What is going on with your baby during week 15?

Changes in you at this stage Week 15

• Your womb is now starting to show and grow out of your pelvis - the bump is more noticeable.
• Your milk glands may be preparing to begin production. Skin changes such as spider veins and darkening of moles and freckles can be expected.
• You may begin to feel Braxton Hicks contractions - you may feel it more after a round of exercise.
• You are still emotionally vulnerable and find yourself easily annoyed than in your pre-pregnancy days.
• Hormone released by your placenta, ovaries, adrenal glands and pituitary gland continue to surge this week and will continue to do so throughout your pregnancy.
• Right now the extra blood is mostly plasma the fluid part of blood. During the first 20 weeks your body produces more plasma, more quickly than red blood cells.

Good to Know in Week 15

Blood pressure

• During the 1st 24 weeks of pregnancy your systolic blood pressure or the top number will drop by 5 to 10 points and your diastolic pressure or the bottom number will drop by 10-15 points. After that they will gradually return to pre-pregnancy levels.

Your Lungs now

• Since baby takes up more room now there is less space for your lungs to expand. Pregnant women have to breathe faster to compensate for this change and to meet the increased oxygen demands of both the mother and the fetus. Coupled with that, the hormone progesterone will also give you the feeling that you are not getting enough air.

Your Core Temperature

• Your temperature on the inside is your core temperature. Your fetus is always a little hotter than you. A high core temperature during the early weeks of pregnancy can cause birth defects. Excessive core temperature in the later part of pregnancy can cause baby to be in distress.

Wholesome Advice in Week 15

• Most doctors can spend only 15 minutes with you max, so be prepared with a list of questions relevant to the stage of your pregnancy. The good thing about prenatal visits is that you will have more than 10 sessions during your entire pregnancy, which gives you ample opportunities to discuss your concerns.

Your actions can impact your baby's growth at this stage

Teeth Care

• Your teeth need attention too. Keep up with dental appointments - have your teeth professionally cleaned by the dentist at least once during your pregnancy to prevent gum disease and infections Brush your teeth and tongue at least twice a day. Keep up with the flossing. Be gentle as your gums are softer than before and will bleed more easily
• Chew sugarless gum after meals if you do not a get chance to brush
• Don't miss your prenatal vitamins and calcium supplements as directed by your doctor to help strengthen your teeth and keep your mouth healthy
• Fluoride is important for the development of baby's teeth. You do not need to depend on supplement if you drink or cook with fluoridated tap water (bottled water do not usually contain fluoride).
• You can get your fluoride supply from tea brewed in fluoridated water, fish with edible bones, kale, spinach, apples and nonfat milk.
• Avoid sugary foods as much as possible, another reason to not indulge in too many chocolates and pastries, biscuits and fizzy drinks

Iron deficiency

• If you do not get the required amounts of iron to allow your body to produce more red blood cells, you may become anemic.
• Anemia is a result of insufficient red blood cells in your blood and therefore not enough protein hemoglobin is able to transport oxygen to various tissues of your body.
• You become more susceptible to illnesses and you tire easily.
• Despite this your baby gets enough iron even if you don't.

Common Concerns in in Week 15

I am in my second trimester and don't have any health issues. When is the safest time to fly?

• Now is the best time to travel. Long flights in the first trimester increase the risk of bleeding and having a miscarriage. Long flights in the final trimester would be dangerous for both mother and baby where the worst scenario is preterm labor. Hence the middle trimester with adequate care is the safest time.

My vision is blurry although I had a recent prescription done. Should I get a new refraction done and new glasses or contact lenses?

• Swelling during pregnancy is not restricted to ankles and hands but everywhere else including the cornea. Swelling of the cornea can cause a temporary miscalculation for your prescription eyeglasses. Your eyes should revert to normalcy after you have your baby.

What causes hypotension (low blood pressure) during pregnancy?

• There are two kinds: supine hypotension and postural hypotension. The first type is caused by the enlarging uterus putting pressure on large blood vessels such as aorta and vena cava. This happens when you lied down and can be prevented by not sleeping or lying on your back. The second type is caused when you rise rapidly from a sitting, kneeling or squatting position. Gravity causes blood to leave your brain which causes a drop in blood pressure. Avoid this by rising slowly.

Weekly Nutrition advice in Week 15

You will probably start to need an extra 300 calories to your meals to meet the needs of your growing baby and your changing body. Be careful - 300 calories isn't a lot of food. Some examples below:

½cup brown rice, 1 cup strawberries, 1 cup orange juice, a slice fresh pineapple

1 cup cooked pasta, 1 slice fresh tomato, 1 cup low fat milk, ½ cup cooked green beans, slice of cantaloupe

1 container of yoghurt, 1 apple

4 oz salmon fish, 1 cup asparagus, 2 cups lettuce

Sugar during Pregnancy

The best sugars are complex sugars (its complexity owing to the molecules being larger). Also referred to as complex carbs, the foods rich in this include pasta, potatoes, grains and seeds. Healthier sugars are the fructose sugars with fruits being the chief source. Second comes lactose sugar which is derived from dairy products. Both fructose and lactose provide you with quick energy and do not cause mood swings that simple sugars do. Simple sugars are the least nutritional; simple because the molecules are so small that they pass through into the bloodstream rather quickly. Blood sugar rises and triggers the release of insulin which brings down the blood sugar quickly. Sucrose, dextrose, glucose are some forms and most commercial foods contain them.