15-Week pregnant: Development and diet

WEEK 15 DEVELOPMENT

You are in your 17th week of amenorrhea – absence of your menstrual period – which translates as your 15th week of pregnancy. Your baby should be making her appearance in about 24 weeks. You may be feeling wonderful, thrilled to be pregnant and full of energy. Conversely, you might be feeling a bit overwhelmed, like your body is not your own. Both scenarios are totally normal. If the latter is true for you and you are also feeling a bit blue, talk to your doctor about it. She may have some solutions that can help you feel more yourself.

His thorax – his chest, basically - begins to rise and fall. They are irregular movements for the moment. It may be through this mechanism that his olfactory system starts to “smell” your environment, driven by the aromatic molecules in the amniotic fluid. However, your baby won’t really perceive odours for real until the seventh month, when his nervous system is sufficiently mature.

NUTRITION

Feeling a bit ‘clogged up’? There are things you can eat to relieve your constipation problems. Constipation is a common problem during pregnancy. To remedy this, it is advisable to drink plenty of water and eat foods rich in fibre, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads and cereals (and the grains themselves!), and dried peas and beans. If the problem persists, try to include a small bowl of bran cereal in your breakfast every day. If you’re still not eliminating as you normally would, talk to your doctor.

TIPS

Moderate physical activity during pregnancy is recommended for healthy women, and may help keep weight gain in check, aid in constipation.