Your baby is now able to move its arms and even make a fist! Their legs have grown longer than their arms and their body is now longer than their head. Ears are nearly in place and the three small bones in the middle ear have begun to harden.

Your baby’s development

By week 15, your baby measures approximately 10cm long from the top of their head to their bottom.

Bones continue to harden, and their legs are now longer than their arms. All their joints are now mobile.

At this stage, fine downy hair called lanugo is starting to appear on the skin, which is still thin and transparent enough to see the blood vessels through it.

Your baby’s ears are almost in their final position, although they are still set slightly low on the head. Taste buds are developing and as facial muscles take shape, they are able to show different facial expressions.

To help their lungs develop, your baby continually inhales and exhales amniotic fluid. They will continue to get all the oxygen they need from you through your own blood supply.

Your Body

At this point, your pregnancy hormones can start to create changes in your body, especially your teeth and gums. You may experience inflammation and an increase in plaque and bacteria.

You may find you’re getting a runny nose, have more saliva or are feeling more sweaty than usual. This is a result of the increased fluid volume in your body. Nosebleeds are common, as the capillaries in your nose expand.

During pregnancy your immune system is naturally suppressed, leaving you vulnerable to picking up colds and infections. Many medications can be unsafe for pregnancy, so it’s always best to check with your healthcare provider before taking anything.

Mentally, you may feel your memory isn’t as sharp as usual. Your concentration span might be shorter, too. Some research suggests that the brain changes size while you’re expecting, affecting your normal brain functions.

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Please note: These pregnancy week-by-week articles, are meant to give you a general sense of the growth and development going on within you. However, it’s important to remember that every baby develops differently, even during pregnancy.