15 weeks pregnant: Baby’s development, symptoms and top tips

Your baby at 15 weeks pregnant is about 10 cm from head to bottom. Their little legs are growing longer and their range of movement is increasing. The head no longer looks quite so out of proportion as the rest of the body catches up.

Hair and eyebrows have started to sprout. Your baby's eyes haven't opened yet, but they can already sense bright light from outside the womb. They’re also starting to hear, so make sure you and your partner are talking to your baby so that they can get to know your voices. Your heartbeat is their constant soundtrack, together with the noises made by your digestive system.

You should be feeling much brighter now, and finally past the nausea and vomiting of the first trimester. You will probably still feel aches and pains – particularly in your abdomen, where your round ligaments are stretching to accommodate your growing uterus – but perhaps also in your back as your breasts get bigger and start to weigh you down!

Pilates is a great way to build core strength – and the more of that you have, the better. Working on your core now will stand you in good stead for the later months of your pregnancy, as well as all the months after that you spend lifting, carrying and curled up around your baby.

Your body changes

You may be a little more curvy these days, as well as having a noticeable bump. Doctors and midwives don’t worry too much about how much weight you've gained at this point, unless you are very over- or under-weight. The average weight gain during pregnancy is usually somewhere between 10-12kg (22-28lb). If you’re interested in how much weight you might gain during pregnancy, check out our weight chart.

Optimism

You'll be doing just fine in week 15, as your hormones put you in such a good mood that you may well feel like grinning from ear to ear. Your thoughts will be determined by this optimism, but also by a certain maternal cautiousness.

It's still a bit early to be able to feel your baby’s movements, but you’re doing everything you can for their wellbeing. After all, you’ll be thinking about little else other than the tiny person inside you who you’ll soon be cradling in your arms.

Discharge and thrush

More vaginal discharge than usual is not unusual at this point in your pregnancy. Your body might be producing more leucorrhoea – a clear, white or creamy fluid that keeps your vagina clean and free from infection. If it smells bad, changes texture, or you have pain when you pee or itching/soreness in the general area, see your doctor or midwife. It could be a sign of thrush.

Indigestion and heartburn

As your internal organs make room for your expanding uterus, you might find yourself getting more indigestion and heartburn. Though uncomfortable, this isn’t anything to worry about, and it shouldn’t be too bothersome until your bump grows much bigger. If it’s a real problem, it could be something you’re eating isn’t agreeing with you. Some people find that foods they used to have no problem with suddenly become troublesome during pregnancy. Try keeping a food diary to see if you can identify what’s setting off the symptoms.

Read our guide to staying healthy in pregnancy for more information about common symptoms.

Darkened patches on your skin

Up to 50% of women are affected by chloasma, the appearance of darkened patches of skin during pregnancy. It’s more common in women of colour and those who tan easily. This is not a skin infection, nor should you be worried it will develop into skin cancer. It’s just another way the body reacts to pregnancy. It gets worse with UV exposure, so make sure you’re using a high-factor sun protection lotion, especially on your face. Often, the marks that appear during pregnancy fade after the birth.

Easing back pain

Is your back hurting? Back pain is a common symptom of both pregnancy and parenthood. To prevent injury, take up regular, gentle exercise like pregnancy yoga or Pilates to strengthen your back and abdominals. If you have a desk-based job, make sure you take regular breaks to get up and walk around, and make time around work or on your lunch break to get out and about.

Listening to music

Sharing music with your baby can be a relaxing experience for you both. You don’t need to put headphones on your belly – they’ll hear the music you’re playing the same way they hear your voice when you’re speaking. Don’t turn it up too loud; there is some evidence to suggest that baby’s hearing can be damaged inside the womb by loud noises outside it.

You might like to try playing a song on repeat that you want to use at bedtimes or to calm them once they’re out in the world. It could be they’ll recognise it and respond! Of course, this only works if you’re relaxing while you listen – so get yourself into a nice, calming bedtime routine too. Whenever you’re relaxed, your baby will feel the benefit too.

Sex during pregnancy

Sex during pregnancy won’t hurt the baby. In fact, the baby won’t know that it’s happening at all. Sometimes your partner needs reassurance that this is the case, so make sure you’re keeping those lines of communication open at all times.

Try not to let worries about your body image affect your romantic relationship with your partner – or how you feel about yourself. Your body is doing something amazing, and it’s normal for it to look and feel different during this time.

Everyone’s sex drive is different, so don’t expect your pregnancy to follow a specific trend. Some people find they are more ‘up for it’ in the second trimester. Some people are not. Either way, talk to your partner about how you’re feeling and find a path to intimacy that works for you both.

Questions for your doctor or midwife

You should have a midwife appointment coming up next week. If you haven’t already, take some time this week to think of questions you’d like to ask. They might ask if you’ve given any further thought to a birth plan, so this might be something you’d like to research and discuss.

If you do have questions for your midwife, write them down and hand them over at the start of your appointment. This way you can be sure you won’t leave the appointment with any questions unanswered.

Where is my baby at 15 weeks in my stomach?

At 15 weeks pregnant, your uterus is beginning to expand out of the area inside your pelvis, encroaching on your other organs. Your midwife likely won’t start measuring the size of your uterus just yet, but when they do they will measure the distance from your pubic bone to the top of your uterus.

How many months is 15 weeks pregnant?

You are now about three and a half months pregnant, coming up to four months into your pregnancy.

What to expect when 15 weeks pregnant with twins

If you’re pregnant with twins, your uterus will have to expand much more quickly to accommodate two babies. Your 15-week pregnant belly might look more like a 25 week pregnant belly already! This has a knock-on effect on all the other symptoms – for example, your uterus will put pressure on your other organs earlier, causing more indigestion and heartburn; you are more likely to suffer with the aches and pains associated with your growing body; you’re also likely to gain more weight.

Can I lay on my back at 15 weeks pregnant?

Yes, you can still lay on your back at 15 weeks pregnant. Side sleeping is recommended from 28 weeks (the start of your third trimester).

Can you get pre-eclampsia at 15 weeks pregnant?

Your midwife will check for signs of pre-eclampsia at every appointment, which is why they ask you to bring a urine sample each time – they are looking for protein in your urine – and also why they check your blood pressure. Pre-eclampsia is not common, and does not usually occur until after the halfway point of pregnancy (i.e. from 20 weeks).

Got questions? At the HiPPBabyClub, we bring you real-world advice and support from HiPP parents, midwives, nutritionists and more. Join our Baby Club to find out more.