Welcome to your 15th week of pregnancy! By this point, you may be feeling a lot of physical and emotional changes, as your baby continues to grow and develop. In this article, we'll provide an overview of your baby's development around 15 weeks, as well as some of the common pregnancy symptoms you may experience and helpful tips to manage them. So, let's dive in and learn more about the exciting changes that are happening at 15 weeks pregnant!

Highlights at 15 Weeks Pregnant

Here are some of the exciting highlights to look forward to at 15 weeks pregnant:

• Your baby is starting to hear sounds now – so get chatting or play some of your favourite music for them.

• Around 15 weeks pregnant, your little one is growing eyelashes, eyebrows and ‘lanugo’.

• They’re about the size of a grapefruit!

• If you haven’t noticed a baby bump or those tiny movements at 15 weeks pregnant, it’s just a matter of time.

• If that baby bump has popped up, now might be a good time to start a pregnancy bump week-by-week photoshoot.

Your Baby’s Development at 15 Weeks Pregnant

Every baby develops differently in a pregnancy, but here are some developments your little one may be making at 15 weeks:

• You might already be in the habit of talking to your bump, but now there’s a good chance your little one is listening!

• Around 15 weeks, your foetus is gaining the ability to hear sounds, especially your voice and internal noise like your heartbeat and the rumbles of your digestive system, but also muted noises from outside.

• Your little one’s eyes are also becoming more sensitive to light. They’re clamped tightly shut for now, but they may still be able to sense when a bright light shines through your tummy.

• To complement those eyes, eyelashes and eyebrows start to grow sometime around the 15-week-pregnant mark.

• Speaking of hair, your foetus is now growing a soft layer of fine hair known as ‘lanugo’. This gossamer-like coating will cover your little one from head to toe, but most of it usually wears off by the time your baby is born.

Download our pregnancy guide to learn more about what’s in store throughout your pregnancy.

How Many Months Is 15 Weeks Pregnant?

Are you 15 weeks pregnant and wondering what that is in months? Well, although it’s not so straightforward to group the 40 weeks of pregnancy neatly into months, you’re likely about 4 months pregnant. At 15 weeks pregnant, you may have recently found out your due date via an ultrasound scan, also known as a dating scan. This usually happens at 12 to 14 weeks of pregnancy. If you don’t have an estimate yet, try our Due Date Calculator for an estimate:

Your Baby’s Size at 15 Weeks Pregnant

At 15 weeks pregnant, your baby is about 10.1 centimetres long (from head to bottom) and they weigh around 70 grams. They’re about the size of a grapefruit!

Your Baby: What Does 15 Weeks Pregnant Look Like?

Get a closer look at what’s happening in your belly at 15 weeks of pregnancy by checking out the illustration below.

Your Body at 15 Weeks Pregnant

At 15 weeks pregnant, you may feel the occasional stabbing pain at the sides of your bump. This kind of stomach pain is usually what's known as ‘round ligament pain’ and is caused by your ligaments stretching to make room for your growing foetus. Putting your feet up and resting can help with this. Stomach cramps and pains aren't usually anything serious as long as they are mild and don't last long, but do speak to your midwife or doctor if you're worried. You may also experience back pain during pregnancy. This might be caused by hormonal changes that affect the ligaments in your body, putting strain on your lower back. Here are some things you can do to avoid or ease back pain:

• Avoid lifting heavy objects, and always bend your knees and keep a straight back when picking things up.

• Turn by moving your feet, not twisting your spine.

• Wear flat shoes to ensure even weight distribution.

• Sit with a straight, well-supported back at work and at home. Think about getting a maternity support pillow.

• Sleep on a mattress that provides proper support.

• Ask your midwife about back care classes in your area.

• If back pain is severe, tell your doctor or midwife.

Your Symptoms at 15 Weeks Pregnant

Here are some of the symptoms you may be experiencing around 15 weeks pregnant:

• Itchy skin. If your skin's feeling a little itchy these days, it's probably down to your hormones. Later, as your tummy grows, the stretching of the skin can cause itching. Applying an unscented moisturiser and wearing loose, non-synthetic clothing may help. Tell your midwife or doctor about any persistent or unbearable itching, especially on the hands and feet, as this may be a pregnancy-related liver condition known as ICP (intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy), which needs treatment.

• Milky discharge. You may notice more vaginal discharge during your pregnancy. The extra blood flow to your pelvic area boosts the production of a thin, clear or milky fluid called ‘leucorrhoea'. Leucorrhoea helps keeps your vagina clean and free from infection. Let your doctor know if your discharge smells bad or you feel itchy or sore down there, or if it hurts when you pee.

• Thrush. A white discharge with the consistency of cottage cheese may be thrush. When you're pregnant, the balance of bacteria in your vagina can change. This makes it easier for candida, the fungus that causes this common infection, to grow. Thrush is easy to treat during pregnancy, but check with your doctor or midwife which thrush medicines are safe to take during pregnancy. Wearing loose cotton underwear can help prevent it, and it might be a good idea to avoid perfumed soap or bath products.

• Headaches. If you're getting headaches at 15 weeks pregnant, you're not alone. A lot of pregnant people experience this, especially in the earlier stages of pregnancy. These are usually caused by hormonal changes, and the good news is these headaches usually improve or stop completely in the second and third trimesters. If you get headaches that are very severe, or accompanied by vision problems, pain below your ribs, vomiting or swelling of the face or extremities, call your midwife or doctor immediately. These symptoms can be signs of a rare, but serious, blood pressure disorder called pre-eclampsia.

What Size Is a Pregnant Belly at 15 Weeks?

At 15 weeks pregnant your baby bump may be starting to show or getting more prominent, so you may notice people sneaking curious glances at your tummy. Keep in mind that it’s OK if you haven’t noticed much of a bump yet. Some pregnant people don’t show for another week or two – every pregnancy is unique.

Whether you notice your baby bump yet or not, you may be curious to know if you can feel your baby move at 15 weeks pregnant. Even though your little one may be moving around right now, it’s unlikely that you’ll feel those tiny movements yet, especially if this is your first pregnancy. However, most movements are felt for the first time between 16 and 24 weeks – so keep an eye out for tiny flutters in the next few weeks.

What Does 15 Weeks Pregnant Look Like?

For a better idea of what your baby bump might look like around 15 weeks pregnant, check out the image below.

Things to Consider at 15 Weeks Pregnant

Here are a few things to consider at 15 weeks pregnant to help you on your pregnancy journey:

• Gentle exercise during pregnancy, and pelvic floor exercises in particular, can help equip your body to cope better with the physical changes ahead and the stresses of labour. Staying fit and active can also help you get back into shape more quickly after birth. Prenatal yoga sessions can also be a great way of staying supple and maintaining your equilibrium while you're pregnant. Always talk to your doctor or midwife before starting any new exercise, or if you have any doubts about your existing routine, as there might be some extra dos and don'ts for pregnant people that you need to pay attention to.

• Have you thought about where you want to give birth yet? Generally speaking, experts say the safest place to give birth is in a hospital where specialists and equipment are close at hand, but if you have no health issues or pregnancy complications, a home birth may be an option for you. You can also consider a birth centre or midwifery unit. There are lots of factors to weigh up, including your needs and preferences, the risks and benefits of each birth location, and the availability of services where you live. Whatever you decide, make sure you talk it over with your doctor and midwife and that the birth location feels right to you. Be aware that you can change your mind at any time during your pregnancy.

• Now your little one is starting to hear sounds, it might be fun to spend a bit of time every day listening to your favourite music. There is some evidence that babies may remember the tunes they hear inside bump for several months after they are born! Listening to music is also one of the many ways to relax and lower your stress levels during pregnancy.

• For most pregnant people, sex can be perfectly safe. Keep the lines of communication open with your partner, and speak to your healthcare provider if you have questions about sex during pregnancy. Keep in mind, it’s natural for you or your partner’s sex drive to be different during pregnancy, and it can even change as you move through pregnancy. For you as the pregnant person, it may be influenced by hormones in pregnancy, your growing belly, and the pregnancy symptoms you may be experiencing at 15 weeks.

• If you're 15 weeks pregnant with twins, read up on the things to consider when pregnant with multiples.

• If you hope to find out your baby’s sex around 15 weeks pregnant, the mid-pregnancy ultrasound is not too far off. This ultrasound is usually done somewhere between 16 and 20 weeks of pregnancy. In the meantime, try out our fun (and completely unscientific) quiz to guess the sex of your baby:

Questions for Your Doctor at 15 Weeks Pregnant

Utilise your doctor’s or midwife’s advice at 15 weeks or throughout your pregnancy. They’re there to answer any questions you have and provide you and your baby with the best support:

• Should I worry about stomach pains and cramping? What can I do about them?

• What painkillers can I take to relieve headaches or backache?

• Is it safe to have an X-ray at my next dental appointment?

• What are the best ways to manage stress?

• What are the risks and benefits of any genetic tests that may be recommended in the coming weeks and months?

15 Weeks Pregnant: Your Checklist

Here’s a short checklist to help you along at 15 weeks pregnant:

☐ Your loved ones may soon be starting to organise your baby shower. Start researching the baby essentials you’ll need to add to your baby shower registry checklist to make sure you’ve got everything covered.

☐ Ask your midwife or doctor about your options for where to give birth. Choices may differ in terms of what’s available in your local area, but you are allowed to choose suitable facilities elsewhere if you’re willing and able to travel.

☐ If you work, investigate your maternity leave options, including how much time is available to you and how much of it might be paid. You still have several months to go, but it’s helpful to plan ahead.

_{How We Wrote This Article The information in this article is based on the expert advice found in trusted medical and government sources, such as the National Health Service (NHS). You can find a full list of sources used for this article below. The content on this page should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult medical professionals for full diagnosis and treatment.}