What to expect: Week 15

Your baby

A lot has been happening with your baby this week from ears that have migrated to the side of the head, eyes moving to the front of the face and wiggling toes and fingers. Your baby is kicking but it’s unusual for a mum-to-be to feel it this early on in the pregnancy. Your baby is now about the size of an orange.

You

Pregnancy hormones can impact on everything from teeth and gums which may be more sensitive and prone to bleeding and a blocked or bleeding nose too. These symptoms are due to the surge of progesterone in the system. Reassuringly it should all disappear once the baby is born. The good news is that throughout your pregnancy you are entitled to free NHS dental care so keeping your teeth and gums in tip-top condition couldn’t be easier.

Starting in your second trimester your baby’s getting bigger and bigger and as a consequence you are too. Slow and steady should be the aim with weight gain. Healthy eating throughout pregnancy is essential; you should try to incorporate Omega 3 into your diet if possible as this is thought to enhance your baby’s development. Oily fish such as salmon is a great source of Omega 3 but you should limit this to just 2 portions a week.

As the muscles and ligaments that support your growing uterus stretch, you may notice some pain on the lower sides of your belly. This is perfectly normal and a good sign that your baby is growing and making themselves comfortable.

If you enjoy sports and have kept active during your pregnancy you should be aware that there are a number of activities that should be avoided during your second trimester. These include; horse riding, mountain cycling and skiing.

As you are now into your second trimester you may find that it is a good time to go on holiday before the baby arrives. If you are planning a holiday try to break up the journey if you can to make the travelling more manageable.

Tips for travelling when pregnant:

1. Be extra careful about food hygiene if you are abroad
2. Avoid salads, ice cream and ice cubes in drinks in countries where you are not sure about the standard of cleanliness.
3. Try not to get too hot as it’s not good for you or the baby. Be sure to protect your skin as it is more sensitive when you are pregnant.
4. Pregnant woman are more susceptible to deep vein thrombosis (DVT) on long haul flights. Be sure to move around the plane regularly, rotate your ankles and talk to your midwife about special compression socks.
5. Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

Above all else make the most of this time in your pregnancy when you are generally feeling better and enjoy preparing for the arrival of your baby.