The key to a successful pregnancy and normal development of the fetus in the womb is the normal functioning of internal organs the expectant mother and the absence of any pathologies. The same applies to the placenta, the organ responsible for supplying oxygen and nutrients to the fetus. People also call this organ a “children’s place.” If for certain reasons the placenta does not cope with its functions, then doctors talk about its insufficiency or early maturation. What threat could this pose to the baby?

Reasons for early maturation of a child's place at 31-36 weeks

Normally, the placenta has 3 degrees of maturity and the fourth - zero. Until the 30th week of pregnancy, zero maturity of the organ is optimal, which means that the placenta copes with its functions and the pregnancy develops normally. As a rule, during a screening study of a pregnant woman at 31-36 weeks, she is diagnosed with placental maturity 1, which is also the norm. If at this stage the “baby place” has a second or even third degree of maturity, then this indicates that the organ is not coping with its functions and there are a number of reasons for this. These reasons most often include:

• leading an unhealthy lifestyle - smoking, drinking alcohol, drinking too much coffee;
• frequent stress;
• lack of sleep and significant physical or emotional stress;
• self-administration of medications, in particular antibiotics or analgesics;
• past viral infections and other diseases during pregnancy.

Dangerous consequences of early aging of a child's place at 31-36 weeks

It is the placenta that is a kind of “intermediary” between the mother’s body and the body of the unborn baby, therefore it is extremely important that this organ copes with its responsibilities before the birth itself - this will ensure the birth healthy baby. At 31-36 weeks, the cerebral convolutions of the fetus improve, and with early maturation “ children's place“During this period, the child receives an insufficient amount of oxygen, which can lead to negative consequences:

• premature birth;
• , which may result in death;
• mental retardation and physical development against the background of insufficient blood supply to the placenta and the transfer of oxygen and beneficial nutrients to the fetus;
• infection of the fetus, since the placenta can no longer fully protect the child and “filter” substances entering the uterus.

Aging of the placenta: treatment at 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 weeks

When early maturation of a child's place is detected by ultrasound, a woman should be under constant monitoring doctors. Now antenatal clinic you will have to visit much more often, and, perhaps, even go to the hospital for a while. You should not refuse hospitalization if the gynecologist insists so, because every future mom interested in having a healthy baby on time.

Doctors cannot restore the original functions of the placenta during its early maturation, but their actions are aimed at restoring optimal blood flow in the vessels of the organ and maintaining the condition of the fetus in the uterus. For this, the patient is prescribed:

• intravenous administration of a glucose solution with vitamins for feeding the fetus;
• antispasmodics - to relax blood vessels and provide better access of nutrients and oxygen to the fetus;
• if necessary, medications used for respiratory failure are prescribed.

In addition to drug maintenance therapy, a woman should exclude nervous stress, try to rest more and breathe fresh air.

Childbirth during aging of the baby at 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 weeks

To assess the degree of risk to the fetus during early maturation of the placenta at 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 weeks of pregnancy, in addition to ultrasound, a woman undergoes special studies - and. If the development of the fetus does not correspond to its gestational age and is delayed by 2 or more weeks, then the woman must be sent to a hospital for treatment. With the progression of pathology from the child's place and obvious signs If fetal hypoxia occurs, doctors can offer the patient a cesarean section earlier than expected - this will save the baby’s life and allow him to be delivered in an intensive care ward.

Irina Levchenko, obstetrician-gynecologist, especially for the site website

The placenta is an important organ of a pregnant woman, which is formed and exists throughout the entire period of fetal growth. After the birth of a newborn, the child's place is rejected. This unique temporary organ connects mother and baby during pregnancy. It is thanks to the placenta that the baby receives the necessary nutrients.

A child's place, like any living organism, forms, matures and ages. Each of these physiological processes must occur at its own time. In this case, the pregnancy will be successful and the child will be healthy. If an expectant mother wants to know what, for example, the degree of maturity of the placenta should be at 33 weeks of pregnancy, she should use a special table with standard indicators. Such a diagram will be given in the article below. Thanks to it, you can find out whether the child’s place is developing correctly.

When is the placenta formed?

The word placenta is Latin for “flatbread”. This organ was named so due to its disc-shaped, flattened shape.

Approximately on the tenth day after conception, cells, the purpose of which is to ensure communication between mother and fetus, begin to actively divide. As a result, special enzymes are produced. Their task is to create favorable conditions in the uterine cavity for the subsequent possibility of saturating the child with nutrients from the mother’s body. After this, a constant blood exchange is formed between the pregnant woman and the baby. The growth of the placenta becomes so active that the size of this organ in the initial stages even exceeds the size of the embryo.

Next, there is a constant increase in mass and growth of the villous tree of the child's place. The branching of blood vessels continues due to the division of each of their processes into several new ones. Such a temporary organ completes the growth process almost before birth. The correct development of a child's place is characterized by such an indicator as a table with a corresponding description of the characteristics will be presented below.

What is the placenta for?

The main task of the placenta is to ensure the vital functions of the fetus throughout the entire period of pregnancy. The child's seat performs the following important functions:

• provides immunological protection of the fetus, passing the necessary antibodies of the pregnant woman to the baby, but at the same time retains certain cells of the mother’s immune system, which could trigger the mechanism of embryo rejection, mistaking it for a foreign object;
• removes toxins;
• protects the baby from the negative influence of the environment, the harmful effects of bacteria and viruses;
• performs the functions of an endocrine gland, synthesizing certain hormones that are necessary for a successful pregnancy;
• supplies the fetus with oxygen and removes the resulting carbon dioxide;
• delivers nutrients to the child and helps get rid of waste products.

The condition of the placenta has an extremely important impact on the condition of the baby and the process of pregnancy as a whole. To maintain the health of this organ, you need to protect it from harmful effects of various types. For example, it is recommended to avoid crowds large quantity people, because even banal acute respiratory viral infections or acute respiratory infections can be dangerous. The expectant mother should not smoke. If a woman has sexually transmitted infections, she needs to get rid of them.

Standard placental thickness

From the very beginning of pregnancy, the placenta is actively growing and developing. By 16-18 weeks this organ becomes fully functional. The thickness of the child's seat increases slightly from day to day. This indicator reaches its maximum by 34 weeks. If the pregnancy proceeds well, then after another couple of weeks the growth and increase in the thickness of the placenta stops, and sometimes even declines.

This indicator, which characterizes the condition of the child’s place, can be determined exclusively by ultrasound diagnostics. The area with the greatest thickness should be measured.

If the thickness of the baby's place at a particular stage of pregnancy does not correspond to standard indicators, it means that the functioning of this organ is impaired. In this case, the child may also suffer.

Another indicator with which you can assess the condition of the child’s place is the degree of maturity of the placenta by week. A table with standard values ​​will help you correctly assess the situation. Now let’s look at cases where the thickness of the child’s seat differs from the standard one.

If the thickness of the placenta is greater than normal

The cause of excess in a pregnant woman may be anemia, gestosis, Rh conflict, diabetes. Also Negative influence Infectious diseases affect the condition of the child's place. Moreover, the danger exists even when the expectant mother is simply a carrier of bacteria. If a pregnant woman smokes, drinks alcohol or takes drugs, the thickness of her placenta may also increase.

The rate of aging of a child with such a pathology is accelerated, which means that this organ copes with its functions not effectively enough. If the placenta is thickened, it swells, the structure of its walls becomes different, and hormonal imbalance occurs. The result of such changes is insufficient provision of oxygen and nutrients to the child. This can cause the baby to be delayed, hypoxia, premature birth or even fetal death.

Based on the results of ultrasound diagnostics, Dopplerography or cardiotocography, the doctor prescribes drugs to a pregnant woman with a thickened baby's place that stimulate the utero-placental exchange and support the normal development of the baby. If the condition of the fetus does not cause concern, the doctor may limit himself to more closely monitoring the expectant mother.

If less than normal

A thin placenta may indicate hypoplasia of the baby's place. This is the name of the condition when this organ is underdeveloped and is not able to effectively cope with its functions.

An excessive decrease in the thickness of the placenta can be either a feature of the pregnant woman’s constitution (most often this happens in women of medium build) or be a consequence of a number of other reasons. For example, such a pathology may occur after the expectant mother has suffered from an infectious disease. Hypertension, hemolytic disease or atherosclerosis may also have an effect.

If insufficient thickness of the placenta is a consequence of any disease of the expectant mother, an increase in this indicator can be influenced by curing the corresponding disease. In other cases, the doctor uses drug therapy aimed at minimizing possible negative consequences child development.

The time has come to consider such an important indicator as the maturity of the placenta.

What is placental maturity?

The maturation of the placenta is a natural process that accompanies the growth of this organ. The development of a child's place occurs in such a way that it can fully and timely provide for the needs of the fetus.

The degree of maturity of a child's place is the most important indicator. With its help, you can assess the state of the placental complex. Also, this characteristic helps to timely identify pathological changes in the structure of the child’s place, which can have a negative impact on the fetus.

If pregnancy proceeds normally, then during its period the placenta passes through 4 degrees of maturity. Detailed description each of them follows below.

Degree of placenta maturity by week (table)

There are 4 degrees of maturity of a child's place. Each of them corresponds to a certain period of development of this organ.

Below is a summary diagram describing each stage of placental maturity by week. The table contains characteristics of the structure of the child's place and chorionic tissue at various stages of pregnancy.

The table shows that the zero degree of placenta maturity at 30 weeks is an indicator that is within normal limits. If the doctor, after examining the expectant mother, assessed the maturation of the child’s place in this way, then the pregnancy is going well.

A detailed description of each degree of placental maturity

The next stage of placenta maturation normally lasts from 27 to 36 weeks of pregnancy. During this period, the size of the child's seat stops growing, but its thickness gradually increases. The first degree of placenta maturity at 34 weeks is a good indicator. Although at this time after visiting the doctor, there is a possibility of finding out that the child’s maturation has reached the second level. And this will also be the norm.

From the 34th week, the calmest and most stable stage of the child’s growing up begins. The second degree of placenta maturity at 39 weeks is a boundary indicator. After this period, the development of the temporary organ should move to the third level. If such a transition occurs before the specified period, you should not worry. Most often, there is no reason for alarm in this case.

Next comes the third degree of maturity of the placenta. At 36 weeks and later, the baby's place enters the final phase of its development. During this period, biological aging of the temporary organ occurs. It is accompanied by a reduction in the exchange area of ​​the placenta and the appearance of a large number of areas of calcium deposits.

If a child’s place is ahead of its development norm or, conversely, lags behind it, pathologies may develop. Such situations are discussed below.

Delayed development of the placenta

One of the problems associated with a child's place may be its premature maturation. We can talk about such a pathology if the 2nd degree of placental maturity has already occurred at the 32nd week of pregnancy. In this case, the condition of the fetus must be carefully monitored. After all, this situation indicates placental insufficiency. This common case will be discussed in more detail below.

Another problem, which occurs somewhat less frequently than the previous one, is the late maturation of the child’s place. Most often, this pathology is typical when there are birth defects fetal development. Additional risk factors are the future mother's disease with diabetes mellitus, Rh conflict, or the presence of such in the pregnant woman. bad habits like smoking or drinking alcohol. If there is a delay in placental maturation, the risk of stillbirth increases.

Premature maturation of the placenta

Development is considered premature when the second degree of maturity of the placenta occurs at or before.

The reasons for the occurrence of this pathology are as follows:

• gestosis;
• disrupted hormonal levels;
• diseases of the cardiovascular system or diabetes mellitus in a pregnant woman;
• the presence of pathogens of infectious diseases;
• hypertension in the expectant mother;
• multiple pregnancy;
• excess calcium in a woman’s body;
• placenta previa or placental abruption;
• Rhesus conflict;
• pregnant women's use of alcohol, nicotine, and narcotic substances.

Also, adulthood is considered premature when the third degree of maturity of the placenta occurs before the 36th week of pregnancy. However, early aging of a child's place in itself is not an immediate threat to the health or life of the fetus. This pathology is dangerous when the doctor, after examining the pregnant woman, reveals disorders that can lead to negative consequences. This could be his intrauterine developmental delay, the risk of premature birth.

Doctors should confirm the presence of pathology using other diagnostic methods. If the fears are confirmed, then the pregnant woman is prescribed appropriate treatment, in some cases even inpatient treatment.

Conclusion

The most important indicator of the condition of the placenta is the degree of its maturity. This characteristic makes it possible to evaluate both physiological and pathological changes in the temporary organ. Using the special table given in the article, the expectant mother can find out the appropriate degree of maturity of the placenta for a specific period of pregnancy. Week 31, for example, should be characterized by the first level of child development.

If the diagnostic results differ only slightly from the normative values, there is no need to worry. Trust your doctor. He will conduct additional studies, assess the condition of the fetus and, if necessary, prescribe appropriate treatment.

The placenta is an important organ that is directly involved in the development of the unborn child. Through it, oxygen and nutrients are supplied to the fetus, as well as carbon dioxide and other waste products of the baby are removed. In addition, the placenta has a protective function - it is it that protects the baby from all kinds of infections and reactions of the mother’s immune system. The formation of this organ begins approximately 12 days after fertilization, and only by the 37th week of pregnancy does the placenta reach maturity. Aging of the placenta is a natural and inevitable process. The stage of its maturity is determined by the doctor during an ultrasound scan.

The following degrees of placental maturity are distinguished:

• 0 degree – up to 30 weeks;
• 1st degree – from 27 to 34 weeks;
• 2nd degree – from 34 to 39 weeks;
• Grade 3 – after 37 weeks.

But in practice, the degree of maturity of the placenta does not always correspond to the period of gestation: for example, it happens that stage 3 is diagnosed in an expectant mother at an earlier stage, up to 37 weeks. In this case, they talk about premature aging of the placenta. Why does this happen, why is this condition dangerous and how to cope with it: the answers to these questions can be found in our article.

Causes of premature aging of the placenta

There are many factors that can trigger the development of this pathology. Doctors identify the following causes of premature aging of the placenta:

• Diseases of the endocrine system (diabetes mellitus, thyroid dysfunction);
• Traumatic injuries to the uterus (previous abortions or difficult births);
• Chronic diseases of the cardiovascular system, kidneys and other organs;
• Bad habits (smoking, alcohol, drugs);
• Toxicosis of the second half of pregnancy;
• Rhesus conflict between mother and child;
• Availability infectious diseases(toxoplasmosis, mycoplasmosis, herpes, cytomegalovirus, chlamydia, etc.);
• Little or polyhydramnios;
• Multiple pregnancy;
• Blood clotting disorder.

Diagnosis of premature aging of the placenta

Signs of premature aging of the placenta can be seen during ultrasound, as well as in the results of histological examination of the tissues of this organ after childbirth. However, it is worth noting that ultrasound cannot be called an objective research method. It happens that one doctor can see stage 2 maturity of the placenta, while another, using the same device, diagnoses stage 3 and talks about aging. Remember that ultrasound data are only the basis for additional examination and CTG of the fetus if the detected changes do not correspond to the gestation period.

With premature aging, ultrasound clearly shows that the placental tissue has become more dense. New vessels no longer appear, and the boundaries between the placenta and the wall of the uterus are increasingly visible. Sometimes calcium begins to be deposited in the organ, which ultrasound shows as small white inclusions. As it develops, the thickness and width of the placenta increases, and by the end of the gestation period its size decreases somewhat.

What are the consequences of premature aging of the placenta?

The consequences of premature ripening of the placenta can be very different, but this pathology does not always end sadly. If aging begins a little earlier than expected, then there is nothing dangerous about it. Sometimes the earlier onset of this process is due to the woman’s physiology, and therefore does not require treatment.

If the maturation of the placenta began before the 36th week, and its growth is observed before the 30th week, most likely we are talking about premature aging of the placenta. What does this mean? The organ no longer copes with its tasks in full - the baby begins to receive less oxygen and nutrients, which can result in malnutrition (low weight of the child) or intrauterine hypoxia.

Another consequence of premature aging of the placenta may be a disruption of the blood supply to the fetus. This pathological condition may result in early effusion amniotic fluid, miscarriage, placental abruption, etc. To prevent this, it is necessary to take appropriate measures in time.

Features of treatment of premature aging of the placenta

Therapy for such a pathology as early maturation of the placenta should be prescribed only on the basis of the results of a comprehensive examination and the conclusion of a gynecologist that there is still a problem. It is impossible to completely get rid of this, so the actions of doctors will be aimed at maintaining the condition of the pregnant woman and the fetus.

As a rule, treatment of premature aging of the placenta involves the elimination of risk factors, as well as complex drug therapy aimed at improving organ function and preventing intrauterine hypoxia. The expectant mother may need to lose weight, stop smoking, treat infections and gestosis, or take medications to reduce toxic effects on the fetus.

It is also possible to restore blood circulation in the placenta and ensure the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the fetus with the help of medications. You should not refuse if the doctor suggests that the woman go to the hospital to carry out all the manipulations. Hospitalization is necessary to provide the expectant mother with full assistance. 4.6 out of 5 (30 votes)

The placenta forms during pregnancy. The production of hormones, sufficient oxygen supply to the fetus, and nutrients depend on it. There is a certain scheme for the maturation of the placenta, which was laid down by nature. Premature aging of the placenta has negative consequences on the health of the fetus and the expectant mother.

Premature maturation of the placenta

The placenta provides nutritional functions for the baby's blood circulation and respiration. In a baby, these processes cannot occur independently until all organs are formed. The functions of breathing and feeding occur with the support of the mother. The placenta protects the baby from various infections.

The placenta, like other organs in our body, ages and by the 37th week of pregnancy is preparing to leave the body.

But often, if a woman has a frivolous attitude towards her health during pregnancy, early maturation of the placenta occurs. The development of this organ ahead of time is a pathology and entails various consequences. If the placenta begins to mature a little ahead of schedule, this does not mean that the situation is critical. This may be due to the characteristics of the woman’s body. If the placenta matures before 36 weeks, this indicates early maturation, which must be stopped.

Accelerated maturation of the placenta threatens:

• Lack of oxygen;
• Lack of nutrients;
• Placental abruption;
• Termination of pregnancy is possible.

Insufficient supply of oxygen and nutrients often leads to low child weight and hypoxia. A placenta that ages prematurely can lead to the birth of a child with brain pathologies and damage to the organs of the mother or child. It happens that leads to death. To prevent such consequences, it is necessary to stop the premature maturation of the placenta in time.

The placenta is an embryonic organ whose main functions are protection against infections, production of necessary hormones, and delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the fetus. Any disturbances associated with the placenta will negatively affect the condition of the expectant mother and child, to a greater or lesser extent. The formed placenta is a disc-shaped organ, the diameter of which is approximately 200 mm, and the weight is about 0.5-0.6 kg. At the same time, the thickness of the walls of the placenta at this time reaches approximately 30-40 mm. Like any other organ of the human body, the placenta is subject to aging and this is a normal process, however, in some cases, premature aging may occur.

Causes and consequences of premature aging of the placenta

Early aging of a child's seat may be due to individual characteristics the body of the expectant mother, as well as due to the pathological effect on her placenta. These pathologies include:

• severe toxicosis (preeclampsia), which appears in the second half of pregnancy;
• influence of toxic substances on the body;
• uterine injuries;
• smoking;
• chronic diseases of the kidneys, heart, liver, blood vessels;
• multiple pregnancy;
• wrong diet;
• abortions;
• endocrine diseases;
• previous difficult birth;
• or her ;
• alcohol abuse;
• development of infections in the uterine cavity.

The result of the above pathologies may be the development of fetoplacental insufficiency in the expectant mother, which will subsequently negatively affect the blood supply to the child. A minor violation, as a rule, is compensated by the characteristics of the pregnant woman’s body, but with a more serious circulatory pathology, the baby is insufficiently supplied with oxygen and nutrients. Under such circumstances, the fetus begins to lose weight, the development of all its organs is disrupted, which can result in a difficult birth, underdevelopment of the fetus, and more serious consequences. Do not be alarmed, because this only happens if this diagnosis is ignored and treatment is not carried out.

Signs and diagnosis

Early aging of an embryonic organ is always asymptomatic for a woman in labor, and the only thing that can indicate the presence of this disease is a sharp decline in intrauterine activity of the fetus or, conversely, the child will behave too actively. As a rule, this pathology will be detected during a routine ultrasound. Ultrasound examination may reveal a decrease in the area and volume of the placenta, which shows that it does not correspond to the timing of its development. To confirm the diagnosis, additional studies are usually prescribed, such as Doppler ultrasound (allows you to obtain information about). Additionally, additional cardiotocography, biochemical and general blood tests can be performed.

Treatment

Treatment of placental aging is carried out exclusively in a hospital setting under close supervision medical workers. In addition to comprehensive measures to normalize blood flow and maintain the vital functions of the fetus, treatment is prescribed aimed at eliminating the cause of premature aging of the placenta. So, when bacterial, protozoal or viral infections are detected, various medications or injections to combat them. To prevent oxygen starvation the child is prescribed several types of droppers, and to normalize blood flow, vitamin therapy is used and essential phospholipids, zufilin, aspirin, Actovegin, chimes, etc. are prescribed.

As a rule, treatment of premature aging of a child's place is limited only to medicinal methods, but in rare, more severe cases premature delivery may occur. But at the same time, doctors will be 100% sure that the development of the fetus outside the womb will bring more benefits than the presence of possible negative consequences from.

Recent studies have shown that if premature aging (stage 3) was detected after 32 weeks, the likelihood of a favorable outcome is the same as with healthy pregnancy. Naturally, this requires consultation with doctors and regular ultrasound scans.

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