What happens during the anabolic phase of pregnancy?

What happens during the anabolic phase of pregnancy?

• A. First half of pregnancy; estrogen stimulates insulin production to promote storage of glucose as glycogen; increases fat synthesis and maternal protein storage
• B. Second half; catabolic state; mobilizes glucose
• C. Throughout; insulin resistance leads to hyperglycemia
• D. Only during labor; not during pregnancy

Answer: (A)

In the anabolic phase, the body stores nutrients to support fetal growth, and this primarily occurs in the first half of pregnancy. Estrogen promotes insulin production, which helps drive glucose into storage as glycogen in the liver and muscle. It also supports fat synthesis and maternal protein storage. These storage processes create energy reserves the mother can draw on as the fetus grows. As pregnancy progresses, the body shifts toward a catabolic state, mobilizing those stored nutrients to meet fetal demands, which is why the later period is described differently. The other choices describe phases or conditions that don’t fit the anabolic period—the accumulation and storage focus in early pregnancy is the hallmark, not ongoing insulin resistance with hyperglycemia throughout the whole pregnancy, nor a state limited to labor.

In the anabolic phase, the body stores nutrients to support fetal growth, and this primarily occurs in the first half of pregnancy. Estrogen promotes insulin production, which helps drive glucose into storage as glycogen in the liver and muscle. It also supports fat synthesis and maternal protein storage. These storage processes create energy reserves the mother can draw on as the fetus grows.

As pregnancy progresses, the body shifts toward a catabolic state, mobilizing those stored nutrients to meet fetal demands, which is why the later period is described differently. The other choices describe phases or conditions that don’t fit the anabolic period—the accumulation and storage focus in early pregnancy is the hallmark, not ongoing insulin resistance with hyperglycemia throughout the whole pregnancy, nor a state limited to labor.