Women’s Services
This week, your baby is as big as an apple.
The following information was reviewed by Dr. Cheng Ka Ning, Katherine
Your baby can now hear sounds from the outside world so its the time to start speaking to them!
The baby has grown taste buds and will taste what you taste. If you set an example by eating more fruits and vegetables and eating less snacks, it may help your baby develop a taste for healthy eating.
From the second trimester, you gain an average of about 0.3-0.5 kilograms (kg) per week, which is equivalent to 0.7-1.1 pounds (lb), and your baby bump gradually becomes obvious. Rest assured, weight gain is a normal and healthy part of the process.
Your baby is growing taller. Their length from head to hip will be about 10 to 13 cm and their weight will be about 40 to 100 grams. The bones of the arms and legs become harder and stronger.
The ears that were originally located at the back of the neck gradually moved to the sides of the head. Your baby's vocal cords are also forming, and you'll hear him cry right after birth!
By swallowing the amniotic fluid, the baby is practicing breathing and swallowing so as to be prepared after birth.
The baby's skin is still very thin, almost transparent, and blood vessels under the skin are clearly visible. Worried about your baby being cold? By this time your baby has tiny, soft lanugo hair to help keep him warm.
At 15 weeks pregnant, morning sickness and nausea should have decreased but if your nausea persists, seek guidance from your obstetrician who will be able to provide the right medication or supplements to aid your pain.
Hormonal changes can affect the health of your teeth, such as possible gum inflammation and/or bleeding.
Pregnancy hormones can cause the nasal lining and blood vessels to swell, causing a runny or stuffy nose.
As your breasts prepare for breastfeeding, they become sensitive, and you may even have colostrum leaking from your nipples.
Increased vaginal discharge is normal during pregnancy. The discharge is usually thin, clear, or milky white, and the odor is not unpleasant. If there is a bad smell, itching, pain in the genital area or pain when urinating it may be a sign of infection. Seek advice from your obstetrician as soon as possible should you feel any of these symptoms.
If previous non-invasive prenatal screening results are abnormal, order diagnostic tests such as a chorionic villi test (usually performed between 11 and 14 weeks) or amniocentesis (usually performed between 16 and 20 weeks) to confirm results. It is worth noting that chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis are invasive procedures that slightly increase the risk of miscarriage in pregnant women. If in any doubt, you should consult your obstetrician.
It is advisable to eat small and frequent meals, and choose lean protein (such as skinless chicken, lean meat, seafood, beans) and dairy products or plant milk with added calcium, and eat low-mercury deep-sea fish such as salmon 2 or 3 times a week. Speak to a Nutritionist about which foods will help digestion and reduce constipation, bloating and diarrhoea.
Usually by the second trimester, morning sickness and nausea have decreased but if your nausea persists, seek guidance from your doctor who will be able to provide the right medication or supplements to aid your pain.
Whether you’re planning for an addition to your family or are already pregnant, OT&P’s Maternity Team is here to help.