Placenta: Medical Information & Health Facts

What is the Placenta?

The placenta is a unique, temporary organ that forms during pregnancy to support your developing baby’s growth and survival. This remarkable organ develops from both maternal and fetal tissues, creating a specialized interface between you and your baby. The placenta attaches to your uterine wall and connects to your baby via the umbilical cord, facilitating the exchange of nutrients, oxygen, and waste products.

The placenta typically measures about 20 centimetres in diameter and weighs approximately 450-500 grams at full term. Its appearance resembles a large, flat disc with a smooth fetal side and a rougher maternal side containing multiple sections called cotyledons.

The placental position within your uterus can vary, and doctors routinely check this during ultrasound examinations. Whether you have an anterior placenta or a posterior placenta, both positions are generally considered normal variations that don’t typically affect your baby’s development.

Functions of the Placenta

• Nutrient Transfer: The placenta delivers essential nutrients from your bloodstream to your baby, including glucose, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals necessary for growth and development.
• Oxygen Supply: One of the most critical functions involves transferring oxygen from your blood to your baby’s circulation while removing carbon dioxide and other waste products.
• Hormone Production: The placenta produces crucial pregnancy hormones, including human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), progesterone, and estrogen, which maintain pregnancy and prepare your body for childbirth and breastfeeding.
• Immune Protection: The function of the placenta includes acting as a selective barrier, protecting your baby from many harmful substances while allowing beneficial antibodies to pass through, providing early immune protection.
• Waste Removal: The placenta efficiently removes metabolic waste products from your baby’s blood, including urea and other toxins that could harm development.
• Blood Pressure Regulation: The placenta helps maintain appropriate blood flow and pressure between maternal and fetal circulations, ensuring optimal nutrient and oxygen delivery.

Structure of the Placenta

The placenta’s sophisticated structure enables it to perform multiple functions through a complex arrangement of tissues and blood vessels. The organ consists of two main components: the fetal side (chorionic plate) and the maternal side (basal plate). The fetal side appears smooth and shiny, covered by the amniotic membrane, while the maternal side presents a rough, lobulated surface divided into 15-20 cotyledons.

Microscopic finger-like projections called chorionic villi extend from the fetal side into the maternal blood spaces, creating a vast surface area for exchange. These villi contain fetal blood vessels that remain separate from maternal blood, preventing direct mixing while allowing efficient transfer of substances.

The umbilical cord, containing two arteries and one vein surrounded by protective jelly-like tissue, connects the placenta to your baby’s circulation.

This intricate structure develops gradually throughout pregnancy, with the placenta reaching full maturity by the end of the first trimester and continuing to grow alongside your baby until birth.

How Does the Placenta Develop?

Placental development begins shortly after fertilisation when the blastocyst implants into your uterine wall:

• Implantation Stage: Following fertilisation, the developing embryo implants into your uterine lining around day 6-7, initiating placental formation from both embryonic and maternal tissues.
• Trophoblast Formation: Specialized cells called trophoblasts invade the uterine wall, establishing the foundation for placental attachment and beginning hormone production.
• Villi Development: Chorionic villi grow and branch extensively, creating the complex network necessary for maternal-fetal exchange throughout pregnancy.
• Blood Vessel Formation: Maternal blood vessels remodel to accommodate increased blood flow, while fetal vessels develop within the villi to facilitate circulation.
• Maturation Process: By 12 weeks, the placenta assumes its primary functions, continuing to grow and adapt throughout pregnancy to meet your baby’s increasing needs.
• Final Structure: The fully developed placenta represents a marvel of biological engineering, perfectly designed to sustain life while maintaining the delicate balance between maternal and fetal systems.

Placenta and Pregnancy Health

A healthy placenta is fundamental to your baby’s proper growth and development. When the placenta functions optimally, your baby receives adequate nutrition and oxygen while waste products are efficiently removed.

Several factors can influence placental health, including maternal nutrition, smoking, alcohol consumption, and underlying medical conditions. Maintaining a balanced diet rich in folate, iron, and essential vitamins supports optimal placental function. Regular prenatal appointments allow your doctor to monitor placental health through various assessments.

Poor placental function can lead to complications such as fetal growth restriction, where your baby doesn’t receive adequate nutrients for proper development. This emphasises why understanding placental health is crucial for every expectant mother.

Common Placenta Conditions

• Placenta Previa: This condition occurs when the placenta covers part or all of the cervix, potentially causing bleeding and requiring careful management.
• Placental Abruption: This serious condition involves premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall, potentially causing bleeding and compromising oxygen supply to the baby.
• Placenta Accreta Spectrum: These conditions involve abnormally deep placental attachment to the uterine wall, making delivery more complex and potentially requiring specialised surgical management.
• Placental Insufficiency: This occurs when the placenta cannot adequately supply nutrients and oxygen to the growing baby, potentially resulting in growth restriction or other complications.
• Retained Placenta: Sometimes the placenta doesn’t deliver completely after birth, requiring medical intervention to prevent bleeding and infection.
• Vasa Previa: This rare condition occurs when fetal blood vessels run across or near the cervical opening, creating risk during labor and delivery.

Also Read: Anterior Vs Posterior Placenta: Are They Same or Different?

Placenta and Birth

The placenta after birth requires careful management during what’s called the third stage of labour. After your baby is born, the placenta must be delivered completely to prevent complications such as excessive bleeding or infection. This process typically occurs within 30 minutes of your baby’s birth.

During this stage, your uterus continues contracting to separate the placenta from the uterine wall. Your doctor will examine the delivered placenta to ensure it’s complete and healthy. The placenta after birth provides valuable information about your pregnancy and can help identify any issues that may have affected your baby’s development.

Postpartum Placenta Health

Monitoring your health after placenta delivery remains crucial for preventing complications and ensuring proper recovery:

• Complete Delivery Confirmation: Your doctor will carefully examine the delivered placenta to ensure no fragments remain in your uterus, as retained tissue can cause serious complications.
• Bleeding Monitoring: Normal postpartum bleeding (lochia) should gradually decrease over several weeks. Heavy bleeding, large clots, or sudden increases in bleeding may indicate placental complications.
• Infection Prevention: Proper hygiene and monitoring for signs of infection, including fever, foul-smelling discharge, or severe abdominal pain, help ensure healthy recovery.
• Uterine Contraction Assessment: Your doctor will check that your uterus contracts properly after placenta delivery to control bleeding and begin the healing process.
• Follow-up Care: Regular postpartum check-ups allow early detection of any placenta-related complications and ensure your complete recovery.

Placenta Consumption (Placenta Encapsulation)

Some women consider consuming their placenta after birth, often through encapsulation, believing it may provide health benefits. However, major health organisations, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), caution against this practice due to potential risks.

Scientific evidence doesn’t support claims that consuming the placenta improves mood, increases energy, or enhances milk production. Instead, concerns exist about potential contamination, infection risks, and exposure to toxins that may have accumulated in the placenta during pregnancy.

If you’re considering placenta encapsulation or consumption, discuss this decision thoroughly with your doctor.

Placenta: Myths vs Facts

Why are Diagnostic Tests Important for Placenta Health?

• Ultrasound Imaging: Routine ultrasound examinations help determine placental position, identify conditions like placenta previa, and monitor placental structure and blood flow throughout pregnancy.
• Growth Monitoring: Regular measurements of your baby’s growth help assess whether the placenta is providing adequate nutrition and oxygen for proper development.
• Blood Tests: Maternal blood tests (such as Double Marker Test, First-trimester Test-VI, Serum Penta Screen (Free Beta HCG, PAPPa, AFP, Inhibin A, PLGF), Maternal Screen (Triple Test), Second Trimester Test and First-trimester Test-V, Serum Quad Test (Free Beta HCG, PAPP-A, AFP, PLGF)) can reveal markers of placental function, including hormone levels and indicators of conditions like preeclampsia that affect placental health.
• Doppler Studies: Specialized ultrasound techniques can evaluate blood flow in placental vessels, helping identify circulation problems that might affect your baby’s well-being.
• Treatment Planning: Diagnostic information about placental position and health guides decisions about delivery timing, method, and location to ensure the safest possible outcome.

Conclusion

Understanding the placenta and its vital functions empowers you to make informed decisions about your pregnancy care and recognize important warning signs. The placental position, whether anterior or posterior placenta, along with conditions like placenta previa and placental abruption, significantly influences your pregnancy journey and delivery planning. Knowledge about what a placenta is, the function of a placenta, and the various types of placenta helps you engage meaningfully with your doctor about your pregnancy health.

Regular monitoring through diagnostic tests ensures early detection of placental complications, enabling appropriate management to protect both you and your baby.

At Metropolis Healthcare, we understand the importance of comprehensive pregnancy monitoring and placental health assessment. With our extensive network of over 4,600 service centers and 10,000+ touchpoints across India, we bring advanced diagnostic services directly to your home. Our comprehensive portfolio of more than 4,000 tests includes specialised pregnancy panels and routine monitoring that support optimal health throughout your pregnancy journey.

FAQs

What is the placenta?

The placenta is a temporary organ that develops during pregnancy and connects the mother and baby through the umbilical cord. It supplies oxygen and nutrients, removes waste products, and produces essential hormones for healthy pregnancy development.

What are common placenta problems during pregnancy?

Common placenta conditions include placenta previa (covering the cervix), abruptio placentae (premature separation), placenta accreta (abnormal attachment), and placental insufficiency (poor function), all of which require medical monitoring and management.

Can you eat the placenta?

While some people consume the placenta after birth, believing it offers health benefits, scientific evidence doesn’t support these claims. Health organizations caution against this practice due to potential infection and contamination risks.

When does the placenta detach from the uterus?

The placenta detaches typically from the uterine wall and is delivered within 30 minutes after the baby’s birth during the third stage of labour. Failure to detach properly may require medical intervention.

References

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551634/
2. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000900.htm
3. https://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378%2815%2900851-0/fulltext
4. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6625ahtm