15 Weeks Pregnant

Baby Kicking and Curling

Your baby is as long as four and a half inches right now, and weighs a bit over two ounces. Hold a large navel orange in your hand — that's how big your little darlin' is.

Curious why your body is finally looking like it's pregnant? That's because your baby is growing bigger each week — he or she is as long as four and a half inches right now. Need a better visual (and a snack)?  Hold a large navel orange in your hand — that's how big your little darlin' is at 15 weeks pregnant. (Now that you're done looking, peel that orange and eat it for a delicious two servings of vitamin C!).
 
So what keeps your baby busy all day? Mostly, your fetus is in rehearsals — practice, practice, practicing, and getting ready for that big debut. Babies practice breathing, sucking, and swallowing so that when they leave your comfy womb and move into your comfy house, they'll have the skills necessary to survive.
 
Fetal body movements continue to get practice this week, too. But because your baby weighs so little (a bit over two ounces), you won't feel the calisthenics going on inside your abdominal gym. But don't let that fool you. Your fetus is holding daily aerobics classes — kicking, curling toes, and moving those little arms and legs. 
 
And with each passing week, your fetus is looking more and more like the baby you're picturing in your dreams. By now, the ears are positioned properly on the sides of the head (they used to be in the neck) and the eyes are moving from the side of the head to the front of the face — where they'll soon meet your loving gaze.

What is happenning now? You are now 15 weeks pregnant, which is the beginning of week 16. Your baby measures around 15 cms (6 inches) from head to toe, or about 10cms (4 inches) from crown to rump, and weighs about 120 grams (or 4.2 ounces). Your baby is now more in proportion physically, but their head still accounts for about 1/3 of their body size. Your baby's vocal chords are now formed and they can make different facial expressions. Your baby can grasp with their hands and suck their thumb and they begin to explore the inside of your uterus with their hands and feet. If you press your belly from the outside, this may produce a small startle response in your baby (one of the many newborn reflexes present after birth). If this is not your first pregnancy you may start to feel small sensations of your baby's movements soon, although movements are more commonly felt between 18 and 22 weeks.