What is the placenta

Notify your doctor of any medications or supplements you are taking and also be sure to inform them of any prior placenta issues you may have had with previous pregnancies. Contact one of our office locations or book an appointment online to schedule your visit! Considering Sterilization or Tubal Ligation? Having your partner receive a vasectomy is likely a safer, less risky, and more affordable permanent birth control option. We're moving into a new office in Lake Success featuring modern facilities, multiple services, and of course our team of compassionate staff and Doctors.

Your body is changing at a fast pace and you might be asking yourself - just how much weight during my pregnancy should I expect? If you're still debating whether or not you should get the Covid Vaccine here are some facts on why you should. What does the placenta do? Some features, tools or interaction may not work correctly. There is a total of 5 error s on this form, details are below. Please enter your name Please enter your email Your email is invalid. Please check and try again Please enter recipient's email Recipient's email is invalid.

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Your name: is required Error: This is required. Your email: is required Error: This is required Error: Not a valid value. Send to: is required Error: This is required Error: Not a valid value. About the placenta The placenta is a large organ that develops during pregnancy. What happens to the placenta during pregnancy?

How to keep your placenta healthy It is important to visit your healthcare provider regularly during pregnancy to check for any problems with your placenta. Speak with your doctor or midwife if you have any concerns, or if you experience: severe abdominal or back pain vaginal bleeding contractions any trauma to your abdomen, for example from a fall or car accident Placenta complications Problems with the placenta can potentially be dangerous for both mother and baby: Placenta accreta : When the placenta grows too deeply into the wall of the uterus.

This can lead to massive blood loss during or after delivery and can be life-threatening. Placental abruption : When the placenta peels away from the wall of the womb before delivery. This can cause bleeding and will mean your baby may not be getting all the nutrients they need.

In some cases, an early delivery may be needed. Placenta praevia : When the placenta partially or totally covers the cervix, the opening through which the baby will come out. This condition is more common early in pregnancy and often resolves as the placenta moves higher in the uterus as the uterus grows. If the placenta is still covering the cervix close to the time of delivery, a caesarean section will be necessary.

This can affect the growth of the baby. Retained placenta : The placenta may not come out after the birth because it is blocked by the cervix or it is still attached to the uterus. This can cause severe infection or blood loss, and can be life-threatening. Options for the placenta after the birth In some cultures, families bury the placenta in a special place. Back To Top. Retained placenta A retained placenta is when part or all of the placenta is not delivered after the baby is born.

Call us and speak to a Maternal Child Health Nurse for personal advice and guidance. Need further advice or guidance from our maternal child health nurses? The wall of the blastocyst is one cell thick except in one area, where it's three to four cells thick.

The inner cells in the thickened area develop into the embryo, and the outer cells burrow into the lining of the uterus and develop into the placenta. The placenta produces several hormones that help maintain the pregnancy, including human Chorionic Gonadotropin hCG , which prevents the ovaries from releasing eggs and stimulates the ovaries to produce estrogen and progesterone continuously.

Home pregnancy tests measure levels of hCG in your urine. The placenta is fully formed by 18 to 20 weeks but continues to grow throughout pregnancy.

At delivery, it weighs about 1 pound. The placenta connects to the umbilical cord through thousands of microscopic "fingers" of tissue chorionic villi containing a network of blood vessels. The villi are formed by 6 weeks of pregnancy, and your blood fills the spaces around them by 12 weeks. When your blood comes in contact with the villi, nutrients are exchanged for waste through the villi walls. The villi also act as a filter, preventing some viruses and bacteria from reaching your baby, while allowing molecules of everything you ingest as well as antibodies and gases to pass through.

Along with all the good things that are transferred to your baby, some harmful ones can cross the placenta too. These include alcohol, nicotine, and illegal drugs as well as some medications. No safe level has been established for alcohol consumption during pregnancy , and experts recommend not drinking any amount while you're expecting. The same goes for smoking and using illegal drugs.

Although marijuana is legal in some states, experts recommend against using it during pregnancy. Discuss any supplements or over-the-counter or prescription drugs you may need or want to take with your healthcare provider.

Although the placenta acts as a barrier to most bacteria, some viruses and small bacteria can cross it. Many have no effect, but others can be harmful to a developing baby. A few minutes after your baby is born, the placenta detaches from the wall of your uterus and is delivered through your vagina. You'll have a few contractions, but this stage of childbirth usually lasts only about five to 10 minutes and feels more like menstrual cramps than labor pains. If you're having a c-section, your doctor will remove the placenta manually.

If you want, and if you've made prior arrangements with your provider, you can save the placenta. Some women believe that encapsulating and eating the placenta after birth helps them recover faster, though there's no scientific evidence to support this claim. Also note that there are potential risks associated with consuming the placenta, including infection and heavy metal contamination. Be sure to discuss this topic with your provider if it's something you're considering. Get vaccinated.

Some viruses can cross the placenta. Rubella , for example, can cause serious birth defects if you become infected during pregnancy. That's why it's important to make sure all of your vaccines are up to date before you get pregnant. BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals.

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