Fetal Growth by Trimester: Development Milestones

Fetal development is organized into three trimesters: First trimester (weeks 1–12): organogenesis and initial growth; Second trimester (weeks 13–27): rapid growth, organ maturation, fetal movement; Third trimester (weeks 28–40+): weight gain, organ system maturation, preparation for extrauterine life. Understanding developmental milestones is critical for interpreting fetal surveillance, counseling about viability, and identifying growth concerns. On the exam, writers often pair stable-sounding options with unstable data—notice the mismatch before you commit. If the stem names a license or role, reread that line; scope errors are classic trap answers even when the clinical topic is familiar. Run a 60-second scan: breathing work and oxygenation, perfusion and end organs, neuro baseline, likely infection sources, and devices that can fail quietly. When two answers feel partly right, pick the one that reduces imminent harm and matches orders for the role you were given. Train yourself to state the primary risk in one short phrase before you read the options so distractors do not rewrite your priority list. On the exam, writers often pair stable-sounding options with unstable data—notice the mismatch before you commit. If...