Your baby's development in the 15th week of pregnancy

The heart is fully developed: Although your baby's heart has been beating for around two months, it is only fully formed in the 15th week of pregnancy: Now there are ventricles, atria and heart valves present and the heart can already pump astonishing amounts of blood through the tiny organism. Per day, about 100 liters of blood per day through the tiny body's heart.

Eye area fully developed: In the 15th week of pregnancy the fetus's eyes are largely complete, because cornea, lens and iris are fully formed. Your child's eyelids, however, remain closed. They only open in the 7th month of your pregnancy.

Body protected by fine hair: Since the 14th week of pregnancy the entire body of the fetus is covered with a protective fine hair (lanugo) as well as the so-called vernix caseosa. Both protect the skin of your child from softening. A few days before birth the fine hair falls off by itself. In addition, the the baby's hair structure develops. At birth, therefore, every baby already has a light or more pronounced head of hair.

The genitals are recognizable: On the ultrasound in the 15th week of pregnancy, a penis can be clearly seen in boys and initially the clitoris in girls. But caution: depending on the position of the baby and the quality of the ultrasound image, the doctor may be mistaken with the assessment – the error rate for prenatal sex determination is approximately 19 percent.

Producing digestive juices: More and more organs develop their functionality in the 15th week of pregnancy. For example, the liver and pancreas are already producing the first digestive juices.

Hearing differentiates: With the increasing hardening of the cartilage structures in the fetus's body, the inner ear also develops further and with it the your baby's sense of hearing. In week 15 it already perceives sounds in the womb and from outside quite clearly.

Head diameter as an important measurement: So far, prenatal check-ups measured the crown-rump length of the fetus. From the 15th week of pregnancy, your gynecologist also determines the transverse diameter of the head in millimeters. The so-called) biparietal diameter (BPD is from now on an important parameter for your child's developmental status. In week 15 it is approximately 30 millimeters.

Testing reflexes: In the 15th week of pregnancy, the fetus practices in the womb its first reflexes. Your baby opens and closes its mouth, suckles and swallows. In addition, your child can now nod and turn its head. With its little hands it occasionally grasps the umbilical cord.

What can be seen on the ultrasound image?

In the 15th week of pregnancy the fetus weighs between 50 and 70 grams. Its size is about 8 to 10 cm. Depending on growth spurts, it can also be between 10 to 12 cm in size – which corresponds roughly to the size of a grapefruit. The rapid development is also noticeable on the ultrasound image: here you can already see your little person more clearly than in previous weeks. From the turning little head to the tiny fingers clenched into a fist – depending on how your baby feels, you perceive the fetus's movements during the ultrasound. Also the heart tones can now be heard using a fetal Doppler. This is often a moving moment for you as parents. You might even catch a glimpse of the sex of your little miracle, if it wants to reveal it to you during the ultrasound. Clarity usually only comes with the 2nd major ultrasound examination from the 19th week of pregnancy.

Physical changes – what happens to the mother in week 15 of pregnancy?

With the 15th week of pregnancy, many expectant mothers are in the middle of the feel-good phase of their pregnancy. From changes in hair and skin appearance to the noticeable bulge of the belly: what you should know about your physical changes and possible pregnancy complaints in the current week of your pregnancy, you can find out here.

Lying on your back becomes difficult: The uterus continues to grow and pushes the internal organs closer together. Some women will notice a slight dizziness as early as week 15 when lying flat on their backs for a long time. This is because the uterus presses on the vena cava, which is responsible for the blood supply to the brain.

“Pregnancy clumsiness”: With advancing pregnancy, estrogen levels rise significantly and many women are now more forgetful or less focused than usual. People often speak of the the so-called “pregnancy brain”. Some expectant mothers help themselves with lists or reminder notes

– fortunately, though, it is over again at the latest after breastfeeding.Spider veins: If you are spared varicose veins during pregnancy, there is still the possibility that you may notice tiny blue or red veins on the thighs

notice. The so-called spider veins arise as a result of the dilated blood vessels and usually disappear on their own after pregnancy.Swollen hands and ankles: In week 15, fluid retention (edema) can occur, caused by the increased blood volume. The pressure of the growing uterus and pelvic veins also play a significant role. Sufficient exercise and sleep help to

that the fluid accumulated during the day is excreted via the kidneys and skin.

How do I find a midwife? Every pregnant woman is entitled to care by a midwife before, during and after birth. This kind of support is highly recommended: the midwife answers all your questions about pregnancy, provides you with good tips and supports you during your birth. She also visits mother and baby at home in the first weeks after the due date to provide tips on baby care and breastfeeding

and to answer other questions.The costs for midwife care are covered by the health insurance companies. However, every pregnant woman must arrange it herself, to find a midwife. It makes sense to start as early as the 15th week of pregnancy, because good midwives are in demand and each only care for a limited number of women

at the same time. At a non-binding meeting you will quickly notice whether you feel well looked after by the selected midwife or not. Also clarify in advance whether the midwife actually provides birth support or only prenatal and postnatal care – the range of services varies from case to case.

Tip for designing the nursery Pregnancy almost always brings renovation and refurbishment work – after all, the offspring needs its place in the parental home. However, pregnant women should never paint walls themselves and \rfurniture

Image credits

Illustration of pregnant women © designer_things - stock.adobe.com