The fact that not everything is in order with the placenta, future mothers, as a rule, recognize on ultrasound examination. The most common diagnosis is thickening of the placenta. We will understand, than the placenta thickens, why this pathology arises and how to eliminate it.
Placenta Thickness - Causes
The main cause of thickening of the placenta is its premature aging. During pregnancy, the placenta passes through the following stages: formation (up to 16 weeks), growth, maturity and aging. There are so-called degrees of maturity of the placenta :
- zero degree (up to 30 weeks) - placental structure is homogeneous;
- the first degree (27-34 weeks) - the surface of the placenta becomes slightly wavy, deposits of calcium salts appear;
- second degree (34-39 weeks) - "waviness" and the number of calcifications increases;
- third degree (37 weeks) - placental structure lobular, calcifications very much.
Each degree of maturity corresponds to a certain thickness of the placenta. If the ultrasound is determined by a thick placenta, this means that the child's place can no longer perform its functions effectively. However, the thickening of the placenta may have other causes:
- the placenta is thicker than normal in cases of pregnancy complicated by Rh-conflict or dropsy;
- diffuse thickening of the placenta (when it grows too much and covers most of the inner surface of the uterus) is noted if the patient has diabetes mellitus;
- a thick placenta in pregnancy is an indicator that the expectant mother has had a viral or infectious disease;
- thickening of the placenta during pregnancy can be observed with placental abruption, gestosis and multiple pregnancies.
What is dangerous is thickening of the placenta?
Since the thickened placenta can not cope with its functions, the baby receives insufficient amounts of oxygen and nutrition. This leads to fetal hypoxia, a delay in its growth and development. In addition, there may be a threat of termination of pregnancy, and in especially severe cases a child may die before birth.
Thickening of the placenta - treatment
If the ultrasound revealed a thicker placenta , the doctor will additionally prescribe additional studies: cardiotocography, dopplerometry and hormone tests.
The main principle of treatment is to eliminate the cause of thickening of the placenta. Also, pregnant women are prescribed vitamins and preparations for the treatment of hypoxia and fetal hypotrophy: Kurantil, Vktovegin, Essentiale, and others.