Your Pregnancy: Week 15 for Mom
By: ePregnancy
Baby Got Back!
By this time, your burgeoning belly is probably refusing to fit into your pre-pregnancy clothes. We know the trauma that comes with outgrowing an entire wardrobe in a few short months, but this time it's a good thing. Keep in mind, you are supposed to be gaining weight -- you are supporting two lives now, not just one. If you aren’t quite ready to transition to the maternity wardrobe, this is the perfect excuse to splurge on that Juicy Couture track suit. So take a cue from Sir Mix-a-Lot and shake that healthy butt!
Before too long, you won’t be able to sleep on your stomach or your back anymore. Your bump will soon make sleeping on your stomach uncomfortable, and sleeping on your side simply makes your heart's job easier. When you sleep on your back, the baby's weight places pressure on your vena cava, the large vein that carries blood to your heart from your feet and legs. Because you are still fairly small in the bump department, this is a good time to train yourself into side-sleeping.
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A really good body pillow (or two) would be an excellent investment, and if you procure the pillows now, you'll have plenty of time to experiment with the most comfortable and supportive positions. Some women like to place a pillow under their abdomen when they are side-sleeping for extra support. Others like to scrunch one up and nestle it between their legs. You might find that you like both! If you decide to purchase a pregnancy pillow, speak with your doctor first to see what she recommends.
While you're asking your doctor questions anyway, this is also a good time to talk about the triple screen, or multiple marker, test. In the next five weeks, your doctor may want to perform this simple blood test. The test measures the levels of three hormones: hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), estriol and AFP (alpha-fetoprotein). Estriol and hCG are both produced by the placenta, while AFP is produced by the fetus. Occasionally your doctor will check your levels of inhibin-A, which is also produced by the placenta. Abnormal levels can help your doctor spot babies who are at risk for certain birth defects, like spina bifida and Down syndrome. It's important to remember that the test is just a screen -- if your results are abnormal, your doctor will want to do more tests to complete the picture. In some instances, even though you tested abnormal, things may be completely fine, so the extra investigation is worth it.
Due Dialect: Multiple Marker Chemicals
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hCG -- stimulates your ovaries to produce progesterone until the placenta is formed; is critical to maintaining those progesterone levels throughout pregnancy.
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Estriol -- one of the three main estrogens produced by the body; produced by the placenta in significant amounts during pregnancy.
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AFP -- produced in the liver of the developing fetus and not usually found beyond 2 years of age.
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Inhibin-A -- participates in regulation of the menstrual cycle; elevated levels can potentially be a marker for Down syndrome.