15 Weeks Pregnant - Signs of Pregnancy
Mother
At 15 weeks pregnant you may be offered another blood test. Don't worry if you aren't though as this usually happens sometime between 15 and 19 weeks of pregnancy. This test, which can be inaccurate, looks for a substance called maternal serum alphafetoprotein (MSAFP) which indicates the possibility of spina bifida, a neural tube defect.
Your baby has less likelihood of suffering from this condition if you have taken Folic Acid supplements before conception and during the early stages of your pregnancy.
If you're feeling tired at this stage you may be suffering from pregnancy related anaemia so you should ask your GP for a blood test and may be prescribed iron tablets. You can also increase your iron intake by including more lean meat, dried fruit and plenty of leafy green vegetables.
Baby
Lanugo, a fine covering of hair, is starting to grow over your baby's body. This hair will usually be lost before birth, although premature babies have more when they are born. His skin is almost transparent at this stage and the veins can be seen through it. He can squint, frown, grimace and grasp! His head is now more proportionate to his body and his legs are longer than his arms.