What are warning signs at 15 weeks pregnant?

Severe abdominal or one-sided pelvic pain with bleeding — possible ectopic pregnancy.; Heavy vaginal bleeding (soaking a pad in an hour) with cramping.; Fainting, severe dizziness, or shoulder-tip pain — ectopic with internal bleeding is an emergency.; Fever over 101°F with chills or pelvic pain.; Severe vomiting that prevents keeping any fluids down for 24+ hours (hyperemesis).;

Second trimester · Pregnancy week by week

Week 15 of pregnancy

Q: How big is the baby at 15 weeks?

size of an apple. The fetus's bones continue to harden. Tiny eyebrows and hair appear. The skin is still translucent. The fetus may sense light through closed eyelids. Limbs move smoothly.

Baby is the size of an apple. About 4.00 inches, 70g.

By week 15, fetal heart rate is around 140 bpm. Black women experience symptom dismissal at significantly higher rates — Bryant 2010 documented this pattern starts in the second trimester. Source

What's happening with the baby

The fetus's bones continue to harden. Tiny eyebrows and hair appear. The skin is still translucent. The fetus may sense light through closed eyelids. Limbs move smoothly.

What's happening for you

Many women have classic 'glowing' look as blood volume increases. Some experience increased libido. Bump becomes obvious. Maternal heart works harder; resting heart rate rises 10–20 bpm above baseline.

Common (normal) symptoms this week

Increased blood volume, slight shortness of breath at exertion, mild back ache, round-ligament pain, skin changes (linea nigra, melasma), increased appetite, vivid dreams.

Call your OB or 911 if

Severe abdominal or one-sided pelvic pain with bleeding — possible ectopic pregnancy.
Heavy vaginal bleeding (soaking a pad in an hour) with cramping.
Fainting, severe dizziness, or shoulder-tip pain — ectopic with internal bleeding is an emergency.
Fever over 101°F with chills or pelvic pain.
Severe vomiting that prevents keeping any fluids down for 24+ hours (hyperemesis).

Why this week matters for Black families

The second trimester is when the standard prenatal-care path diverges most sharply by demographic. The 20-week anatomy scan, the preeclampsia-prevention conversation, and the gestational-diabetes screening all happen here. Black women have higher rates of gestational diabetes, fibroids that complicate pregnancy, and a documented risk of missed preeclampsia diagnoses because early symptoms (headache, swelling, vision changes) are dismissed more often (per Bryant 2010 Obstet Gynecol PMID 20567176). If you have any of these symptoms, name them and ask explicitly: 'Has preeclampsia been ruled out?'

What to do this week

Confirm anatomy scan is scheduled. If you want second-trimester maternal serum screening (quad screen), it's done at 15–20 weeks. Begin researching delivery hospitals and birth plan options. If you want a doula, this is a good time to interview — many books up by mid-pregnancy.

Pregnancy / baby

Babylist

Universal baby registry across every store, with curated lists vetted by parents. Includes a Black-owned brands collection.

Start a registry

Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

References

Bryant 2010 — Obstetric care disparities, Obstet Gynecol
ACOG Practice Bulletin 226 — Maternal Serum Screening.

Last medically reviewed: April 25, 2026.

Free tools

Track your due date + check benefits eligibility

Estimate your due date, see your trimester at a glance, and check Medicaid + WIC eligibility for your state.

Due date calculator Medicaid eligibility WIC by state