How big is yourbaby?
This week your baby measures 10.1cm (3.98 inches) from crown to rump and weighsin at around 70g (2.47 ounces). It is about the size of a softball. Your babys growthover the next few months is going to faster than it has, or will.
Your baby’s development
If this is your first pregnancy, then it may be to early too feel any movement,although you should start to feel movement with in the next few weeks. If this isnot your first pregnancy, then you may start to feel your baby move around this time, as it is not uncommon for women whohave had previous pregnancies to feel their baby move earlier.
Your baby’s skin is still thin and is now covered by a fine hair called lanugo hair.Another interesting hair development is that your baby’s hair pattern will bedetermined over the first half of this week. Once your baby is born his/her hairwill grow at an average of 1/2 inch (13 mm) a month.
Your baby’s eyes will continue to move to their normal position this week. Theears, which are already at the side of the head, are still developing externallyand will now almost look like normal ears. By this time your baby may be suckinghis/her thumb and is also swallowing amniotic fluid. The fluid which is swallowedis digested by the developing digestive tract and passed through the system.
Your baby’s bones are getting harder and harder everyday and are now retaining calcium.In fact if an x-ray were taken at this time, your baby’s skeleton would be visiblein the x-ray.
Your development
You cannow easily tell that you are pregnant, although this may only be seen if you wereto be wearing a bathing suit. At this stage the top of your uterus is still quitelow and will be sitting about 3 or 4 inches below your bellybutton.
You may be finding it difficult to find a comfortable sleeping position now as well and this will only get worse asyour stomach grows. Often the most comfortable position to sleep in is on your leftside, with a pillow resting between your legs. You should try and get used to sleepingin this position now before you get any bigger. Sleeping with a pillow between yourlegs will also help with another common symptom of pregnancy known as round ligament pain.
There are other reasons for sleeping on your left side, besides comfort. This isbecause the weight of the baby and uterus can compress the inferior vena caver,which takes blood from your lower body to the heart, which may cause dizziness,sweats and palpitations.
Tips for getting a good nights sleep:
- Go to bed and wake up the same time everyday
- Dont drink too much fluid at night
- Exercise regularly
- Sleep in a cool bedroom, about 70 deg F (21 deg C)
Pregnancy Week 15
