Morning sickness should pass by now and your dislike of smells and food should be under control. By week 15 of your pregnancy you will feel more energized and you may find that your libido will return and you may start craving some movement. And the best part is that your little one will not be affected by it.

Baby Growth

Your baby is now the size of an orange or an apple. At the beginning of the 15th week, your baby`s eyebrows, hair and skin will begin to develop. More importantly, your baby`s skeleton is starting to form properly, but still more or less like soft cartilage.

In summary, your baby looks exactly like a human. The ears will be placed on the side of the head as they should normally be, and the eyes will have taken their position on the face. You may begin to feel your baby move and yawn in your tummy as it works on sucking, swallowing and breathing.

Baby Size

Since your baby is almost as big as an apple at 15-week pregnancy, your baby is only 10.1 cm long and, like an orange, your baby weighs only 70 grams.

In summary, your baby is growing rapidly at the beginning of week 15 and must be making it harder for you to breathe as your body starts working hard to adapt to the growing baby.

Common Body Changes

Since your baby`s body is constantly changing at 15 weeks, it is normal for you to have body changes. Besides all the changes your body is currently undergoing, you can expect the following changes:

1. Your baby becomes well defined in your tummy.

1. You may start to feel stuffy from time to time as your body starts working hard to adapt to your baby`s body.

1. Ideally, this week is when you should look forward to gaining some weight.

1. If you haven`t invested in maternity wear yet, your regular clothes may start to shrink.

Pregnancy Signs

You must have gotten used to experiencing a new symptom every once in a while since you got pregnant! It goes without saying that week 15 will be no different. Some of these symptoms may include:

1. Sex drive: This is officially the new sign of week 15 of your pregnancy. You may have been feeling sick, moody and generally avoiding sex for the past few months. However, by the start of week 15, you should feel energized enough to give yourself some pleasure.

1. Sensitivity to smells: Your nasal passages will tend to be more sensitive. You may experience nosebleeds with an increase in blood volume.

1. Shortness of breath: You will also find that you will experience shortness of breath as your body tries to accommodate another person.

1. Indigestion / Heartburn: Another symptom you will definitely experience as your hormones relax the muscles in the digestive tract.

1. Bleeding gums: At this point in your pregnancy, you may notice red, swollen and extremely sensitive gums. This is mostly due to pregnancy hormones that cause gingivitis (inflammation of the gums). You may also notice a small lump, such as a benign tumor during pregnancy, but it is completely painless and harmless. Should you develop this, it will normally disappear after birth.

Abdomen

For most of you, your baby should be outwardly visible, especially if this isn`t your first pregnancy. For first-time moms, there`s also a chance you still might not show much or at least cover up the signs.

Ultrasound and Tests

This week`s ultrasound will reveal that your baby is yawning a lot without you even realizing it. Now that all of your baby`s limbs and joints are more formed, your baby will definitely be able to twist, turn, move a lot inside your body. The maximum you will feel from these activities will likely be a butterfly or balloon-like feeling inside your stomach. It`s also very common for your baby to hiccup in your tummy.

Gender estimation can be done easily at week 15. But sometimes the baby`s position and development can make sex prediction difficult.

"Is there a gender bias at 15 weeks?" You may also be wondering the question. Sometimes in these months, wrong gender prediction can be made due to the reasons we have listed above. The most accurate prediction can be made with the image that does not change until the 20th week.

Quad Screening Test

The most common of the 15-week pregnancy tests is the quadruple screening test. It measures the level of 4 substances in your blood. The level of some hormones produced by the baby`s liver and placenta is checked. This test detects the baby`s risk of developmental or chromosomal disorders.

Genetic Amniocentesis

Another test done between the 15th and 20th weeks of pregnancy is genetic amniocentesis. The reason why it is done especially during this period is that there is enough amniotic fluid in the uterus during this period. The probability of leakage is low. Having the test before the 15th week may increase the risk of pregnancy loss.

Genetic amniocentesis is usually performed to follow up on abnormal results from screening tests. So maybe you won`t need to do it at all.

What to Eat?

What can stress you out about proper nutrition is that you are no longer just eating for yourself, but for another person who is constantly growing. Before you worry, take a look at the list of what to eat as a recommendation.

1. Include the best of whole fruits and green leafy vegetables in your diet.

1. Don`t forget to add some starch from bread and iron-fortified cereals.

1. Include milk and dairy products in your diet, as you need calcium for the baby`s bone growth.

1. Proteins, especially lean meats, oily fish, eggs, etc. give weight. A small portion of well-cooked red meat will also help you get the necessary protein.

1. Eat well-cooked eggs to get some Omega-3 fatty acids.

Care Tips

1. Don`t get dehydrated

1. Get plenty of rest and have regular sleep times

1. Eat the right amount at the right time

1. Take medications as prescribed by your doctor

1. Do moderate exercise to deal with pain.

Don’ts

1. Do not expose yourself to dirty places

1. Do not exercise excessively

1. Do not take medication without consulting your doctor.

1. Don`t think negatively

1. Do not starve yourself or your baby.

Shopping

When it comes to having a baby, your shopping list will of course be endless. However, let`s review a practical list that will come in handy.

1. Comfortable shoes

1. Body pillows to help you sleep when you feel aches or pains.

1. Healthy snacks to keep you fit and fill your stomach.

1. Books on pregnancy and parenting.

1. Comfortable maternity clothes made of cotton.

1. Lotions and moisturizers with clear ingredients, as your skin may tend to dry out.

Staying informed and positive during pregnancy makes your pregnancy journey easier. It lays the groundwork where you can enjoy every minute of your journey to motherhood.