What is trimester-wise weight gain in pregnancy?

Appeared in: HPSSC - 2015

Explanation

The correct pattern of weight gain is approximately 1 kg in the first trimester, followed by 5 kg each in the second and third trimesters.
First-trimester weight gain is minimal (around 1-2 kg) due to factors like morning sickness and the small size of the conceptus.
Weight gain accelerates in the second and third trimesters (about 0.4-0.5 kg/week) to support the rapid growth of the fetus, placenta, amniotic fluid, and maternal tissues like blood volume and fat stores.

Option A: A 5 kg weight gain in the first trimester is excessive, while a 2 kg gain in the second trimester is insufficient for supporting fetal growth.
Option C: A 5 kg weight gain in the first trimester is significantly higher than the recommended 1-2 kg. Early excessive weight gain can be a risk factor for complications.
Option D: Weight gain in the third trimester is typically around 5 kg, not 2 kg. This period involves the most rapid fetal growth, and insufficient maternal weight gain can be a concern.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Physiological weight gain during pregnancy as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Monitoring weight gain is a crucial part of antenatal care. Nurses must accurately measure and plot weight at each visit to assess maternal and fetal well-being.
Inadequate weight gain can increase the risk of having a small-for-gestational-age (SGA) baby and preterm birth. Excessive weight gain increases the risk of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, macrosomia, and cesarean delivery.
Nurses play a key role in counseling pregnant women on appropriate nutrition and physical activity to achieve recommended weight gain goals based on their pre-pregnancy BMI.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core concept of the question, which is the standard pattern of weight gain during pregnancy, divided by trimesters.
Recall the general physiological principle: weight gain is minimal in the first trimester and then increases substantially and steadily during the second and third trimesters.
Evaluate each option against this known pattern.
Option (A) shows too much gain early and too little in the middle. Eliminate it.
Option (B) shows a small initial gain (1 kg) followed by larger, equal gains (5 kg and 5 kg). This matches the expected pattern.
Option (C) shows an excessively high gain in the first trimester. Eliminate it.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nutrition Kumud Khanna 2e p. 80-82

E6 Physiology Guyton 4SAE Part 3 p. 61-63

E6 Obstetrics Williams p. 78-92

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