The placenta (translated from Latin means "tortilla") - the body that develops in the uterus during pregnancy and in communication between the mother and fetus. In the placenta, there are complex biological processes that ensure the harmonious development of the fetus, gas exchange, synthesis of hormones, immune regulation.
In normal pregnancy, the placenta is located in the body of the uterus is most often on the rear wall, but sometimes at the front or at the bottom of the uterus. This is due to the fact that the rear wall is less subject to change and is better protected from exposure to injury.
Fully placenta is formed by the 15-16 th week of pregnancy, and after the 20 th week begins an active exchange of placental vessels. From 22 to 36 a week is an increase in placental weight and at 36 weeks it reaches full functional maturity.
Externally, the placenta is like a round flat disk (hence the Latin name) and grows throughout pregnancy, getting on each term of its thickness.
| pregnancy week | placenta Thickness, mm | limit of normal |
| 20 | 21,96 | 16,7-28,6 |
| 21 | 22,81 | 17,4-29,7 |
| 22 | 23,66 | 18,1-30,7 |
| 23 | 24,52 | 18,8-31,8 |
| 24 | 25,37 | 19,6-32,9 |
| 25 | 26,22 | 20,3-34,0 |
| 26 | 27,07 | 21,0-35,1 |
| 27 | 27,92 | 21,7-36,2 |
| 28 | 28,78 | 22,4-37,3 |
| 29 | 29,63 | 23,2-38,4 |
| 30 | 30,48 | 23,9-39,5 |
| 31 | 31,33 | 24,6-40,6 |
| 32 | 32,18 | 25,3-41,6 |
| 33 | 33,04 | 26,0-42,7 |
| 34 | 33,89 | 26,8-43,8 |
| 35 | 34,74 | 27,5-44,9 |
| 36 | 35,59 | 28,0-46,0 |
| 37 | 34,35 | 27,8-45,8 |
| 38 | 34,07 | 27,5-45,5 |
| 49 | 33,78 | 27,5-45,5 |
| 40 | 33,5 | 26,7-45,0 |
But sometimes it is not correct, and sometimes more. In this case, it is a disease that can lead to termination of pregnancy.
However, with modern methods of treatment of severe consequences in such situations can be avoided.
Placenta thickness may increase for the following reasons:
• Rhesus conflict
• Iron-deficiency anemia
• preeclampsia
• diabetes
• infectious diseases
Quick placenta growth leads to its rapid maturation, and accordingly, the aging: placenta becomes the lobed structure, formed on its surface calcification, the placenta gradually ceases to provide the fetus with oxygen and necessary substances.
Also, the placenta is the degree of maturity - a figure that must be indicated on ultrasound, starting from the 2nd half of pregnancy. Thanks to him, doctors assess the nature of the changes and their compliance with the pregnancy.
Causes early maturity placenta can be:
• smoking
• alcohol
• insufficient intake of vitamins and minerals
• viral infections and bacterial diseases
• abortion, miscarriage, multiple pregnancy
• chronic diseases of internal organs
• endocrine diseases
• late gestosis
• physiological characteristics
Placenta aged child is unable to provide oxygen and nutrients in the required volume, which is why there is a risk of intrauterine fetal growth retardation, malnutrition and intrauterine hypoxia.
Later maturing placenta is less common and is characterized mostly for congenital fetal malformations. In this case, you need to careful monitoring of the baby!
The degree of maturity of the placenta
• 0 degree (corresponding to up to 30 weeks);
• 1 degree (gestational age of 30 to 34 weeks, it can determine this degree since 27-28 weeks);
• 2nd stage (from 34 to 37-38 weeks);
• Grade 3 (37 weeks);
• Grade 4 (at the end of pregnancy, before delivery). This characterizes the degree of physiological aging of the placenta.
It should be remembered that the criteria for assessing the degree of maturity of the placenta is very subjective and may differ from each physician ultrasound diagnosis.
