All About Placenta

The placenta is a temporary organ that forms inside of your uterus during pregnancy. It helps to nourish your baby and flushes out excess wastes that form throughout the three trimesters of pregnancy. Often referred to as the afterbirth, the placenta is formed out of the same cells that your baby forms out of.

The placenta is flat and shaped like a pancake, and has two sides: one side (known as the maternal side) attaches firmly to the inside wall of your uterus; the other side (the fetal side) faces the baby and provides him with nourishment through the umbilical cord.

What does the Placenta Do?

The placenta has a number of different functions throughout pregnancy:

Nutrient and Oxygen Supply
The main function of the placenta is to support your baby throughout the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy. Without the placenta, your baby would not be able to receive the oxygen and nutrients that she needs to ensure healthy development.

The fetal side of the placenta is made up of thousands of crisscrossing blood vessels. These blood vessels contain your baby’s blood and waste products. The maternal side of the placenta is made up of pools of your blood, which contain the oxygen and nutrients that your baby needs to survive. The placenta acts as transfer agent, helping to transfer the oxygen and nutrients from your blood to your baby’s blood vessels. Meanwhile, your baby’s waste is transferred from her blood vessels into your bloodstream. At no time does your blood ever mix with your baby’s blood.

Hormonal Support
The placenta also offers hormonal support throughout your pregnancy. It releases estrogen, progesterone, and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) into your bloodstream. These hormones help to ensure that your body goes through the proper changes during pregnancy.

Filtration
In order to make sure that your baby doesn't absorb any waste or chemicals from your blood, the placenta acts as a filter to keep these things out of your baby's system. However, the placenta does not provide complete protection from all dangerous products: cigarette smoke, alcohol, and certain medications can cross the placenta.

Monitoring the Placenta
Throughout your pregnancy, your health care provider will monitor the health and development of your placenta. This is typically done during ultrasound examinations. In particular, your health care provider will look for:

Placental Grade: Placental grade refers to the age of the placenta. The age of the placenta can be determined by the number of white spots (calcifications) found on the surface of the organ. If your placenta has too many of these calcifications for your baby’s age, it could be a sign that your placenta is aging too quickly.
Placental Location: Your health care provider will also examine where your placenta has attached to your uterus. The placenta typically attaches at the top of the uterus, however it can also attach at the back or front of the uterus.

Delivery of the Placenta
The placenta is typically delivered within 30 minutes of birth. After your baby is born, your body will continue to experience contractions. These contractions are not usually as painful as those associated with childbirth, however. During these contractions, the placenta will separate from the wall of your uterus, and begin to move down the birth canal. You will feel the urge to push and will be able to deliver the placenta.

It is important that the placenta be delivered as intact as possible. If any pieces of placenta remain in the body there is a chance that you could develop an infection. Signs of infection include uterine tenderness, bleeding, or fever. Visit your health care provider as soon as possible should you experience any of these symptoms.

Placenta Problems and Traditions

Unfortunately, there are certain complications associated with the placenta during pregnancy. Some of these complications can be quite severe and may pose a health threat for you or your baby. Your health care provider will monitor you regularly for signs of these placental problems:

Placental Abruption: Placental abruption is quite common during pregnancy. It occurs when the placenta begins to detach from the uterine wall before labor and delivery. Most often occurring during the third trimester, placental abruption can be full or partial, and increases your chances of experiencing a preterm delivery. When serious, placental abruption can deprive your baby of much-needed oxygen and nutrients, leading to a stillbirth.
Placenta Previa: Placenta previa is another very common placental complication. It occurs when the placenta is located very low in the uterus, covering your cervix. This prevents baby from entering the birth canal properly during labor and delivery. As with placental abruption, placenta previa can be full or partial. Possible complications of placental abruption include vaginal bleeding and preterm delivery.
Placenta Accreta: Placenta accreta is a much more rare type of placental complication. It occurs when the placenta attaches too firmly to the uterine wall, making it impossible to deliver. Occasionally, placenta accreta can result in uterine rupture or bleeding.

Placental Traditions
Though many of us in North America simply throw the placenta away after birth, there are actually centuries of rich traditions regarding the placenta. Many cultures follow specific rituals in order to honor their children and the role that the placenta played in their birth.

Indonesia: In Indonesia, the placenta is seen as the baby’s twin or elder sibling. This placenta will act as the child’s guardian angel throughout life. Therefore, it must be treated well, and is buried according to specific traditions. It is the father’s responsibility to clean, wrap, and bury the placenta on the day of the birth.
China: The Chinese view the placenta as a life-giving force. Therefore, it is dried and added to certain placenta recipes in order to increase a person’s energy and vitality.
Africa: In certain African nations, the placenta is swaddled in blankets and buried beneath a tree. This tree symbolizes ongoing life.

When you give birth, you may decide to keep your placenta or donate it to medical science. Or you may decide to follow one of the traditions that your own culture has regarding the placenta.