Pregnancy Week 15 - Pregnancy Week by Week - Pregnancy Calendar

Your heart is increasing its output to supply the baby with oxygen. Your enlarged heart is pumping about 20% more blood than prepregnancy. This volume will actually increase throughout your pregnancy for an ending increased heart output of 30-50%. If your clothes are getting tight, do not try to cram yourself into clothes try maternity clothes. The maternal blood screening for neural tube defects, often called the Alpha-fetoprotein Test (AFP) (Quad or Triple Screen) may be offered at this point. It is a screening that is most accurate during the 15 - 17th weeks of gestation.

Your baby may have developed the habit of sucking his or her thumb! The skin is very thin and you can see the blood vessels clearly underneath.

Your baby is about 70 grams. The scalp hair pattern is developing. And the heart is pumping about 25 quarts of blood a day. This will increase to about 300 at term.

If mom is raiding your closet for clothes, you are not alone. However, there are products out there that you can try to help her extend the life of her prepregnancy clothes that don't involved pins, rubber bands or stealing your clothes!

This week we hear from other readers about what they crave in pregnancy. Did you crave the salty foods? Perhaps chocolate? Or was it something healthy like fruits and vegetables? There are even women who crave non-food substances which can be harmful, called pica. Or perhaps you craved spicy foods? Read what others had to say on the topic and share your thoughts.

What are your pregnancy cravings?

Tests like the quad screen may be altered because of a multiple pregnancy. In fact, for some women, this is how their twin pregnancy will be diagnosed. If you already knew that there was more than one, be sure that they use the appropriate scale for the measuring the test.

Birthing From Within by Pam England
A great look at what you can to do help yourself in pregnancy, labor and parenting. A total body/mind approach to birth and parenting.
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