15 Weeks Pregnant
What’s happening this week
Your baby…
- measures about 10 cm
- weighs about 70 grams
- hands are ready to grasp and is able to kick against his walls – the amniotic sac
- skin is so thin and translucent you can see the blood vessels through it
- hair growth continues on the head and eyebrows – the scalp hair pattern is developing.
You…
- some women talk about “baby brain”, that pregnancy causes them to be forgetful, clumsy and unable to concentrate. Take it in your stride!
- your heart is increasing its output to supply the baby with oxygen.
You could feel in an ‘in-between’ state around now – too large for your ordinary clothes, not ready for maternity clothes. But perhaps your partner’s shirts suddenly fit?
You may be thinking about maternity leave – how much, when to start and the money side.
Travelling safely in the car
You can keep driving (or being a passenger) when you’re pregnant, but you’ll need extra stops for comfort and stretching breaks on long journeys.
Never travel in a car without a seatbelt. Make sure the lap belt is secured under your bump and across your pelvis. Adjust the shoulder belt so that it goes over the top of your bump and between your breasts. Don’t put the belt across your bump.
It’s okay to sit in a seat fitted with a driver’s airbag while you’re pregnant, as long as you move your seat well back from the dashboard or steering wheel. Adjust the steering wheel downwards to move it further away from your bump. Remember, the back seat is the safest place to travel in any car.
If you’re involved in any kind of car accident, even a minor knock, watch out carefully for any contractions, pain or bleeding afterwards. Call you LMC to discuss the need for monitoring. Also let the doctor know if you are Rhesus-negative, as you may need to have Anti-D (see Week 13).
Food for the middle months
Try to eat a varied, healthy diet with as much fresh food as possible.
- Calcium – for strong bones and teeth. Milk, yoghurt and cheese, tinned fish with soft edible bones, grainy bread, pizza, pastry, baked beans, chickpeas, kidney beans, spinach and spring greens
- Iron – to combat tiredness. Lean meat, dark chicken, turkey, breakfast cereals, fish such as sardines, wholemeal bread, baked beans, chickpeas, leafy green vegetables, dried fruits, baked potatoes.
- Zinc – for growth and health. Meat, sardines, cashew nuts, lentils, chickpeas, wholemeal bread, milk, eggs.
Exercise classes
Exercise can put a spring in your step, but in pregnancy choose low impact classes; this is not the time for high kicks and leaps. If you sign up for a class specially designed for mums-to-be, you’ll be sure that the teacher has adapted the class to your needs. If you already go to classes, let your teacher know that you’re pregnant; they can suggest ways to modify the movements to prevent strains.