregnancy, including lower abdominal pain, back pain, pain when urinating or cloudy or bloody urine. With prompt treatment you will soon start feeling much better!
Read next about your baby's growth and development, as well as the changes in your body during pregnancy week 16.
