15 Weeks Pregnant

Your baby is about the size of an apple — roughly 4 inches long and weighing around 2.5 ounces. Small but growing fast.

One of the most exciting developments this week is your baby's sensitivity to light. Even though their eyelids are fused shut and will remain so for several more weeks, the eyes can now detect brightness. If you were to shine a flashlight on your belly, your baby might actually turn away from the light. Their nasal bones are also now clearly visible on ultrasound, which is one of the markers doctors look at during screening assessments.

Your baby's legs have officially outgrown their arms, and the body proportions are starting to look more like a newborn's. The skeleton is continuing to develop — bones that were soft cartilage are beginning to harden, or ossify. Your baby is also practicing breathing movements, inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid to help the lungs develop.

If you had an ultrasound this week, you might catch your baby sucking their thumb, making faces, or stretching out those growing limbs. Coming from week 14, the changes are accelerating.

Welcome to the part of pregnancy many women actually enjoy. If the first trimester was defined by nausea and exhaustion, the second trimester often brings a noticeable improvement in how you feel. Your energy is returning, your appetite is back, and you might finally feel like yourself again — or at least a version of yourself that is also growing a human.

That said, the "glow" is not universal. Some women still feel queasy at 15 weeks, and that is completely normal. Hormones affect everyone differently, and there is no rulebook for when symptoms improve.

You may notice your nose is stuffier than usual, or that you are getting occasional nosebleeds. This is caused by the extra blood your body is producing — your blood volume increases by about 50% during pregnancy, and the delicate blood vessels in your nose feel the effects. A humidifier by your bed can help. Some women also begin to feel round ligament pain around this time — sharp twinges in the lower abdomen caused by your growing uterus stretching the supporting ligaments.

Your uterus is now about halfway between your pubic bone and your belly button. Some women have a visible bump at this point; others are still in the "is she pregnant or did she have a big lunch?" stage. Both are normal.

The second trimester is a good time to get ahead on appointments and preparations while your energy is up. With the boost in energy, many women find this a great time to start a pregnancy exercise routine — even gentle walking or swimming can make a real difference.

Next week at 16 weeks, your baby will be the size of an avocado and may be able to hear sounds for the first time. If this is not your first pregnancy, you might even start feeling those first tiny flutters of movement — called quickening.

If you are experiencing heartburn, you are not alone — it is one of the most common second trimester complaints and tends to stick around.

This guide is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider with any questions about your pregnancy.