2nd trimester: Week 15

The fetus begins to move around, though you likely won't feel it.

© The Anatomical Travelogue

Your Baby

Your baby weighs about 1 3/4 ounces and measures between 4 1/2 inches from crown to rump. Fine, downy hair (called lanugo, which he'll shed before birth, grows on his body. Hair is sprouting on top of his head, too, although whatever color it is may change. His eyebrows have begun to fill in. Your baby hiccups, but he can't yet make a sound because his trachea is still filled with fluid, not air. The intestinal tract continues to develop.

Hot Topics:

• Window into the Womb

Your Body

These days, pregnancy is leaving you slightly breathless--literally. It's a mild annoyance, but unfortunately you can expect the problem to worsen as your uterus pushes up against your diaphragm, leaving little room for the lungs to expand. It's nothing to worry about, but you should call your doctor immediately if you're unable to catch your breath, your fingertips turn blue, or your heart feels like it's trying to jump out of your chest.

Your Pregnant Body:

• Second Trimester Symptoms
• Trouble Breathing?
• Stay-Healthy Guide for You

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. 

Health

Discuss with your doctor or midwife the pros and cons of taking the triple screen, a blood test given in the next few weeks that measures your baby's risk for birth defects such as Down syndrome and spina bifida. It gives you valuable information about the health of your baby, but false positives are common; out of 1,000 women, 50 will be told that their fetus is at risk, but only one or two babies will actually be born with Down syndrome.

Health Watch:

• Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy
• Folic Acid Helps Prevent Spina Bifida
• A Nutrition Essential
• Kegel Exercises
• Tests to Consider

Mom to Mom

"I gave birth to my second child last July 30. I went into labor after leaving the office on July 29. Working up to that day was too stressful. I wish I'd taken a week off to unwind and mentally prepare for the job to come."--Bernadette Cooper, Cleveland, OH