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Pregnancy Week By Week
Week 15 and Week 16
Week 15
Baby: Your 13-week-old fetus now measures about 4.1 to 4.5 inches from crown to rump and weighs about 1.75 ounces. Its body is covered by an ultrafine hair, called lanugo, which is usually shed by birth. Eyebrows and hair on the top of the head are beginning to grow. He may even be sucking his thumb by now. Bones are getting harder.
Mother: Your uterus can probably be felt about 3 to 4 inches below your navel. Sometime in the next five weeks you'll be offered a quadruple marker screening test, which measures four chemicals in your blood -- alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), inhibin A, and estrogen produced by the placenta. The test is a more accurate predictor of Down syndrome than AFP testing alone. Amniocentesis, which tests a small sample of amniotic fluid withdrawn by an ultrasound-guided needle, is usually performed between now and 18 weeks. It may be recommended if you're 35 or older or if your AFP or quadruple marker screen test results were suspicious.
Dad: Wondering what you can do to make mom's pregnancy healthier? One small, but very important thing you can do is pump her gas. Inhaling gas fumes during pregnancy might make mom queasy, and additionaly, those fumes aren't healthy for her or the baby.
Do's and Don'ts: Now that you're past 14 weeks, make an appointment to get a flu shot. It's safe and may help prevent you from getting sick and suffering serious complications such as pneumonia. You most likely won't feel any aftereffects from the vaccine, other than some soreness in your arm. At worst, you may develop a mild fever and feel run down for a few days.
Exercise: It's not too late to sign up for prenatal yoga, a gentle regimen that combines exercise tailored especially for your changing body with breathing techniques. An added bonus: You'll meet other expectant moms, and if you hit it off with some of them, you've got a built-in mother's group waiting in the wings.
Tips for this week:Start learning to sleep on your left side because circulation is best that way. Lying on your back or stomach after about the fourth or fifth month can put extra pressure on your growing uterus and decrease circulation to your baby. You can try tucking pillows behind you and between your legs. Some manufacturers make a pregnancy pillow that supports your entire body.
Week 16
Baby: Your baby now measures about 4.3 to 4.6 inches from crown to rump and weighs about 2.8 ounces. Fingernails are well-formed and the fine hair, lanugo, may be growing on the head. Arms and legs are moving. The nervous system is functioning and muscles are responding to stimulation from your baby's brain. You may be able to hear the baby's heartbeat in the doctor's office.
Mother: Your uterus has grown significantly by now and weighs about 8.75 ounces. Within the next few weeks you may start to feel your baby move, called "quickening." It's often like a gas bubble or subtle fluttering movement. As it happens more regularly, you'll know it's your baby. There are other physiological changes happening in your body. Increased blood volume to support your growing fetus may produce nosebleeds, and leg veins may become more apparent. Your uterus is shifting so you may not have to urinate so much.
Dad: This is the perfect time to plan something special for your partner. She's super cute with that little bump she has going, and is most likely feeling pretty good in her second trimester.
We suggest planning a weekend get-away. Check out a romantic Bed and Breakfast within driving distance. Even a one-day activity would be much appreciated. Take her to dinner and a movie, a cooking class, or even a health spa. Trust us, she'll love it!
Do's and Don'ts: Do pamper yourself by taking a steamy shower every morning. Indulging in 20-minute steam showers or using a humidifier can help clear the stuffy head that often plagues pregnant women. If you feel like you've got a permanent head cold, it's because more blood than usual is flowing to your mucous membranes, causing them to swell. Saline drops can unstuff your nose.
Exercise: Stand up straight to compensate for your growing uterus, increasingly heavy breasts, and shifting center of gravity, all of which can exaggerate the curve in your spine and put unnecessary strain on your back. Good posture is important, especially when you're working out, so imagine that the top of your head is being pulled toward the ceiling. You'll automatically straighten your neck, lift your shoulders, and tuck in your stomach and buttocks.
Tips for this week: If veins in your legs are beginning to bulge, you may want to use support stockings, elevate your feet when you can and exercise to improve blood flow.
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