Week by Week Pregnancy: 15 Week Pregnant

At 15 weeks pregnant, your baby is around 10.1 centimetres from head to bottom and roughly the size of an apple. As the second trimester progresses, your baby continues to grow rapidly. Fine hair called lanugo is beginning to develop across the body, while the eyebrows and eyelashes are also starting to grow.

This week also brings further sensory development. Your baby is beginning to hear, including sounds from inside your body, while the eyes are becoming sensitive to light even though they remain closed.

You may notice your pregnancy bump becoming more obvious. Increased vaginal discharge, stretching sensations around your abdomen, headaches, constipation, indigestion or nosebleeds can also occur during the second trimester.

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Use our Pregnancy Week Calculator to estimate your pregnancy week, or visit the Due Date Calculator to estimate when your baby may be due.

Contents

• What Does 15 Weeks Pregnant Mean?
• Your Baby’s Development at 15 Weeks
• What Is Lanugo?
• Are Your Baby’s Eyebrows and Eyelashes Growing?
• Can Your Baby Hear at 15 Weeks?
• Can Your Baby Detect Light at 15 Weeks?
• Can You Feel Your Baby Move at 15 Weeks?
• What’s Happening in Your Body at 15 Weeks?
• What Can You See on an Ultrasound at 15 Weeks?
• 15 Weeks Pregnant Symptoms
• Frequently Asked Questions

15 Weeks Pregnant at a Glance

Week 15 highlight
Your baby is now around 10.1 cm long. Fine lanugo hair, eyebrows and eyelashes are developing, while hearing and sensitivity to light are beginning to advance.

What Does 15 Weeks Pregnant Mean?

At 15 weeks, you are in the second trimester of pregnancy. Your baby measures around 10.1 centimetres from head to bottom and is continuing to grow quickly.

The body is becoming more proportionate, and your baby can move the arms and legs. The muscles and nervous system continue to develop, supporting increasingly coordinated movements.

There are also important developments in the senses. Your baby is beginning to hear, while the eyes are becoming sensitive to light.

Your Baby’s Development at 15 Weeks

At 15 weeks, your baby is around 10.1 centimetres from head to bottom. As your baby grows, the body continues to become more proportionate.

A covering of very fine, soft hair called lanugo is beginning to develop. The eyebrows and eyelashes are also starting to grow, adding further detail to your baby’s developing face.

Your baby continues to move inside the womb. The arms and legs can move, and your baby can kick and change position. However, it is still completely normal not to feel these movements at 15 weeks.

Sensory development is progressing too. Your baby is beginning to hear and the eyes are becoming sensitive to light, although the visual and auditory systems still have a great deal of development ahead.

You can explore how these changes fit into the wider stages of pregnancy in our Baby Development in the Womb guide.

What Is Lanugo?

Lanugo is the very fine, soft hair that develops on your baby’s body during pregnancy. At around 15 weeks, this delicate covering is beginning to grow.

Lanugo is temporary. Much of it normally disappears as pregnancy progresses, although some babies may still have small amounts on areas such as the shoulders, back or face when they are born.

Its development is a normal part of your baby’s changing skin and body during pregnancy.

One of the distinctive changes at 15 weeks
Fine lanugo hair is beginning to develop across your baby’s body, while the eyebrows and eyelashes are also starting to grow.

Are Your Baby’s Eyebrows and Eyelashes Growing?

Yes. Your baby’s eyebrows and eyelashes are beginning to grow around this stage of pregnancy. These are part of the gradual changes that make the facial features increasingly defined.

Your baby’s face will continue to grow and mature throughout pregnancy, so the features present at 15 weeks are still at an early stage of development.

Can Your Baby Hear at 15 Weeks?

Your baby is beginning to hear at around 15 weeks as the structures involved in hearing continue to develop.

The womb is not a silent environment. Sounds from your body, including your heartbeat, digestive system and your voice, contribute to the sound environment surrounding your baby.

Sounds coming from outside your body are filtered through your tissues and the fluid surrounding your baby. Hearing will continue to mature substantially over the coming weeks.

Can Your Baby Detect Light at 15 Weeks?

Your baby’s eyes are becoming sensitive to light at 15 weeks, even though the eyelids remain closed.

This does not mean your baby can see in the way a newborn or adult can. The visual system is still developing and will continue to mature throughout pregnancy.

Can You Feel Your Baby Move at 15 Weeks?

Your baby is moving at 15 weeks, but it is completely normal not to feel these movements yet. Your baby can move the arms and legs, kick and change position inside the womb.

Most people begin to feel their baby move between 16 and 24 weeks of pregnancy. If this is your first pregnancy, you may not notice the first movements until after 20 weeks.

There is therefore no expectation to feel a particular number of movements or begin monitoring your baby’s movements at 15 weeks.

Those first movements are getting closer.
Your baby is already active, but the first fluttering sensations you notice will usually begin sometime between 16 and 24 weeks.

What’s Happening in Your Body at 15 Weeks?

Your womb continues to grow during week 15, so your pregnancy bump may become more noticeable. Every pregnancy is different, however, and there is no particular bump size you should have at this stage.

As the womb expands, stretching of the supporting ligaments can cause short-lived pulling or sharp sensations around the sides of your lower abdomen.

You may also notice more vaginal discharge than before pregnancy. Healthy pregnancy discharge is usually thin, clear or milky white and should not have an unpleasant smell.

Pregnancy can also affect your skin, hair, gums and nose. Some people notice darker patches of skin, oilier skin, thicker-looking hair, sensitive gums or occasional nosebleeds.

Pay attention to changes in vaginal discharge.
More discharge can be normal during pregnancy. However, an unpleasant smell, green or yellow colour, significant change in texture, itching, soreness or pain when urinating can indicate an infection and should be assessed.

Next in Part 2
We’ll cover the 15-week ultrasound, your baby’s size, common pregnancy symptoms, vaginal discharge, thrush, itching in pregnancy, nutrition, vitamin D, exercise and second-trimester antenatal care.

What Can You See on an Ultrasound at 15 Weeks?

At 15 weeks pregnant, your baby’s head, body, arms and legs can usually be clearly recognised on an ultrasound scan. Cardiac activity can be assessed, and you may see your baby moving, kicking or changing position inside the womb.

Your baby is around 10.1 centimetres from head to bottom. The body is becoming increasingly proportionate, while the bones, muscles and other structures continue to develop.

Your baby may look very active during an ultrasound at 15 weeks even though you cannot feel those movements yet. What can be seen on a scan and what you can physically feel do not necessarily develop at the same time.

Your baby can be moving on an ultrasound without you feeling it.
At 15 weeks, it is still normal to see plenty of movement during a scan while feeling no movements yourself.

How Big Is Your Baby at 15 Weeks Pregnant?

At 15 weeks, your baby is around 10.1 centimetres from head to bottom and roughly the size of an apple.

Head-to-bottom measurements at this stage are often described as crown-rump length (CRL). Weekly measurements are averages, so your baby does not need to measure exactly 10.1 centimetres to be developing normally.

Ultrasound measurements are interpreted by healthcare professionals alongside gestational age and other clinical information.

15 Weeks Pregnant Symptoms

At 15 weeks, some first-trimester symptoms may be easing while new second-trimester changes become more noticeable. Your energy and appetite may increase, although nausea and tiredness do not necessarily disappear completely.

Other symptoms can include headaches, nosebleeds, sensitive or bleeding gums, bloating, constipation, indigestion, heartburn and breast tenderness. As your womb grows, you may also experience short-lived pulling or sharp sensations around the sides of your abdomen.

An increase in vaginal discharge is also common during pregnancy. Paying attention to changes in its colour, smell and texture can help you recognise when medical advice may be appropriate.

Is Vaginal Discharge Normal at 15 Weeks Pregnant?

It is normal to have more vaginal discharge during pregnancy than you had before becoming pregnant. Healthy pregnancy discharge is usually thin, clear or milky white and should not have an unpleasant smell.

This increased discharge is part of the normal changes that occur during pregnancy and helps reduce the risk of infections travelling from the vagina into the womb.

Contact your midwife, GP or maternity service if your discharge develops an unpleasant smell, becomes green or yellow, or is accompanied by itching, soreness or pain when you urinate, as these changes can indicate an infection.

Pay attention to more than the amount of discharge.
An increase can be normal in pregnancy. Changes in smell, colour or texture, or symptoms such as itching, soreness or pain when urinating, should be assessed.

Can You Get Thrush at 15 Weeks Pregnant?

Pregnancy can make you more likely to develop thrush. Typical symptoms can include itching and irritation around the vagina and vulva, together with a white discharge that is often described as looking like cottage cheese and usually does not have an unpleasant smell.

If you think you have thrush while pregnant, speak to your GP or midwife before using treatment. Some treatments that are used outside pregnancy may not be suitable during pregnancy.

Is Itching Normal at 15 Weeks Pregnant?

Mild itching can occur during pregnancy because of hormonal changes and changes to the skin. However, severe itching should not automatically be assumed to be a normal pregnancy symptom.

Contact your maternity service or another healthcare professional if the itching is severe, keeps you awake at night or particularly affects the palms of your hands or soles of your feet. These symptoms can require assessment for a liver condition called intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP).

If the itching is around your vagina and is accompanied by unusual discharge, soreness or irritation, thrush or another vaginal infection may need to be considered.

What Should You Eat at 15 Weeks Pregnant?

A varied, balanced diet remains important throughout the second trimester. Include plenty of fruit and vegetables, suitable sources of protein, higher-fibre carbohydrates and pregnancy-safe dairy products or alternatives.

You do not need to “eat for two” at 15 weeks. Even if your appetite has increased, there is no need to double your portions. Focus instead on variety and nutritional quality.

If constipation is becoming a problem, eating fibre-rich foods, drinking plenty of fluids and remaining physically active when appropriate may help.

Is Vitamin D Important at 15 Weeks Pregnant?

Vitamin D remains important during pregnancy. It helps regulate calcium and phosphate in the body, which are needed to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy.

NHS guidance recommends taking a daily vitamin D supplement during pregnancy. Your individual requirements may differ depending on your circumstances, so follow any specific advice given by your GP, midwife or specialist.

If you use a pregnancy multivitamin, check that it is suitable for pregnancy. Avoid supplements containing vitamin A in the form of retinol, as too much vitamin A can harm your baby.

If you have been prescribed a particular vitamin or a higher-dose supplement, do not change it without discussing this with the healthcare professional responsible for your care.

Can You Exercise at 15 Weeks Pregnant?

If you feel well and have not been advised otherwise, staying physically active during pregnancy is generally encouraged. Walking, swimming and suitable pregnancy exercise can all be options.

If you were not active before pregnancy, do not suddenly begin strenuous exercise. Start gradually and adapt the intensity to your fitness and how you feel.

As a practical guide, you should still be able to hold a conversation while exercising. If you become breathless while talking, you may be exercising too intensely.

Stop exercising and seek appropriate advice if you experience concerning symptoms such as vaginal bleeding, significant abdominal or pelvic pain, dizziness, faintness or feeling unwell.

What Antenatal Care Might Be Relevant at 15 Weeks?

By 15 weeks, your booking appointment, dating scan and any early pregnancy screening you chose may already have taken place. Your next steps will depend on your individual pregnancy and the antenatal pathway offered by your maternity service.

In England, if you chose screening for Down’s syndrome, Edwards’ syndrome and Patau’s syndrome but it was not possible to complete the combined test within the appropriate timeframe, you may be offered a different screening pathway depending on your stage of pregnancy.

The next major routine ultrasound is usually the 20-week screening scan, sometimes called the mid-pregnancy or anomaly scan. In England, it is generally offered between 18 weeks and 20 weeks plus 6 days and looks in detail at your baby’s physical development.

Next in Part 3
We’ll cover what can be normal at 15 weeks pregnant, when to seek medical advice, bleeding and abdominal pain, vaginal discharge, severe itching, common myths, your week 15 checklist and frequently asked questions.

What Is Considered Normal at 15 Weeks Pregnant?

At 15 weeks, some first-trimester symptoms may be easing while others can continue. You may have more energy, notice changes in your appetite or find that your pregnancy bump is becoming more noticeable. Nausea, tiredness and breast tenderness do not necessarily disappear as soon as you enter the second trimester.

Mild and short-lived abdominal discomfort can occur as your womb grows. Bloating, constipation, indigestion, heartburn, headaches, sensitive gums and occasional nosebleeds can also occur. Having more vaginal discharge than before pregnancy is common too.

Your baby is already moving inside the womb, but it is completely normal not to feel these movements at 15 weeks.

Not feeling movement at 15 weeks is normal.
Your baby is already moving and kicking, but most people begin to feel their baby move between 16 and 24 weeks.

How Can You Support a Healthy Pregnancy at 15 Weeks?

Healthy habits remain important throughout the second trimester. A varied diet, regular fluids, suitable physical activity and attending your antenatal appointments can all support your health during pregnancy.

• Aim for a varied, balanced diet.
• Drink fluids regularly throughout the day.
• Continue following UK pregnancy food-safety guidance.
• Avoid alcohol and smoking.
• Do not stop prescribed medicines without speaking to a healthcare professional.
• Check medicines, supplements and herbal remedies with a GP, midwife or pharmacist before taking them.
• Stay physically active if you feel well and have not been advised otherwise.
• Include pelvic floor exercises in your routine.
• Continue looking after your teeth and gums.
• Attend your antenatal appointments and any screening or scans you have chosen.

When Should You Seek Medical Advice at 15 Weeks Pregnant?

Pregnancy can cause many new sensations and physical changes, but some symptoms need medical assessment. Contact your midwife, GP, maternity service or NHS 111 as appropriate if you are concerned.

Seek medical advice if you experience:

• vaginal bleeding or spotting;
• severe, persistent or worsening abdominal or pelvic pain;
• abdominal pain that does not settle with rest;
• regular cramping or tightening;
• fluid leaking from the vagina;
• vaginal discharge with an unpleasant smell or a green or yellow colour;
• vaginal itching or soreness;
• pain or burning when urinating;
• a high temperature;
• severe dizziness, fainting or marked weakness;
• vomiting that prevents you from keeping food or fluids down;
• severe itching, particularly if it affects the palms of your hands or soles of your feet.

Some symptoms need urgent medical attention.
Seek urgent help for very severe abdominal pain, heavy vaginal bleeding, shoulder-tip pain, severe dizziness, fainting or loss of consciousness.

Is Bleeding Normal at 15 Weeks Pregnant?

Bleeding during pregnancy does not always mean there is a serious problem, but it should be assessed. The amount and colour of the bleeding, how long it lasts and whether you also have pain or other symptoms can help healthcare professionals determine what may be happening.

Contact your maternity service or another appropriate healthcare professional if you experience bleeding during pregnancy. Seek urgent medical help if the bleeding is heavy or occurs with severe abdominal pain, shoulder-tip pain, severe dizziness or fainting.

Is Abdominal Pain Normal at 15 Weeks Pregnant?

Mild, short-lived abdominal discomfort can occur at 15 weeks. Stretching of the ligaments supporting your growing womb, constipation or trapped wind can all cause mild discomfort.

Pain that improves when you change position, rest, open your bowels or pass wind may be less concerning. However, severe, persistent or worsening pain should be medically assessed, particularly if it occurs with bleeding, regular cramping, lower back pain, unusual discharge or urinary symptoms.

When Should Vaginal Discharge Be Checked at 15 Weeks?

Having more vaginal discharge during pregnancy can be normal. Healthy pregnancy discharge is usually thin, clear or milky white and should not have an unpleasant smell.

Contact your midwife or GP if your discharge smells unpleasant, becomes green or yellow, or is accompanied by itching, soreness or pain when you urinate, as these can be signs of an infection.

A white discharge that looks similar to cottage cheese, particularly when accompanied by itching or irritation, can be associated with thrush. If you think you have thrush during pregnancy, speak to your midwife or GP before using treatment.

Why Is Severe Itching Important During Pregnancy?

Mild itching can occur during pregnancy as your skin and hormone levels change. However, severe itching, particularly on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet, needs medical assessment.

Itching that is worse at night or severe enough to keep you awake can sometimes be associated with a liver condition called intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP).

Itching alone cannot confirm ICP. Your maternity team can assess your symptoms and arrange appropriate tests if necessary.

Is It Normal Not to Feel Your Baby Move at 15 Weeks?

Yes. It is normal not to feel your baby moving at 15 weeks. Your baby can already move the arms and legs, kick and change position inside the womb, but these movements may still be too small for you to notice.

Most people begin to feel their baby move between 16 and 24 weeks. If this is your first pregnancy, you may not notice movement until after 20 weeks.

You are therefore not expected to count or monitor your baby’s movements at 15 weeks.

Common Myths About 15 Weeks Pregnant

Your Week 15 Checklist

• Check your upcoming antenatal appointments.
• Find out when your 20-week screening scan is likely to take place.
• Continue with a varied, balanced diet.
• Drink fluids regularly throughout the day.
• Follow UK pregnancy food-safety guidance.
• Check that your medicines and supplements are suitable for pregnancy.
• Stay physically active if appropriate for your pregnancy.
• Include pelvic floor exercises in your routine.
• Pay attention to significant changes in vaginal discharge.
• Know which symptoms, including severe itching, bleeding and persistent abdominal pain, need medical assessment.

Key Takeaway

At 15 weeks pregnant, your baby is around 10.1 centimetres from head to bottom and roughly the size of an apple. Fine lanugo hair, eyebrows and eyelashes are beginning to develop, while hearing and sensitivity to light continue to advance. Your baby is already moving, although it is still completely normal not to feel these movements yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big is your baby at 15 weeks pregnant?

At 15 weeks, your baby is around 10.1 centimetres from head to bottom and roughly the size of an apple. Individual measurements can vary.

How many months is 15 weeks pregnant?

Fifteen weeks pregnant is commonly described as being around three to four months pregnant. Healthcare professionals usually track pregnancy in weeks because this is more precise.

Which trimester is week 15?

Week 15 is in the second trimester. Your baby continues to grow rapidly while your body continues adapting to pregnancy.

Does your baby move at 15 weeks?

Yes. Your baby can move the arms and legs, kick and change position inside the womb.

Can you feel your baby move at 15 weeks?

You may not feel movement yet, and this is normal. Most people begin to feel their baby move between 16 and 24 weeks. In a first pregnancy, movement may not be noticed until after 20 weeks.

Can your baby hear at 15 weeks?

Your baby is beginning to hear as the structures involved in hearing continue to develop. Hearing will become more developed over the coming weeks.

Can your baby detect light at 15 weeks?

Your baby’s eyes are becoming sensitive to light even though the eyelids remain closed. This does not mean that the visual system is fully developed.

Is vaginal discharge normal at 15 weeks pregnant?

Yes. More thin, clear or milky white discharge can be normal during pregnancy. Contact your midwife or GP if it develops an unpleasant smell, becomes green or yellow, or is accompanied by itching, soreness or pain when you urinate.

Can you tell your baby’s sex at 15 weeks?

The external genitals are developing, but identifying your baby’s sex on an ultrasound scan at 15 weeks may depend on the baby’s position and the quality of the view. It may not always be possible to give a reliable answer at this stage.

Should you have a pregnancy bump at 15 weeks?

Your bump may become more noticeable around this stage, but there is no particular size it should be. When a pregnancy bump becomes visible varies considerably between individuals.

Can you have abdominal pain at 15 weeks?

Mild, short-lived discomfort can occur as your womb grows and the supporting ligaments stretch. Severe, persistent or worsening pain, particularly when accompanied by bleeding or other concerning symptoms, should be medically assessed.

What happens at 16 weeks pregnant?

During week 16, your baby continues to grow and the nervous system and movements develop further. Some people may also begin to notice their baby’s first movements during the weeks ahead.

Related Guides

• 13 Weeks Pregnant
• 14 Weeks Pregnant
• Pregnancy Week Calculator
• Due Date Calculator
• Baby Development in the Womb

References

• NHS – 15 Weeks Pregnant
• NHS – Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy
• NHS – Your Baby's Movements
• NHS – Vaginal Discharge in Pregnancy
• NHS – Thrush in Pregnancy
• NHS – Itching and Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy
• NHS – Stomach Pain in Pregnancy
• NHS – Vaginal Bleeding in Pregnancy
• NHS – Healthy Diet in Pregnancy
• NHS – Vitamins, Supplements and Nutrition in Pregnancy
• NHS – Exercise in Pregnancy
• NHS – 20-week Screening Scan
• NICE – Antenatal Care

Medical information: This guide provides general information and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Contact your GP, midwife or maternity service if you have concerns about your pregnancy or symptoms.