What happens if the placenta ages

Placental aging is more about the quality of placental function. For example, if the placenta appears with grade 2 to 3 calcification between 30 and 35 weeks of pregnancy, it means that the maturity of the placenta is related to its function. Gestational hypertension and diabetes can also lead to a decrease in placental blood supply and accelerate placental aging.

I. Definition

Placental aging is actually not a very scientific issue, because the placenta, like the baby, has a process of occurrence, growth, development, and maturity. Many people think that it is aged when it reaches stage 3. In fact, after 35 weeks, stage 3 only guarantees its maturity, not its aging. The function of the placenta is based on many examinations, such as the amount of amniotic fluid, the fetal heart rate monitoring, and some biochemical tests, which can also tell whether the placenta is functioning well.

2. Reasons

Premature placental aging is not a standard medical concept in itself. For example, the presence of grade 2 to 3 placental calcification at 30 to 35 weeks of gestation can only indicate the maturity of the placenta, which is somewhat related to the function of the placenta, but not necessarily so. It should have nothing to do with calcium supplementation. Placental dysfunction is mostly caused by overdue pregnancy or pregnancy complications in the pregnant mother, such as gestational hypertension, diabetes, etc., which will lead to reduced blood supply to the placenta and accelerate placental aging.

3. Post-term pregnancy

When a pregnancy is overdue, the biggest concern clinically is that the function of the placenta will age as the expiration date passes. In other words, the longer the expiration date, the greater the possibility of placental aging. If the placenta ages, it will not provide enough nutrients and oxygen to the fetus, which may cause fetal hypoxia. If the fetus is deprived of oxygen, it is likely to die in the womb or develop brain damage after birth.

In addition to causing placental insufficiency, fetal death and illness, overdue pregnancy may also cause the fetus to be overweight and give birth to a giant baby. During the delivery process of a giant fetus, the chances of dystocia increase, and the chances of clavicle fracture, brachial plexus injury, intracranial hemorrhage, neonatal asphyxia and postpartum hemorrhage will all increase significantly.

However, there are also some post-term pregnancies where the fetus weighs less than 2500 grams. Such fetuses have retarded growth in the uterus and are more likely to die or become ill than normal children.