During pregnancy, the expectant mother’s uterus contains not only the baby, but also the placenta. To ensure the life of the baby, women have to “grow” an entire internal organ! Like a baby, the placenta grows, develops, and then... grows old and ends its life cycle.

Ideally, the development of the placenta parallels the development of the baby. But what if she is “in a hurry” or “late”?

How the placenta grows

The placenta is a special organ that, like the unborn baby, grows from the embryonic membranes. As a matter of fact, most of it, the one that dies after childbirth, also belongs to the fetus (the maternal part of the placenta is that area on the wall of the uterus to which it is adjacent with special outgrowths - villi). Since initially the child is just a few cells embedded in the loosened, blood-saturated inner surface of the uterus, then, of course, no placenta exists at this moment. The placental structure is formed gradually, but very quickly; So, by the time the fetus has its own heartbeat (and this is only the third week of pregnancy!), nutrients reach the baby precisely through the modified outer shell - the chorion.

Zero degree of placenta maturity

The baby grows, and the outer shell changes: in the place where it adjoins the wall of the uterus, it thickens, “branches,” and at 12-16 weeks it forms a full-fledged placenta. This is the placenta of the so-called “zero” degree of maturity.

Its thickness changes all the time: at the 12th week it is 11-20 mm, at the 27th, when the placenta can reach the next degree of maturity - 21-36. As you can see, the placenta can be of different thickness, and this is not necessarily a sign of pathology. That is why, if the pregnancy proceeds normally, then ultrasound diagnostic specialists in the first trimester do not pay special attention to the size of the placenta. A thin, “cake-shaped” placenta, or, conversely, a thickened, “spherical” placenta can be an individual feature of the body.

” But the structure of the placenta, on the contrary, is of fundamental importance: it must be homogeneous, without echogenic inclusions (i.e., during an ultrasound examination it looks like a single whole), and the surface facing the uterine cavity must be even and smooth. Ideally, it remains this way until the 30th week of pregnancy.

First degree of placenta maturity

On the 30th, an ultrasound specialist can state the first degree of maturity of the placenta. What does it mean? The placenta begins to change! Its structure becomes heterogeneous - compactions appear in it, which are visible during ultrasound examination, and the surface becomes slightly wavy. The thickness of the placenta at this moment is from 24 to 40 mm.

” These changes do not occur overnight - the doctor can detect the first signs of aging of the placenta at 27 weeks - this is the lower limit of the norm.

If the specialist is not sure that he is precisely observing the beginning of the aging process, he can note in the examination report “the degree of placental maturity 0-1.”

Second degree of placenta maturity

The second stage of placental maturity normally occurs in the 34th week of pregnancy and lasts until the 37th. At this time, the placenta changes even more: light “waves” on its surface become noticeable tubercles, and the heterogeneity of the internal structure is manifested by clear echo-positive inclusions, which are visible during ultrasound examination. The thickness of the placenta increases slightly - now the norm is a size from 28 to 50 mm.

Third degree of placenta maturity

The third, final stage of placenta maturity indicates impending birth. It is no longer growing; moreover, the area of ​​the placenta is even decreasing. Its structure changes seriously: the surface becomes tortuous, the placenta itself is divided into lobes, and areas of salt deposition appear between them. The placenta is not just maturing - it is old and close to ceasing to function. It's time for the baby to be born and develop independently!

Premature aging of the placenta

If the structure and size of the placenta correspond to the stage of pregnancy, then everything is going according to plan: each stage of maturity is designed to meet the needs of the child at a specific stage of development. The fact that the placenta begins to “age” does not make the baby worse.

” So if your doctor tells you about this, don't panic! As long as nothing terrible happens, the placenta of the first degree of maturity copes with its “duty” - life support for the baby - no worse than before. Doctors are worried about the prospects: if the aging of the placenta began earlier, it means it will end earlier.

The second, and then the third degree of maturity of the placenta will be achieved before the baby is ready to be born, and then the child’s blood supply will deteriorate, his needs will not be met, and the child experiences hypoxia - oxygen starvation, which has a detrimental effect on his development.

” The danger is also that the mother, as a rule, does not notice the premature aging of the placenta - she does not experience any unpleasant sensations. That is why it is important to undergo diagnostic examinations in a timely manner.

Causes of premature aging of the placenta

There are many reasons for premature aging of the placenta, and they are very diverse. First of all, these are diseases that a woman suffered from before pregnancy, or that developed after pregnancy. These are diseases of the cardiovascular system, diabetes, hypertension, and infectious diseases.

Secondly, conditions accompanying pregnancy itself: gestosis, Rh conflict or hormonal imbalance. Multiple pregnancies are also sometimes accompanied by premature aging of the placenta.

Third - poor location of the placenta, for example, its . Partial placental abruption can also accompany premature aging.

Fourthly, mother's bad habits - consumption of alcohol, nicotine, drugs. It must be said that premature aging of the placenta is not the worst possible consequence, so try to get rid of these dependencies as soon as possible!

Finally, premature aging of the placenta contributes excess calcium in a woman’s body, so before taking any medications, including vitamins and microelements, be sure to consult with the doctor monitoring your pregnancy!

” Premature aging of the placenta occurs in every third mother at risk.

Premature aging of the placenta does not always require special therapy, but such a pregnancy requires additional monitoring by doctors. This is why expectant mothers are offered prenatal hospitalization. If fetal hypoxia is diagnosed, the doctor will prescribe medications to maintain the required level of blood supply to the baby.

Late maturation of the placenta

This pathology is much less common than premature ripening of the placenta, and doctors have differing opinions regarding its danger to the fetus. The fact is that back in the 60-70s of the last century, there was a belief among obstetricians that the degree of maturity of the placental tissues clearly indicates the degree of maturity of the fetal tissues. It was assumed that if the placenta has not reached the third degree of maturity, then, obviously, the child’s lungs are not yet adapted to independent breathing. Today this point of view is considered outdated.

” Indeed, late maturation of the placenta is occasionally observed in pregnant women with diabetes mellitus, Rh conflict, syphilis, as well as in cases of severe fetal anomalies. However, this is more likely a concomitant pathology, and not the cause of “mental retardation and stillbirth” - such an interpretation should be considered incorrect.

If after the 30th week of pregnancy the ultrasound specialist does not see any changes in the placenta relative to the zero degree of maturity, then attention should be paid to additional examinations. Perhaps the underlying disease (usually diabetes) requires additional medication.

But if late maturation of the placenta is the only sign of an unfavorable pregnancy, then there is no need to worry in vain. The immaturity of the placenta in itself does not indicate that the baby is not ready to be born. As we have already mentioned, the results of an ultrasound examination largely depend on the doctor’s experience, the quality of the equipment, and finally, on his subjective perception.

It is impossible to “age” or “rejuvenate” the placenta, but careful monitoring of its changes during pregnancy and, if necessary, timely medical intervention will ensure adequate blood supply to the baby until the very moment of birth!

It is characterized by earlier development of the placenta (aging), which entails possible conditions that threaten the health of the fetus. Most often they talk about fetal hypoxia, that is, insufficient oxygen supply, which leads to oxygen starvation. At the same time, due to insufficient supply of nutrients to the unborn baby, disturbances in brain function are possible, and for the birth process - its premature onset and severe course.

Causes of premature aging of the placenta:

• diabetes mellitus and other hormonal disorders in the mother’s body;
• abortions that a woman had before the onset of a real pregnancy;
• endocrine diseases of the expectant mother (thyroid disease);
• late toxicosis - gestosis;
• maternal smoking or alcohol consumption;
• chronic disorders of the cardiovascular system;
• hepatitis and other liver diseases;
• diseases of the urinary system;
• infections of the genital tract and uterus.

However, despite such alarming data, a woman who is diagnosed with stage 2 placental maturity at less than 33 weeks should not panic. The doctor will definitely prescribe additional tests and studies on the blood flow of the fetus. If no pathology is detected, then the woman has nothing to worry about. If a real threat to the normal functioning of the fetus is confirmed, effective treatment in a hospital is prescribed. As a rule, the drug course is aimed at restoring the functions of the placenta to fully supply the child with all nutrients. substances.

2 degree of placental maturity at a period that does not correspond to the norm does not always mean the presence of pathology. If the doctor does not notice a real threat of premature birth, then, most likely, a course of treatment with Curantil or other appropriate medications at home will be prescribed. In any case, a woman should strictly adhere to the doctor’s recommendations and come for appointments regularly.

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 gatherings of large numbers of 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 baby’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 excessive blood intake in a pregnant woman may be anemia, gestosis, Rh conflict, or diabetes mellitus. Infectious diseases also have a negative impact on 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 the child with oxygen and nutrients. 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 the possible negative consequences of the child’s 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. A detailed description of 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 to find 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 maturity of the placenta 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 congenital malformations of the fetus. Additional risk factors are the expectant mother's illness with diabetes mellitus, Rh conflict, or the presence of bad habits in the pregnant woman such as 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;
• presence of pathogens of infectious diseases;
• hypertension in the expectant mother;
• multiple pregnancy;
• excess calcium in a woman’s body;
• placental previa or 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 a unique organ that connects the fetus and mother during pregnancy. It is through it that all the necessary substances are supplied to the baby, so the successful outcome of pregnancy depends on the condition of the placenta. One of the indicators of the functioning of the placental complex is the degree of its maturity.

What is the placenta?

Translated from Latin, placenta means pie, flatbread. This organ received this name due to its disc-shaped flattened shape. It is formed only during pregnancy, and after the birth of the baby it is excreted along with the membranes.

Functions of the placenta:

• Respiratory (supply of oxygen to the baby, removal of carbon dioxide)
• Nutritional (transport of nutrients from mother to fetus)
• Excretory (all waste products of the fetus are excreted through the placenta)
• Barrier (protecting the child from harmful substances in the mother’s blood)
• Hormonal (the placenta produces many hormones that allow pregnancy to develop)

How does the placenta develop?

The formation of a full-fledged “children’s place” does not begin from the first days of pregnancy. At a period of 4 weeks, the entire fertilized egg is surrounded by a special villous tissue - the chorion. By 9-10 weeks, the early placenta is formed - the remaining chorionic villi, which have penetrated the upper layer of the uterus and connected with its blood vessels. By the end of pregnancy, the baby and mother are connected by a half-kilogram organ with a diameter of 15-20 cm.

Up to the 32nd week of pregnancy, the permeability of the placental membrane increases. A growing child requires more and more oxygen and nutrients. To maintain his health, the number of placental vessels increases, and the placental membrane itself becomes thinner. After this period, the placenta stops developing and its aging begins.

What is placental aging?

After 33 weeks, “aging” processes begin in the placental tissue. This is the absolute norm provided by nature. According to one hypothesis, the onset of labor is associated precisely with the maximum maturity of the placenta. By the end of the term, it ceases to perform its functions, the fetus’s body releases stress hormones into the mother’s blood, which triggers contractions.

What do the degrees of maturity of the placenta mean?

All changes depending on the duration of pregnancy are determined using ultrasound (see). There are a number of special parameters by which the doctor sets one or another degree of maturation of the placenta.

• 0 degree – up to 30 weeks of pregnancy
• I degree – at 27 – 36 weeks
• II degree – at 34 – 39 weeks
• III degree - after 36 weeks of pregnancy

To determine the aging placenta, an ultrasound specialist evaluates its thickness, the presence of cysts and calcium deposits. Despite the high information content of ultrasound methods, when determining maturity, overdiagnosis occurs.

Until recently, it was believed that a prematurely aged placenta leads to miscarriages, antenatal death and the birth of low birth weight babies. After the research, these assumptions were not confirmed. Women with the third degree of placental maturity before 35 weeks are simply included in the group of increased attention.

Table of degrees of placenta maturity by week

Factors contributing to early aging of the placenta

• Hypertension in pregnant women

Most often, gestational hypertension (high blood pressure during pregnancy) is associated specifically with the function of the placenta. For various reasons, the afterbirth forms defective blood vessels, which affects the condition of the fetus and mother. A pregnant woman may suffer from edema, high blood pressure and even preeclampsia. The baby, while in the womb, cannot receive enough oxygen through defective arteries. Therefore, the placenta works at full capacity, aging ahead of schedule.

• Infections during pregnancy

Any infection, including a common ARVI, causes the placental tissue to actively work. It filters the mother’s blood from viruses, passes protective antibodies and increased volumes of oxygen to the child in order to quickly cope with the disease. This causes accelerated ripening and aging of the placenta.

• Excess calcium intake

One of the main signs of physiological changes in the “children’s place” is calcium deposits. Towards the end of pregnancy, there are more and more such calcifications in the placenta. If an excess amount of calcium enters the expectant mother’s body (due to uncontrolled intake of large doses of vitamins, for example), then the placental tissue is gradually replaced by it, maturing ahead of time.

Prognosis for premature aging of the placenta

All pregnant women need to remember an important fact: early maturation of the placenta in itself does not threaten complications for mother and child. Only when the “old” placenta is combined with other signs of fetal suffering can one speak of a threat to health. These signs include:

• Disturbances of uteroplacental and fetal placental blood flow
• Severe intrauterine growth retardation
• Severe hypertension in pregnant women
• Signs of Rh conflict in the fetus
• Maternal diabetes mellitus (decompensated)

All of the above conditions are dangerous in themselves, even without signs of an overripe placenta. Therefore, they require special attention, special treatment, and sometimes urgent delivery.

Why is an immature placenta dangerous?

A placenta that has not reached the II-III degree of maturity by the end of pregnancy is considered immature. This condition is rare and is more often caused by diagnostic errors. For example, in case of Rh conflict between mother and fetus, the placenta may “swell”. Its increased edematous smoothness on ultrasound looks like stage 0 maturity. Therefore, an immature placenta itself is not dangerous, but its signs often mask serious pregnancy complications.

Additional research methods

Ultrasound with Doppler

It is impossible to assess the condition of the fetus based on the degree of maturity of the placenta. Therefore, the main criterion for a normal pregnancy is normal Doppler ultrasound. This method, based on the reflection of ultrasonic waves from different biological media, allows you to assess blood flow through the placenta. In a normal pregnancy, after 20 weeks there is a decrease in blood resistance in the vessels connecting the uterus, placenta and fetus. This stable resistance ensures that oxygen and nutrients reach the baby. Even if the placental tissue on ultrasound looks older than it should be, a good Doppler ultrasound result eliminates all concerns. Conversely, a placenta of normal maturity may not cope with its task, which will immediately affect the condition of the fetus.

Cardiotocography

CTG is a method that allows you to assess the baby’s condition in real time, here and now. Special sensors detect the fetal heartbeat, count its movements, and record uterine contractions. All this helps to determine minimal disturbances in the placenta.

If an ultrasound revealed a prematurely aged placenta, then the only way to find out the condition of the child would be Dopplerography and CTG.

How to slow down the maturation of the placenta?

Usually, after an ultrasound doctor concludes that the placenta is prematurely maturing, expectant mothers begin to worry and look for ways to “rejuvenate” it. This is a pointless and unpromising activity. All pregnant women need to know the following facts:

• In itself, early maturation of the placenta does not pose a threat to mother and baby.
• When determining the maturity of the placenta, diagnostic errors very often occur.
• An aged placenta is a reason to conduct Dopplerography and CTG, but not a reason to worry
• With normal blood flow in the placenta and fetal heartbeat, you can forget about the degree of maturity of the “baby place”
• In case of severe hypoxia of the baby (according to CTG and Doppler), either observation, treatment of the cause, or emergency delivery is required
• There are no medications that slow down the aging of the placenta. , chimes, pentoxifylline, multivitamins and other drugs do not have any evidence base

Prevention of early aging of the placenta

• Planning a pregnancy
• Quitting smoking and drinking alcohol
• Timely screening, Dopplerography and CTG
• Taking folic acid
• Taking iron supplements for anemia
• Avoiding crowds of people (to prevent ARVI).

The placenta is an embryonic organ unique in its properties, which is the most important component in the process of intrauterine development and vital activity of the fetus. The placenta is a temporary organ; it appears at the beginning of pregnancy, and during childbirth it is rejected. The functions of a child's place are diverse and include protecting the fetus from infections, saturating it with nutrients, delivering oxygen and removing toxins. All these functions are vital for the fetus.

Like any other organ of the human body, the placenta is subject to physical development. Most of pregnancy occurs in its continuous growth: the number of vessels increases, the baby's place becomes thicker. The development of this process can only be monitored using ultrasound. At a certain point, the embryonic organ stops growing and the aging process begins for it. It is worth noting that the greater the degree of maturity of a children's seat, the fewer functions it can perform.

Degrees of placenta maturity

There are four degrees of placental maturity. For the normal course of pregnancy, it is necessary that each stage of development of the child’s place corresponds to its due date.

1. 0 degree – the duration of this phase is up to 27-30 weeks. During this period of pregnancy, the development of the placenta can reach the first stage. This may be caused by smoking, drinking alcohol during pregnancy, or as a consequence of a viral illness.
2. I degree - in medical circles this stage is called “active growth” and it begins at 27 weeks and lasts until 34. At this time, any deviations can pose a danger to the intrauterine development of the fetus, therefore, in order to normalize the development of the embryonic organ, vitamin therapy and medication can be prescribed drugs that stimulate blood circulation, nutrition correction.
3. II degree - this period is called “mature” and its duration is from 34 to 39 weeks of pregnancy. It is the most stable period and minor deviations from the norm should not be a cause for concern;
4. III degree – this phase is characterized by natural aging. It begins at 37 weeks and lasts until birth. In most cases, the results of an ultrasound examination will show the third degree of placental development, which in turn is the norm for this period of pregnancy. The slightest deviation at this time can cause... To avoid the most severe consequences, the expectant mother will have to undergo comprehensive treatment in a hospital setting. Cardiotocography is additionally prescribed, and in case of complications, childbirth can be performed by cesarean section to protect the child’s life.

It is diagnosed if some deviations occur during its growth, for example, the second degree occurs before 32 weeks. However, this does not mean at all that deviations from the norm will cause. Timely diagnosis of embryonic organ growth, as well as various treatment methods, minimize the risk of other unpleasant complications.