15 weeks pregnant: symptoms and baby development
They’re starting to hear you.
Second trimesterMonth 45 min read
By Solesia, from public clinical guidanceUpdated
Your baby can hear you now, or is beginning to. The tiny bones of the middle ear are hardening this week, and the first sounds to reach them are the closest ones: your heartbeat, the gurgle of your digestion, the rush of blood, and the low hum of your voice carried through your body. For you this is often a settled, ordinary week. Energy is back for many people, the bump is beginning to show, and a few new things arrive quietly, more discharge than you are used to and skin that itches as it stretches over a shape that is starting to change.
How big is your baby at 15 weeks
About the size of an apple
4 in long·4 oz
Baby development at 15 weeks
At 15 weeks your baby measures about 4.0 inches from crown to rump and weighs around 4 ounces, roughly an apple. They are growing fast now, and the body is finally catching up with the head, so the proportions are starting to look like a baby rather than a tadpole.
A fine, soft hair called lanugo is spreading over their whole body. It helps hold the waxy coating that will protect their skin later on, and nearly all of it is shed before birth. Eyebrows and eyelashes are beginning too, though the eyelids stay sealed for many weeks yet.
Behind those closed lids, the eyes have become sensitive to light. Shine a bright flashlight at your belly and they may turn away from it. And with the ear bones hardening, they are picking up the first muffled sounds. Your voice reaches them through your body, so they will know it long before they see your face.
Your body at 15 weeks
More vaginal discharge than usual is expected from about now, and it will go on until birth. It is thin, milky-white and mild-smelling, and it comes from the extra blood flowing to the pelvis and the softening of the cervix. It is there to keep infections out, not a sign of one. A liner is fine if you want one; douching and scented washes are not, because they upset the balance that does the protecting.
Itchy skin is the other common arrival, especially over the bump and breasts, where the skin is being asked to stretch. Hormones make the skin drier too. A plain moisturizer after a shower, loose cotton clothes and lukewarm rather than hot water all help. Mild itching that comes with dry skin is expected; itching that keeps you awake, with no rash, especially on the palms and soles, is worth mentioning to your provider so they can check your liver.
You may notice a jab or a pull on one side of the bump when you turn or stand quickly: the round ligaments, still stretching. And your gums may bleed when you brush. Both come from the extra blood and the softening hormones, and both fade after birth. Keep brushing gently; a dental cleaning is safe and sensible in the second trimester.
Common pregnancy symptoms at 15 weeks
- More discharge. Extra blood flow to the pelvis. Thin, milky and mild is expected; a liner if you like, no douching.
- Itchy skin. Skin stretching and drying out. Moisturize after showering; lukewarm water, loose cotton.
- Round ligament pain. The uterus is rising and its ligaments pull when you move fast. Turn and stand slowly.
- Heartburn. Hormones relax the valve at the top of the stomach. Small meals, and stay upright after eating.
- Dizziness. Blood vessels have relaxed and blood pools in your legs. Stand up in stages, and eat regularly.
- Thicker, shinier hair. Hormones slow the usual shedding. It reverses a few months after birth, all at once.
- Yeast infections. Hormones change the balance in the vagina. Thick white discharge with itching is easy to treat; ask your provider.
When to call your provider at 15 weeks
Discharge that changes color, smells bad, or comes with itching, soreness or burning when you pee is worth a call. It is usually a simple infection, and simple to treat.
Two things are worth a same-day call at any point in pregnancy: bleeding that is more than spotting, and pain that is severe or does not ease. From the second trimester, add fluid leaking and any change in your baby’s usual pattern of movement. You do not need to be sure something is wrong to call; that is what the number is for.
What to do at 15 weeks
- Second-trimester blood screening. The quad screen, a blood test that looks at four markers, can be drawn from 15 to 22 weeks. It is for people who did not have first-trimester screening or who want to add to it; ask which screening your provider has in mind.
- Dental checkup. The second trimester is the comfortable time for a cleaning and any fillings. Tell the dentist you are pregnant; bleeding gums now are common and worth a look.
- Movement, gently. About 150 minutes a week of anything that gets you slightly out of breath: walking, swimming, a prenatal class. Broken into ten-minute pieces it still counts.
- Sunscreen. Pregnancy skin darkens more easily, and patches on the face can linger. A broad-spectrum SPF 30 in the morning keeps them from getting a foothold.
Common questions at 15 weeks
Can my baby hear me at 15 weeks?
Just barely. The bones of the inner ear are hardening this week, so the first sounds are getting through: your heartbeat, your stomach, and your voice as it carries through your body. Voices from outside come later, around 21 weeks. Talking, reading and singing now are for you as much as for them, and that is reason enough.
Is more discharge normal at 15 weeks?
Yes. From the second trimester on there is more of it, and it stays until birth. Thin, milky-white and mild-smelling is what to expect. Green or gray discharge, a strong smell, or itching and soreness with it usually mean a simple infection that is simple to treat, so mention it at your next visit or call before then.
Why is my skin so itchy in pregnancy?
The skin over your belly and breasts is stretching, and pregnancy hormones make it drier. Moisturizer after a shower, lukewarm water and loose cotton help. Itching that is severe, keeps you up at night and has no rash, particularly on your hands and feet, is worth a call so your provider can run a quick liver test.
What does the quad screen test for?
It is a blood test that measures four substances from your baby and the placenta, and combines them with your age and dates to estimate the chance of Down syndrome, trisomy 18 and spina bifida. It is a screen, not a diagnosis: a higher-chance result leads to an ultrasound or a diagnostic test, not a verdict.
Written from public clinical guidance, including NHS: Week 15, ACOG: How your baby grows, ACOG: Changes in your body, NHS: Vaginal discharge, NHS: Itching and intrahepatic cholestasis and ACOG: Skin conditions during pregnancy. This page is general information, not medical advice, and does not replace your provider.