The development of the baby in the womb can be hampered when the placenta is disturbed, because the function of the placenta is very important. One of them is to supply oxygen and nutrients needed by the baby while in the womb.
The placenta is an organ that forms and attaches to the uterine wall early in pregnancy or around the first and second months of pregnancy. The placenta is normally located on the top or side of the uterus, but it can also be attached to the back of the uterus or near the spine.
In addition to supplying oxygen and nutrients needed by the baby in the womb, the placenta also plays a role in producing pregnancy-supporting hormones, removing carbon dioxide, and protecting the fetus from bacterial infections.
Kinds of Baby Placenta Disorders
The role of the placenta in supporting the development of the baby in the womb is very important. No wonder when there is interference with the placenta, the health of the fetus can be disrupted.
There are various disorders that can occur in the placenta, including:
1. Placenta previa
Placenta previa is a placental disorder in which part or all of the placenta blocks the birth canal. The main symptom of placenta previa is vaginal bleeding, both during pregnancy and delivery.
The cause of placenta previa is not known with certainty. Even so, pregnant women who are over 35 years old, have had children, have had a caesarean section, are pregnant with twins, or have a smoking habit are known to be more susceptible to developing placenta previa.
2. Placenta accreta
Placenta accreta is a placental disorder in which the blood vessels and tissues of this organ grow too deep in the uterine wall. This condition can cause bleeding in the birth canal and heavy bleeding after delivery.
The cause of placenta accreta is also not known with certainty. However, the risk of pregnant women to experience placenta accreta tends to be greater if they have given birth by caesarean section or have given birth several times.
3. Placental abruption or abruptio placenta
Placental abruption is a disorder in which the placenta separates from the uterine wall before delivery. Placental abruption is a dangerous condition, because the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the fetus will be reduced. In fact, this condition can endanger the lives of pregnant women due to heavy bleeding and cause death in newborns.
4. Retention of the placenta
Placental retention is a disorder in which the placenta or placenta does not come out of the uterus after 30 minutes of delivery. Placental disorders can occur because the uterine contractions are not strong enough to push the placenta out.
Retention of the placenta can also occur due to the placenta growing too deep in the uterine wall (placenta accreta) or the placenta is trapped behind the uterine wall making it difficult to get out. Retention of the placenta is a dangerous complication of pregnancy because it can cause infection and death due to heavy bleeding.
Placental disorders are difficult to prevent because the cause is not clearly known. Even so, prevention efforts can still be done by avoiding things that can increase the risk of the various conditions above.
In addition, check with your obstetrician regularly during pregnancy or before, so that placental disorders can be anticipated and detected early. That way, doctors can take treatment to prevent complications due to disruption of the placenta.