The course of pregnancy is directly influenced by various factors, which include not only the emotional state, but also the diseases that have arisen or an exacerbation of acquired pathologies. The location and functionality of the placenta directly depends on their manifestation.
What is the placenta during pregnancy?
The placenta is the most important organ in which the full development of the unborn child occurs. It begins to form after 14 weeks, and after the placenta during pregnancy, it actively performs the following functions:
- Provides oxygen and nutrition to the baby. The formed carbon dioxide and all vital products are removed through the placenta.
- Provides the future baby with nutrients, aggressively affects most bacteria. But, unfortunately, drugs, alcohol, nicotine and narcotic substances pass through placental protection.
- It produces hormones responsible for maintaining pregnancy,
- Provides normal development and growth of the unborn child.
What will the ultrasound tell you?
The most reliable method to recreate an objective assessment of the condition of the placenta is ultrasound. During its holding, the thickness and location of the placenta is determined, the structure and its degree of maturity are evaluated.
Over the entire period of the placenta during pregnancy, there are several stages of development:
- Zero degree - the formation of the placenta occurs up to 30 weeks.
- The first degree - symbolizes the stage of growth of the placenta. When examining an ultrasound, individual sections of the organ are visible. This degree is characterized from 27 to 34 weeks.
- The second degree - during the ultrasound, the wavy structure of the placenta is more clearly manifested (from 34 to 38 weeks).
- The third degree - when examining an ultrasound scan, it is clear that the structure has a lobed shape, numerous calcifications are noticeable, i.e. placental aging occurs (from 38 to 42 weeks).
In a certain period, the placenta during pregnancy should have an appropriate thickness, which determines its normal performance. If maturation passes ahead of time, then they speak of early aging of the placenta. In this situation, it is important to regularly monitor the ultrasound and maintain the functionality of the placenta until birth. Hypertrophy of the placenta in pregnant women (aging of the placenta) is a rather dangerous disease, leading to hypoxia (lack of oxygen) in the fetus. Therefore, childbirth in women takes place a little earlier than the due date.
What happens to the placenta during childbirth?
After the birth of your baby, the placenta begins to contract again, which allows it to separate from the walls of the uterus. After childbirth, in order to make sure of its integrity, the doctor examines her. The presence of residues in the uterus causes a polyp .
A placental polyp does not occur during pregnancy. The main causes of its manifestation are incomplete removal of the placenta during childbirth, abortion or miscarriage. This disease can be recognized by the following symptom - prolonged spotting. If a problem occurs, consult a doctor. Otherwise, the polyp will cause many diseases - chronic infections, inflammation of the ovaries, and in advanced cases - causes infertility.
Polyps are diagnosed using an ultrasound machine. Their treatment is curettage of the uterine cavity.
If we talk about preventive measures, you should be aware that the main reason for placental polyps is poor-quality (possibly community-acquired) abortions. After a miscarriage or, for example, a frozen pregnancy, specialist supervision is necessary. It is unnecessary to remind that childbirth should be carried out by experienced specialists who will carefully perform a postpartum examination of the uterine cavity.
Watch your health. If any changes occur, notify the specialist immediately. Take care of yourself and your unborn child.