Congratulations -- you're on week 15!

Your uterus can probably be felt about 3 to 4 inches below your belly button. Infact if you lay flat and pressing your hand down starting at your navel you will feel the top of your fundus or uterine shelf. Sometime in the next few weeks you'll be offered a quadruple marker screening test, which measures four chemicals in your blood -- alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), inhibin A, and estrogen produced by the placenta. The test is a more accurate predictor of Down syndrome than AFP testing alone. Amniocentesis, which tests a small sample of amniotic fluid withdrawn by an ultrasound-guided needle, is usually performed between now and 18 weeks. It may be recommended if you're 35 or older or if your AFP or quadruple marker screen test results were suspicious.

See "Things To Consider"

You may be feeling a little stress with upcoming testing and results. Just know that the more information you have the better you will feel. Find out all of your options.

Your baby is about 4-4 ½ inches and weighs almost 2 ounces. The bones are getting stronger and hair, eyebrows and an ultrafine hair, called lanugo has covered its body and is usually sheds by the birth.

You should know that the AFP test has a high false positive rate. You can get a positive result and undergo more invasive testing as well as a lot of stress and find that your test was false positive. You do have a choice of whether you want the test at all.  Do your research so you can make the best possible choice for you and your family. There is also a test that looks at your baby via ultrasound for abnormalities. This may be a great option before or in place of an amniocentesis.

• OBGYN/Midwife
• Hospital/Birth Center
• Acupuncturist
• Naturopath/Homeopath
• Vitamins and nutrition
• Ultrasound
• Prenatal Yoga
• Labor Support/Doula
• Childbirth Education
• Maternity Stores
• Chiropactor
  

None at this time

None at this time