Premature ripening of the placenta: causes and treatment

The placenta is the organ that forms during pregnancy, which supplies the fetus with nutrients and prevents the entry of toxins to the fetus. A child's place (also called the placenta) is formed by the 12th day of the development of a new life and is formed where the fetal egg is attached to the uterus. Completely the placenta is formed by the end of the first trimester, which is why a woman is strictly not recommended at this time to take medication (meaning self-medication, not drugs prescribed by a gynecologist who leads the pregnancy) and use alcohol - protection during this period of the fetus is minimal.

From the 12th week the placenta is already functioning completely and constantly changing. The changes occurring in the placenta correspond to the level of the future child's needs. A growing fetus needs more and more nutrients every week, which stimulates the growth and development of the placenta. The placenta ripens to 36 weeks and then the aging process begins. Some blood vessels cease to function normally, and it is no longer able to fully provide nutrition to a virtually full-term fetus.

Determination of the degree of maturity of the placenta

The degree of maturation of the placenta is determined by ultrasound. There are four stages of placenta development. And you can talk about her aging from the third. The diagnosis of "premature ripening of the placenta" is posited if the changes inherent in the third stage of aging began earlier than 36 weeks or if the second stage began earlier than 32 weeks.

Premature maturation of the placenta is a pathological process caused by a number of reasons. It is necessary to identify this pathology in a timely manner, in this case, with the help of medicine, it is possible to delay premature aging of the placenta and prevent serious consequences.

The most important threat, which premature ripening of the placenta bears, is the insufficient amount of oxygen supplied to the fetus and nutrients. In addition, there is a risk of complications such as early discharge of amniotic fluid, miscarriage, placental detachment, fetal hypotrophy (that is, low weight).

Premature maturation of the placenta can also have a negative impact on the health of the mother.

The causes of premature aging of the placenta

Abortions, severe past births, endocrine diseases, liver diseases, mechanical effects that caused damage to the uterus, diseases of the urinary system, pathologies of the circulatory system may become a "trigger mechanism" that caused premature maturation of the placenta. Causes may be different. Smoking, Rh-conflict, toxicosis, inflammatory process in the genitourinary system can also provoke this pathology.

Treatment

Do not panic if the doctor was diagnosed with "premature ripening of the placenta". Treatment of patients with this problem is based on the results of the examination and depends on the causes that affect the appearance and development of pathological processes. The physician will select funds for the treatment of infections if they are the cause of early placenta diligence and offer activities aimed at reducing toxic effects if there are bad habits. As a rule, the complex of procedures is used in stationary conditions where fetal development is monitored. Often with this pathology, the delivery is performed earlier than the prescribed time.

Pregnant should follow the advice of a doctor and it is undesirable to refuse hospitalization, in this case the chance of safe deliveries will increase. In most cases, with the help of a child, the child is born on time or a little earlier and his condition is not threatened.