The placenta is a very important element for the fetus, because it performs all the functions necessary for life. The maturity of the placenta can not be determined without ultrasound.
With increasing pregnancy, the placenta builds up its thickness and increases the number of vessels in it. At a certain point, the body stops growing and begins to age. There are several stages of maturity of the "child's place," each of which is typical for a certain period of bearing the baby.
The stages of maturation of the placenta by week
The term "maturity of the placenta" implies the apparent changes that occur in it, depending on the nature of the course of the pregnancy. So, there is a certain norm of the degree of maturity of the placenta, which characterizes the course of pregnancy. And the higher this figure is, the fewer functions the placenta can perform. There are four degrees of placental maturity, each of which must occur at a certain time. If the placenta ripens ahead of time, then this can result:
- hypoxia of the fetus;
- delay the growth of the fetus;
- hypotrophy ;
- low birth weight.
The degree of maturity of the placenta 0 is considered normal until the thirtieth week of pregnancy. Such an indicator means that the body is still young in order to ensure the fetal needs in full.
The placenta of the second degree of maturity is characteristic for the gestational age, from 35 to 39 weeks. This period is considered to be the most stable, and even if at 37 week you have discovered the maturity of the placenta of the third degree, then there is no cause for concern. But in the case of accompanying the mature placenta, hypoxia is best done by CTG to identify pathologies and to conduct a cesarean section.