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

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

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

Body protected by downy hair: Since the 14th week of pregnancy the entire body of the fetus is covered with a protective downy 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 down falls off by itself. In addition, the baby's hair structure develops. At birth, each baby therefore already has a light or more pronounced amount of hair.

The genitals are recognizable: On ultrasound in the 15th week of pregnancy a penis can be seen for boys and initially the clitoris for 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 become functional in the 15th week of pregnancy. Thus, the liver and pancreas already produce 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 along with it the baby's sense of hearing. In week 15 it already perceives sounds in the womb and from outside quite distinctly.

Head diameter as a decisive measure: So far, the crown-rump length of the fetus has been measured during prenatal check-ups. From the 15th week of pregnancy onward, 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 this amounts to approximately 30 millimeters.

Reflexes being tested: In week 15 the fetus practices in the womb its first reflexes. Your baby opens and closes the mouth, sucks 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 little fingers curled into a fist – depending on how your baby is feeling, you can perceive the fetus's movements on the ultrasound. Also the heart tones can now be heard using a fetal Doppler. This is often an emotional moment for you as parents. You may even catch a glimpse of the sex of your little miracle, if it wishes to reveal it to you during the ultrasound. Clarity usually only comes with the second major ultrasound from the 19th week of pregnancy.

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

With the 15th week of pregnancy many expectant mothers are in the middle of the feel-good phase of their pregnancy. From changed 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 together. Some women will already notice a slight dizziness in the 15th week if they lie 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-related clumsiness”: As the pregnancy progresses, estrogen levels rise significantly and many women are now more forgetful or less focused than usual. It is often referred to as the the so-called “pregnancy brain”. Some expectant mothers use lists or reminder notes – fortunately, it is gone again at the latest after the breastfeeding period.

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 dilated blood vessels and usually disappear on their own after pregnancy.

Swollen hands and ankles: In week 15 there can be water retention (edema) caused by the increased blood volume. The pressure of the growing uterus and pelvic veins also plays a major role. Sufficient exercise and sleep help to ensure that the fluid accumulated during the day is eliminated via the kidneys and skin.

How do I find a midwife?

Every pregnant woman is entitled to care from a midwife before, during and after birth. This kind of support is definitely recommended: the midwife answers all your questions about pregnancy, provides you with good tips and supports you during your birth. Also in the first weeks after the due date she visits mother and baby at home to offer tips on baby care and breastfeeding and to answer other questions.

The costs for the midwife's care are covered by the health insurance funds. However, every pregnant woman must arrange it herself, find a midwife. It is sensible 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 cared for by the selected midwife or not. Also clarify in advance whether the midwife provides birth attendance at all or only prenatal and postnatal care – the range of services varies from case to case.

Tip for designing the baby room

Pregnancy almost always involves renovation and remodeling work – after all the offspring needs its place in the parental home. However, pregnant women should by no means paint walls themselves and furniture or paint radiators. Solvents and other chemicals can enter the body through the respiratory tract and harm the baby. Also exercise caution with harsh or chlorine-containing cleaning agents, gasoline fumes etc.

Image credit

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