PREGNANCY WEEK BY WEEK, WEEK 15

What is happening with your baby:
Your baby now measures about 4 inches long from crown to rump and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces; roughly the size of an apple.  She is busy moving about in the amniotic fluid, as she moves the fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract; this helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop.  Her legs are now growing longer than her arms and she can move all of her joints and limbs.  Her eyelids are still fused shut but she can sense light. 

How your life is changing:
You have probably gained approximately 5 pounds (although this varies from woman to woman) and are well into your pregnancy.  Most of your early pregnancy discomforts are probably about gone by now, but you may be surprised at other symptoms that arise from time to time, such as a stuffy nose.  This symptom is very common but for many first timers, you may not be aware of this.  You may mistake this as thinking you are getting sick.  But many women suffer from the pregnancy induced stuffy nose; most likely caused by hormonal changes and increased blood flow to your mucous membranes.  The medical name for this condition is "rhinitis of pregnancy."  Many pregnant women also suffer from nosebleeds, which can be caused from increased blood volume and blood vessel expansion in the nose.

If you are having an amniocentesis, you will most likely be having that test between now and 18 weeks.  An amniocentesis can identify hundreds of genetic and chromosomal disorders.