You are 15 weeks pregnant

Your baby

At this point, your baby’s skin is very thin, so much so that blood vessels can be seen under the surface of it. His body is also covered with a fine, fuzzy hair called lanugo, which will fal...Read more

Your body

Physically, you’re probably feeling great at this stage in your pregnancy - and hooray for that! But emotionally, you may find yourself in a bit of an awkward body image phase. A lot of it ha...Read more

Your life right now

Your doctor may schedule you for the maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) screening. This blood test is now generally known as the triple or quad screen and is usually performed between weeks 1...Read more

Mums like me

Meet other mums at the same stage as you on our Mums Due July 2011 message board

At this point, your baby’s skin is very thin, so much so that blood vessels can be seen under the surface of it. His body is also covered with a fine, fuzzy hair called lanugo, which will fall out as your baby gets closer to full term. By this week he may also start sucking his thumb in utero (which you might see on future ultrasounds - too cute!).

Physically, you’re probably feeling great at this stage in your pregnancy - and hooray for that! But emotionally, you may find yourself in a bit of an awkward body image phase. A lot of it has to do with being in preggie limbo: Your belly is definitely bigger than normal, but maybe not to the point where you’re visibly showing to the world. Result: You just feel kind of fat. It really helps to talk to other mum friends about it - because odds are they went through that same frumpy-feeling stage themselves. It’s always good to know you’re not the only pregnant woman on the planet who worried about such things. Oh, by the way, don’t think you’re being superficial about it, either! The body you have known and lived with for decades is undergoing some major new changes.

It wouldn’t be normal not to have a few mini freak-out moments about the whole thing! Know that you’ll soon reach a point where everyone will be oohing and ahhing over your totally adorable baby bump. And look for other ways to perk yourself up - like treating yourself to a facial, pedicure, some cute maternity duds or a long soak in a warm tub.

During your first trimester, your body really didn’t need any more calories than usual - and, frankly, it may have been all you could do to stomach a few crackers and some ginger ale. But from here on out, you’ve got to eat more, girl! You probably know that the ‘eating for two’ advice your own mum may have followed is a myth. You do not need to double your daily caloric intake. In fact, if you started out at a healthy weight all you have to do is add about 300 calories a day. That’s the equivalent of a cup of yogurt and a banana. Your GP can give you more details about your specific needs, and how you can tweak your diet to accommodate them. But in general, a few extra nibbles here and there are really all you need. Did someone say dark chocolate?

Your doctor may schedule you for the maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) screening. This blood test is now generally known as the triple or quad screen and is usually performed between weeks 15 and 20 of pregnancy. MSAFP measures levels of certain substances in the mother’s blood that are associated with genetic conditions, birth defects and pregnancy complications in the baby. Usually, if abnormally high or low levels are detected, a follow-up with an ultrasound and amniocentesis may be recommended for a definitive diagnosis. The MSAFP test is safe, but can produce false results. For example, while 50 in every 1,000 women will get abnormal results for Down syndrome, only one or two of those women will end up having a baby with the defect. For the majority of women, normal test results usually indicate a healthy pregnancy and may be a relief after any first trimester anxiety.

How have you been sleeping lately? By this point in your pregnancy, even if you were a champion snoozer, you may find it hard to get comfy at night - especially if you’ve always been a stomach sleeper. Adjusting to nodding off on your side may take some getting used to. And you might notice you’re waking up more during the night, as well. It helps to keep your bedroom dark and coolish. Avoiding caffeine from the afternoon on and getting regular exercise can also improve your sleep. Some women also find that the long body pillows or belly wedges often used later in pregnancy help them sleep better now, as well. Play around and see what works. Mum needs her beauty sleep!

Meet other mums at the same stage as you on our Mums Due July 2011 message board