Pregnancy › Week by Week › Week 15
At 15 weeks your baby is about the size of an apple. The bones are hardening, the ears and eyes keep developing, and there is a lot of movement going on in there, even though most people do not feel it for another few weeks.
Size
An apple
crown to rump
Length
4 in
about 10.1 cm
Weight
2.5 oz
about 70 g
Your baby at 15 weeks
Bones are hardening, the ears are tuning in, and your baby can sense light through closed eyelids.
Your baby is growing steadily and looking more and more like a newborn in miniature, with the skeleton and senses both coming along quickly this week.
Bones and hardening. The soft cartilage that formed the early skeleton is turning to bone in a process called ossification, and it will keep going for weeks. This is part of why a steady supply of calcium and the nutrients in your prenatal vitamin matter right now.
Eyes and ears. Though the eyelids are still fused shut, your baby can now sense light through them, and if a bright light shines on your belly, some babies will move away from it. The ears are developing on the sides of the head, and hearing is beginning to take shape.
Movement. Your baby is moving a great deal, kicking, wriggling, and even doing slow somersaults in all that space. Most people cannot feel it yet, but the practice is constant, and the first flutters are not far off.
How big is your baby at 15 weeks?
About 4 inches (10.1 cm) crown to rump and around 2.5 ounces (70 g).
Measurements are still taken crown to rump, from the top of the head to the bottom, since the legs stay curled in close. Your baby has real length now, and the proportions keep evening out as the body grows into that head.
Your body at 15 weeks
Energy and appetite are often up, though a stuffy nose and tender gums can tag along.
Many people feel steadily better through these weeks, with more energy and a healthy appetite to match your baby’s growth. Pregnancy hormones and the extra blood volume you are carrying can also bring some new company: a persistently stuffy or runny nose (sometimes called pregnancy rhinitis) and gums that bleed a little when you brush. Both are common. Staying hydrated, using a humidifier, and switching to a soft toothbrush can help, and it is worth keeping up with dental care since gums are more sensitive now.
You may start to notice a faint dark line running down the center of your belly, called the linea nigra, which is caused by pregnancy hormones and fades after birth. Your bump may be making its first real appearances too, and quick movements can bring on those sharp round ligament pains low on the sides as everything stretches. As sleeping on your back and front becomes less comfortable, a pregnancy pillow can make side sleeping much easier to settle into.
What is normal, and when to call your provider
A stuffy nose, tender gums, and occasional ligament twinges can be normal now, but call your doctor or midwife the same day if you have any of these:
- Heavy bleeding, especially soaking a pad, or passing clots
- Severe or persistent abdominal or pelvic pain, or strong one sided pain
- A fever over 100.4°F (38°C)
- Fluid leaking or a gush from the vagina
- Painful or burning urination, which can signal an infection worth treating
- Fainting, or dizziness that does not pass
Your week 15 checklist
- Keep taking your prenatal vitamin with folate every day
- Switch to a soft toothbrush and keep up gentle, regular dental care
- Ask your provider about second trimester screening options if you have not had them
- Try side sleeping now, a pregnancy pillow makes it easier
- Stay hydrated to help with a stuffy nose and overall comfort
Appointments and tests around 15 weeks
The second trimester blood screen is usually offered between about 15 and 20 weeks.
If you did not have first trimester combined screening, a second trimester maternal blood screen (often called the quad screen) is typically offered from around 15 weeks. It estimates the chance of certain chromosomal conditions and neural tube differences, and like all screening, it gives a probability rather than a diagnosis. Some people also have a detailed ultrasound around this time that can occasionally suggest the baby’s sex, though the reliable look usually comes at the anatomy scan between 18 and 20 weeks. Your provider can help you decide which tests fit your situation, and it is completely fine to accept or decline any of them.
A few things worth having on hand now
A note for your partner
This is a fun stretch to lean into together. Talk to the bump if you feel like it, since your baby’s hearing is starting to develop and familiar voices are worth getting used to early. On the practical side, a small kindness like handling a humidifier or picking up a soft toothbrush goes a long way when a stuffy nose and tender gums are part of daily life.
You are not alone this week
Fifteen weeks can be a settled, hopeful place to be, though it is also normal to feel impatient to reach the next milestones like the first kicks and the anatomy scan. If some old symptoms have swapped for new ones, that is very ordinary. Wherever you are this week, you are in good company.
15 weeks pregnant, common questions
Can they tell the sex at 15 weeks?
Sometimes. A detailed ultrasound around now can occasionally suggest the baby’s sex, and blood tests like NIPT can indicate it earlier. The reliable confirmation for most people comes at the anatomy scan between 18 and 20 weeks.
Why is my nose so stuffy all of a sudden?
Pregnancy hormones and increased blood flow can swell the lining of your nose, a common condition called pregnancy rhinitis. Staying hydrated, running a humidifier, and using saline drops can ease it. It usually clears up after birth.
Is it normal for my gums to bleed when I brush?
Yes, this is very common in pregnancy as hormones make gums more sensitive and prone to inflammation. Switch to a soft toothbrush, keep brushing gently and flossing, and keep up with dental checkups, since gum health matters now.
When will I feel the baby kick?
Most people feel the first flutters between 16 and 22 weeks, often earlier in a second or later pregnancy. At 15 weeks your baby is moving constantly, but there is usually still too much room to feel it clearly.
Sources
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), prenatal screening and second trimester care guidance.
- Mayo Clinic, Fetal development: the 2nd trimester.
- MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine (NIH), Fetal development and prenatal care.
Medical disclaimer: This page is for information and education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Every pregnancy is different. Always follow the guidance of your doctor, midwife, or qualified provider, and contact them with any concerns.