Your Body

What to expect - week 15
As your baby is growing fast, you might have a sensation of tightness around your waist. You are likely to have lots of vaginal discharge or leucorrhoea. This is to keep your vagina clean and free from infection. Normal discharge is clear, white or creamy. You may also notice you have red, swollen gums that are prone to bleeding when you brush. It’s because of pregnancy hormones.
Taking care

Tips
- Start doing pelvic floor exercises. It will help prevent leakage (urine) when you laugh, sneeze or cough.
- Eat healthily, with plenty of fresh fruit and veg, and avoid processed, fatty and salty foods. However, don’t overeat! You don’t need extra calories until the third semester.
- Eat several small meals throughout the day instead of three large meals to prevent heartburn.
- If you feel light headed/faint find a place to sit or lie down. If you can’t find such place kneel and bend your head forward (as in putting the straps of your sandals).
- To reduce headache place a cool compress on your forehead. Look for a cool, dark place to rest.
Ask your doctor

Questions
- I am having a lot of discharge. Is that normal?
- How can I prevent gum disease?
- Am I gaining the right amount of weight?
- I am getting pain sin the lower sides of my belly. Is that normal?
- Is my blood pressure okay? Am I at risk of pre-eclampsia and do I need to take any medication to prevent it?
Questions you may have
I am getting a lot of vaginal discharge. Is that okay?
“Many women get this. Normal discharge is generally clear, white or creamy. If it changes colour, starts smelling badly, looks like paneer or get pain when urinating, I was asked to consult my doctor.”
How often should I get weighed?
“I was weighing once a week or once every other week at home. I was advised do it consistently, at about the same time and under the same conditions. I was also told that it is okay if I have once a month weigh-ins at my doctor’s clinic.”
Read more about weight gain in pregnancy.
Would you like to know how to decide who to consult during pregnancy. Click here.