introducing the placenta
Also known as the “afterbirth,” the placenta is an incredible, oft-overlooked organ. If you’re not a birthworker, you might hear the word a handful of times in your life and not think too much about it. Many people probably couldn’t draw a picture of one if asked. Yet every one of us began our lives nestled next to one. Because I’m feeling quirky, we are going to learn about the placenta in a bit of a different way than usual.
ORIGIN STORY
Interestingly, the placenta is actually a fetal organ. When sperm meets egg, a clump of cells begins to form and implants into the uterine wall around 7-10 days following conception. A group of these cells embeds more deeply and begins to differentiate into the placenta over the next two months. Capillaries become larger blood vessels and begin passing oxygen and nutrients to your baby. As the first trimester draws to a close, the placenta takes over from the corpus luteum in sustaining your baby.
HEADQUARTERS
As your baby grows inside your womb, so does their placenta. In most cases, a fertilized egg will implant in the upper portion of the uterus. Because the uterus grows during pregnancy, the placenta can appear to move up until 32 weeks gestation. Usually it will move up and away from your cervix. Here are some positions you might here:
Posterior - back wall of the uterus, closest to your spine
Anterior - front wall of the uterus, closest to your abdominal area
Fundal - at the top of your uterus
Lateral - left or right wall of your uterus
Low-lying - near or covering your cervix (more on this later)
SUPER SUIT
What does a placenta look like? It depends on which side you’re looking at. The side that attaches to the uterus is meaty and reddish-purple in color. It’s also sectioned into many smaller lobes. The side closest to your baby will look grey. On this side, you will also see many blood vessels that feed into the umbilical cord. It is often likened to the image of a tree. In size, the placenta is around 10 inches across and 1 inch thick in the middle. The average placenta weighs around 1 pound.
SUPER POWERS
The placenta is your baby’s lifeline, acting as their lungs while they are in utero. One of the most interesting things about the placenta is that it’s the only temporary organ in the body. Through the umbilical cord, the placenta delivers oxygen, nutrients, and immune molecules from your body to your baby. In return, it removes waste products and carbon dioxide from your baby. The placenta also produces many hormones - relaxin, progesterone, estrogen, human placental lactogen, and oxytocin - that are important for both you and your baby during pregnancy.
VILLAINS
As with any part of life, there is always the potential for things to go wrong. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important for growing and maintaining a healthy placenta. However, complications can arise due to genetics or chance. Potential complications include:
Placenta accreta - the placenta implants too deeply into the uterine wall
Placenta previa - the placenta covers some or all of the cervix
Placental insufficiency - the placenta is underperforming and not delivering enough nutrients and oxygen to your baby
Placental abruption - the placenta separates from the uterine wall in pregnancy or early in labor
Retained placenta - parts of the placenta remain inside the uterus after labor and birth
While not always diagnosable, common symptoms include vaginal bleeding; severe abdominal or back pain; consistent contractions before full-term; and a baby that is measuring small for dates. If you ever feel concerned, it’s not a bad idea to contact your provider.
I am not a medical professional. The information in this post is not intended as medical advice. Please consult with your intuition and your healthcare provider about what is right for you and your family.
