How much weight should a pregnant client gain per week on average during the second and third trimesters?

• A. 0.5 pounds per week.
• B. 0.75 pounds per week.
• C. 1.5 pounds per week.
• D. 1 pound per week

Answer: (D)

After the first trimester, most pregnant clients gain about one pound per week to support ongoing fetal growth and the expansion of maternal tissues and fluids. For a person with a normal pre-pregnancy BMI, the typical total weight gain is roughly 25–35 pounds, and spreading that gain across the second and third trimesters usually comes out to about 1 pound per week. Learning this helps you balance fetal needs with maternal health.

Gaining only about 0.5 or 0.75 pounds weekly would be below the average for most pregnancies and could risk inadequate fetal growth, while gaining around 1.5 pounds weekly would be more than the typical pace and may raise concerns about excessive weight gain.