15 weeks pregnant

15 weeks pregnant

Hydration stations

By week 15 of your pregnancy, the mechanisms within your baby’s ears are in place, although they can’t yet make sense of the sounds they hear. Learn why staying hydrated is an important part of your pregnancy diet, how to do it, and what happens if you don’t.

Your baby's development at 15 weeks

Sensory development in week 15 of pregnancy

Around week 15 of your pregnancy, your baby’s ears are developed enough1 to hear sounds from within your body, such as your heartbeat, voice and digestive system. They can also pick up muffled sounds from the outside world. However, the auditory centres in their brain aren’t functioning, so they can’t make any sense of these sounds yet. Their eyes are also in the early stages of development, and although they are still fused shut, they now have some sensitivity to light.

Your baby’s ear mechanisms are now developed enough to hear your heartbeat.

When you are 15 weeks pregnant your baby’s skin is still very thin, and if you were able to look inside your womb, you’d be able to see their ribs and blood vessels under the surface. They’re becoming increasingly active now, using their time awake as a chance to practise moving their body and flexing their muscles. They may even have started sucking their tiny thumb.

Keep it fluid

It’s more important than ever to stay hydrated when you’re pregnant. The European Food Safety Authority recommends that women drink around 2 litres of water a day with an extra 300ml per day recommended during pregnancy. That’s equivalent to about nine or ten 250ml drinks per day.

It’s more important than ever to stay hydrated when you’re pregnant.

In addition to water, this includes all drinks like milk, fruit juices, squash, and even soup. Tea and coffee also count but it’s important to limit your intake of caffeine as drinking too much has been associated with an increased risk of miscarriage. And, just like any other time, you’ll need more drinks in hot weather or after physical activity.

Why is it important to stay hydrated when you are 15 weeks pregnant?

The human body is approximately 60% water and loses on average 2 litres of water a day. It’s essential that this fluid is replaced to:

Avoid dehydration
Enable your blood to carry nutrients around your body and get rid of waste
Reduce the likelihood of getting urinary tract infections, which can be more common in pregnancy
Maintain healthy bowel function