Why is the placenta thickened? How dangerous is thickening of the placenta and how to prevent it - useful tips for expectant mothers. Deviations of placental thickness from the norm: causes, consequences and treatment tactics

The period of bearing a child is not only a pleasant time in anticipation of the baby, but also the need to carefully monitor your health. The expectant mother needs to undergo tests, regularly visit a gynecologist and undergo. One of the most important indicators of the normal course of pregnancy is the thickness of the placenta.

Evaluation of this criterion allows us to judge the presence or absence of placental dysfunction. If there are any violations, then medical measures must be taken immediately. To make sure that there is no thickening of the placenta, you need to be guided by normal indicators.

Normal placental thickness by week in numbers

An indicator such as the thickness of the placenta tends to change. That is, the longer the pregnancy, the larger it becomes. To determine whether there are any deviations in its size, you need to know what the normal thickness of the placenta is, depending on the specific week of gestation. However, before the 14th week arrives, it makes no sense to compare normal indicators. So, the thickness of the placenta by week should be as follows:

1. Its average value at week 14 will be 19 mm. Alternatively, minus 4 mm and plus 4 mm.
2. The average value at the fifth month or 20 weeks is 25 mm. Alternatively, plus 3 mm and minus 4 mm.
3. The average thickness of the placenta at 31 weeks is 36 mm. As a variant of the norm, you can subtract 6 mm from this value or add 5 mm.
4. The average thickness of the placenta at 33 weeks is 36 mm, that is, it should not increase in size over the past two weeks.

Based on these numbers, you can independently decipher the data of the screening and find out the normal thickness of the placenta by week or not in each specific case. It is important to note that the indicator “placental thickness at 31 weeks” and the indicator “placental thickness at 33 weeks” are almost the same. While the thickness of the placenta at 20 weeks is much smaller, almost 10 mm.

Why is thickening of the placenta observed in some cases?

If the placenta is thickened, then this may be a sign of trouble in the woman’s body. The doctor needs to carry out a better diagnosis to identify:

• urogenital infections, including chlamydia, mycoplasmosis, ureaplasmosis, or herpes;
• extragenital pathologies, such as: the presence of diabetes mellitus, high or low blood pressure.

Due to the fact that each of these pathological conditions is a threat to the health of not only the mother, but also the child, the normal thickness of the placenta is one of the most important criteria that will allow these risks to be identified and eliminated.

What can a thickened placenta cause during pregnancy?

You should not take lightly the fact that the thickness of the placenta is increased, as this can be expressed in the presence of blood in the womb. Lack of oxygen leads to various disorders, in particular, delayed development and growth, which is very important for the fetus.

In addition, when it turns out that there is a thickening of the placenta during pregnancy, the causes of which are due to the presence of a urogenital infection, then this threatens to infect the child. In addition to this, the fetus will suffer from water deficiency and disturbances.

Given these risks, doctors are required to send the woman for diagnostics, the purpose of which is to find out what the thickness of the placenta is week by week.

Thickening of the placenta during pregnancy: treatment and prognosis

Since thickening of the placenta during pregnancy has the most serious causes, treatment must be started immediately. The principles and tactics of therapeutic intervention are determined individually in each specific case, however, there are developed standards that boil down to:

1. Implementation of etiotropic therapy. That is, first, the cause that caused the violation is established, then it is eliminated, and the negative consequences caused by it eliminate themselves.
2. Therapeutic effects aimed directly at placental tissue in order to improve its functioning.
3. Detection of diabetes mellitus and its treatment, which requires blood glucose levels.
4. Examination of the vagina to detect bacteriological carriage. Detection of urogenital infections.
5. Conducting antibacterial therapy, if necessary. It will eliminate pathogenic microorganisms from the body and prevent the development of placental insufficiency.
6. If a thickening of the placenta has been detected, the reasons for which lie in arterial hypertension or arterial hypotension, then pressure correction is necessary.
7. It is advisable to use antiplatelet agents if a tendency to form blood clots is detected.
8. The use of anticoagulants, but this requires constant monitoring of the blood to determine its coagulation activity.

After the therapeutic course, it is advisable to re-examine and determine whether the thickened placenta during pregnancy remains or has returned to normal values. There are often cases when treatment turns out to be ineffective, since it cannot be fully implemented due to the woman’s delicate condition.

In addition, if there is a tendency to further increase in thickness, then doctors raise the question of the need for delivery at an earlier date. However, such decisions are made only when the placenta is greatly increased in thickness and the period exceeds 34 weeks.

As for the choice of method of birth, a cesarean section is prescribed only when the child is severely delayed in development and it is dangerous for him to remain in the womb. Sometimes the operation is performed at 31 weeks, which is due to the increased vulnerability of the fetus during prematurity.

If the thickening was detected earlier, in the fifth month of pregnancy, then the woman receives conservation therapy. This is due to the fact that at such early stages medicine is not yet able to save the life of the fetus if an artificial birth is performed. Therefore, they try to extend its stay in the womb for as long as possible.

The placenta (“baby place”) is a temporary organ through which the organisms of mother and child are connected.

The full development of the fetus depends on the correct location and functioning of the placenta, so its condition is assessed by doctors throughout pregnancy.

Changes detected in a timely manner can be corrected with medication, so that the pregnancy will develop successfully.

The formation of the “baby place” begins from the first days of pregnancy, when the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine wall. This process is completed by 12-16 weeks of pregnancy, and from this moment the placenta begins to fully function. It performs the following functions:

• respiratory – supplying the fetus with oxygen and removing carbon dioxide;
• trophic – providing the child with the nutrients he needs;
• endocrine – hormonal support of pregnancy. The placenta itself produces a number of vital hormones and also transfers maternal hormones to the fetus;
• barrier – protecting the child from exposure to harmful substances, but not from all. Medicines, alcohol, and nicotine can penetrate through it;
• immune protection – prevention of immune conflict between the organisms of mother and child.

The placenta can function properly only if there are no abnormalities in its condition. The location, structure and thickness are monitored periodically during pregnancy.

How long are the indicators monitored?

The placenta is visualized during ultrasound examination as early as 11-13 weeks of gestation, but its thickness begins to be monitored from 20 weeks.

During an ultrasound, the thickest part of the organ is measured, after which the resulting indicator is compared with the accepted norm for each week of pregnancy.

Table. Norms for placental thickness at different weeks of pregnancy

Normally, the thickness increases until the 36th week of pregnancy. Then its growth stops and by the date of birth the thickness of the organ decreases slightly.

If the thickness at a certain stage of pregnancy goes beyond the established norms, this is a sign of its improper functioning. This condition of the placenta is also fraught with intrauterine growth retardation, so the woman needs drug therapy.

Sometimes the thickness of the placenta slightly exceeds the acceptable limits, but this does not affect the development of the fetus. In this case, doctors take a wait-and-see approach, monitoring the condition of the placenta and fetus over time.

Thick placenta

Hyperplasia (thickening) of the placenta is diagnosed when its thickness exceeds the upper limit of the permissible norm.

The following factors can provoke thickening of the placenta:

• acute viral infections;
• sexually transmitted diseases (gonorrhea, syphilis);

Thickening of the placenta is a much more serious pathology than thinning it. A thick placenta ages faster, which can lead to.

In this case, the “children’s place” ceases to fully fulfill its functions.

This condition is dangerous for the child: he may experience hypoxia (oxygen starvation), intrauterine growth retardation. If placental hyperplasia is caused by a sexually transmitted disease, then the infection can be transmitted to the fetus in utero. In especially severe cases, antenatal fetal death is likely.

The initial stage of thickening of the placenta, which does not yet affect the well-being of the child, can only be determined using ultrasound.

A later stage of hyperplasia, when the fetus is already beginning to suffer, can be suspected by the changed nature of the child’s movements or on the CTG machine.

The effectiveness of treatment for hyperplasia depends on the correct diagnosis of the cause of the disease. To determine the factor that provoked the thickening of the “baby spot”, a woman needs to undergo a set of diagnostic procedures:

• examination for TORCH infections;
• general urine and blood tests;
• gynecological smear for flora;
• blood test for antibodies;

It is impossible to influence the thickness of the placenta with medications, but uteroplacental blood flow can be improved. For this, the expectant mother is prescribed a course of treatment with the drugs "" or "Actovegin".

At the same time, the underlying disease that caused the hyperplasia is treated. Depending on the diagnosis, the woman is prescribed a course of antibiotics, antivirals, drugs to lower blood sugar levels, or.

In case of Rh conflict, only intrauterine blood transfusion is effective; in severe cases, pregnancy must be terminated.

If the thickness of the “baby place” is less than it should be according to the norm, hypoplasia of the placenta is assumed, that is, its underdevelopment and limited functionality.

A thin placenta can be a physiological feature of women of small stature and fragile physique. In this case, the discrepancy in the size of the placenta does not in any way affect the development of the child.

But there are other reasons why the thickness does not fit into the lower limits of the norm:

• genetic abnormalities in the fetus;
• infectious diseases suffered by the mother during pregnancy;
• late toxicosis;
• concomitant diseases (atherosclerosis, and some others);
• maternal use of alcohol, tobacco or drugs during pregnancy.

A thin placenta is not able to provide the child with the necessary amount of nutrients and oxygen. This leads to developmental delays in the fetus.

If, in the presence of a thin placenta, ultrasound determines low weight and height of the fetus, doctors prescribe additional examinations - CTG and Doppler.

They will allow you to assess the severity of intrauterine development disorders.

Placental hypoplasia can only be corrected if it is caused by a maternal disease. The woman is placed in a hospital, where the underlying disease is treated and the child’s intrauterine development is corrected.

The patient is prescribed medications that stabilize blood flow in the placenta. The child’s heartbeat and activity are monitored throughout the treatment period.

In some cases, when placental hypoplasia provokes a serious deterioration in the child’s condition, emergency delivery is performed. But at the current level of development of medicine, such a result is rather an exception. With timely identification of the problem, competent drug support and monitoring of the condition of the fetus, treatment of hypoplasia is successful.

The discrepancy between the thickness of the placenta and the gestational age cannot be determined and leveled independently. Therefore, a pregnant woman should not avoid visiting doctors and undergoing necessary examinations.

If the diagnosis reveals thickening or thinning of the placenta, there is no need to get upset prematurely. Treatment of this pathology is carried out only when there is a threat to the full development of the fetus.

In this case, the woman will be asked to undergo treatment in a hospital. Timely therapy will support the functioning of the placenta and the negative impact on the child will be minimized.

During pregnancy, special attention is paid to the condition of the placenta. A lot depends on her health: the well-being and development of the baby, his life. When assessing the placenta, a parameter such as the thickness of the “baby place” is used. You will learn about what it should be like at different stages of gestation, what the causes and consequences of deviations from the norms may be, by reading this article.

Structure and functions

The placenta is a temporary organ, necessary only during the process of bearing a child. It ensures a close connection between mother and fetus, acting as an intermediary in the most important processes for the baby’s development: gas exchange, nutrition, and excretion of waste products. Through the uteroplacental bloodstream, the baby receives blood enriched with oxygen, vitamins, minerals and water from the mother. Urea, creatinine, and carbon dioxide are excreted back through the placenta.

The placenta is a “factory” of hormones necessary to safely carry and give birth to a child. It produces hCG, progesterone, estrogens, and placental lactogen. Without a sufficient level of these hormones, it will not be possible to carry a baby, and breastfeeding will be a big question.

The placenta begins to form after implantation of the fertilized egg into the uterine cavity. This usually occurs 8-9 days after ovulation, if the egg is fertilized. First, the appearance of the placenta is preceded by the chorion, thanks to which the blastocyst attaches to the functional layer of the endometrium of the uterus. Gradually, the chorion grows, new layers appear, and by 14-16 weeks of pregnancy the young placenta begins to fulfill its functions.

The “baby place” grows and thickens until the middle of the second trimester, then the growth of the placenta stops and its maturation or aging begins. Until the 30th week, the placenta normally has a zero degree of maturity, then it becomes denser: deposits of calcium salts appear in it. Before the 34th week of pregnancy, the first degree, and after it (almost before birth) - the second. The third degree, indicating that the placenta has almost completely exhausted its resources and capabilities, is recorded shortly before birth (with a normal pregnancy).

Norms

Until the 20th week of pregnancy, the thickness of the placenta has no diagnostic value. The “baby spot” is determined by ultrasound, the place of its attachment is recorded, but the thickness will be measured only after 20 weeks. An ultrasound sensor will be used to determine the thickest part of the placenta and take measurements - this is the indicator that is considered decisive. It is important whether the thickness corresponds to the normative values ​​for the current stage of pregnancy. The standards are given in the table below.

Here is a table of placenta thickness by week.

The values ​​indicated are averages. In practice, there may be minor deviations from these norms, and in each specific case the doctor makes an informed decision, based on the individual circumstances and characteristics of pregnancy. However, obvious deviations that are not limited to tenths of a millimeter require additional examination. A thin placenta, the thickness of which is no more than 20 mm, or a thick placenta, not exceeding 5 cm, is abnormal.

If, in addition to the thickness of the placenta, which does not correspond to the timing, there are no other pathologies or complications of pregnancy, the decision is usually made to wait and observe. It is possible that the placenta has its own structural features, and they should not cause concern if such thickness does not affect the functionality of the “baby place”.

Causes and consequences of deviations

Deviations from the norm are of two types: thick placenta or very thin. Both are risk factors, because anomalies in the structure of the “children’s place” disrupt its functions, on which the well-being and development of the baby directly depend. It is worth considering both situations in detail.

Fat

Placental hyperplasia is said to occur when the thickness of the “baby place” is above the upper limit of the permissible range of normative values. The greater the difference, the more serious the situation. A thick placenta worries doctors much more than a thin placenta, because with hyperplasia, the temporary organ ages and matures faster, and this is fraught with premature birth, fetal hypoxia, fetoplacental insufficiency and delayed development of the baby.

If the placenta ages prematurely, the baby in any case does not receive enough oxygen, vitamins and nutrients. He may show symptoms of intoxication of the body, because the placenta copes worse and more slowly with the removal of waste products.

There are many reasons that can cause hyperplasia of the “children’s place”. This is, for example, diabetes in an expectant mother. With it, not only the thickness, but also the structure of the placenta is disrupted - an additional lobule may be present.

The thickness may be increased due to chronic anemia, which some pregnant women begin to experience in the early stages of pregnancy.

If a woman has suffered a viral disease (for example, influenza or acute respiratory viral infection) in the early stages, the likelihood that placental hyperplasia will occur is very high. By thickening the “baby spot” can respond to genital tract infections, sexually transmitted diseases, as well as “winged” infections (chlamydia, ureaplasmosis and others).

At any stage of pregnancy, the thickness of the placenta may begin to increase due to Rh conflict if an Rh negative mother is carrying a Rh positive baby, resulting in sensitization. In the later stages, hyperplasia of the “baby place” threatens pregnant women with gestosis, edema, high blood pressure and excess weight.

The functions of the placenta with thickening deteriorate significantly, especially the protective function. If hyperplasia is caused by infection, such a placenta will not be able to protect the baby; he will most likely become infected and may die in utero. The early stages of thickening do not make themselves felt. Only by undergoing ultrasound diagnostics is it possible to determine such a violation.

But in later stages, the woman will be “informed” about the development of the pathology by the baby’s movements: he will begin to show pronounced anxiety, and then episodes of physical activity will become more rare. CTG may reveal abnormalities in the condition of the fetus; uteroplacental blood flow will also be disturbed by ultrasound.

Treatment is prescribed only after determining the exact cause of the anomaly. If this is an infection, the woman is prescribed a course of antimicrobial or antiviral therapy; for diabetes mellitus, a standard course of treatment by an endocrinologist is prescribed; for gestosis, hospitalization may be required, as well as a diet and normalization of blood pressure. Unfortunately, there are no medications that could reduce the thickness of the placenta.

The woman is recommended to take medications to improve blood flow in the uteroplacental vessels. The most commonly used are Actovegin and Curantil. In addition, vitamins and mineral supplements and iron supplements are prescribed.

In case of Rh conflict, an intrauterine blood transfusion can be performed.

Thin

If the thickness of the placenta for a given period does not exceed the lower limit of the permissible range, they speak of underdevelopment or hypoplasia of the “baby place”. The functionality of such a placenta is significantly limited, and only in one case can this be a variant of the norm: the woman herself has a fragile, slender physique and is carrying a small baby. In this case, the development of the baby will not be affected.

In all other cases, an underdeveloped “children’s place” can lead to negative consequences: hypoxia, developmental delay, and the threat of death of the baby. A thin placenta is sometimes an indicator of genetic abnormalities in the fetus. The risks of placental thinning increase after early viral infections, as well as due to sexually transmitted diseases.

Preeclampsia in the second half of pregnancy is one of the most common causes of hypoplasia, as is the presence of chronic diseases of the kidneys, heart, and thyroid gland in a woman. Smoking during pregnancy, as well as taking alcohol and drugs, often leads to thinning.

Usually, with hypoplasia, intrauterine growth retardation is observed. You can cope with the problem by using drugs that improve uteroplacental blood flow, taking vitamins, and correcting the mother’s diet. If the causes are developmental defects or chromosomal abnormalities of the fetus, it is not possible to eliminate IUGR.

Since there is no way to independently feel the thinning or thickening of the “baby spot”, a woman must regularly and on time visit her doctor during pregnancy, undergo all the required examinations, take tests and do an ultrasound. Refusal to undergo an examination can be costly for the mother and her baby.

If deviations in the thickness of the placenta are detected, there is no need to worry– medicine has a sufficient arsenal of tools, techniques and medications to support the baby and prolong pregnancy to the due date.

Avoid viral and infectious diseases during pregnancy, do not take medications without a doctor's prescription, stop smoking and alcohol, eat right and be sure to monitor your blood pressure and weight.

The absence of risk factors reduces the likelihood of placental pathologies.

To learn about what the placenta is, what it is intended for, and how it is located in the uterus, see the following video.

The expectant mother is waiting for the routine ultrasound procedure with bated breath - what will the doctor tell her? Unfortunately, some women receive disturbing news. These include the diagnosis of “thickening of the placenta during pregnancy.” The pathological condition threatens the normal development of the fetus and promises serious complications during childbirth. The unfavorable prognosis of the disease can be corrected with timely treatment. We will talk about the signs, treatment and prevention of deviation in the article.

The placenta (baby place) is a specific organ that is formed in the female body during the birth of a new life. It has a very complex structure, due to which the circulatory systems of the mother and fetus exist independently of each other. The birth of the placenta begins simultaneously with the implantation of the fertilized egg into the wall of the uterus. After some time, the child's place takes on the job of providing the child with substances and oxygen useful for growth. In addition, the placenta protects the future person from all kinds of infectious diseases.

The placenta becomes a full-fledged organ when pregnancy reaches 16 weeks, and continues to increase in size until 37 weeks (if there are no pathologies). The first ultrasound to study parameters and assess the condition of the placenta is prescribed at 20 weeks of pregnancy. As birth approaches, the baby's place becomes thinner. This process also proceeds in accordance with established standards, which depend on the duration of pregnancy.

Thickening of the placenta during pregnancy: what happens in a woman’s body

Thickening or hyperplasia of the placenta is said to occur when the organ becomes excessively thick. This is undoubtedly a deviation from the norm and requires surgical treatment in a hospital setting. Due to the too thick walls of the child's seat, it is difficult for the fetus to feed and the portions of oxygen that the baby should regularly receive are significantly reduced. The excretory function is also impaired. The pathology is diagnosed at 20 weeks or later.

Consequences of thickening of the placenta in a pregnant woman

Hyperplasia diagnosed too late and, accordingly, untimely treatment can lead to serious complications. Since the placenta is a common organ for mother and baby, both will inevitably suffer.

Complications with thickening of the placenta in the fetus

The consequences of hyperplasia for a child are very severe:

• lack of oxygen and nutrients;
• a moderate form of deviation allows the child to be born naturally, while pronounced hyperplasia forces doctors to perform the birth through a caesarean section, since the baby is severely weakened and will not be able to be born on its own;
• intrauterine growth and development delay;
• underweight and hypoxia at birth;
• organ hypertrophy at birth;
• if hyperplasia is accompanied by oligohydramnios, there is a high risk of curvature of the skeletal bones and fusion of body parts;
• the likelihood of complications developing after thickening of the placenta remains for the child during the first year of life;
• If hyperplasia is not treated in a timely manner, the child dies in the womb.

Complications of placental thickening for the mother

The abnormal condition of the placenta will also affect the course of pregnancy, which will cause severe inconvenience to the woman:

• development of fetoplacental insufficiency due to thickening of the placenta, which is a serious obstacle to normal delivery;
• hyperplasia in combination with polyhydramnios causes leakage of amniotic fluid or premature birth;
• high probability of caesarean section.

Fortunately, thickening of the placenta during pregnancy is not considered a critical condition, although doctors do not deny its danger. The capabilities of modern medicine make it possible in 90% of cases to prevent the development of complications either during childbirth or after it. The earlier treatment is started, the more positive the prognosis of the disease.

Causes of thickening of the placenta during pregnancy

Doctors explain the existence of such an anomaly for many reasons. They can be divided into external and internal factors. Let's list the most common ones:

• anemia in an advanced stage;
• diabetes mellitus (in this case, diffuse thickening of the placenta develops when it grows so much that it covers almost the entire inner surface of the uterus);
• the presence of Rh conflict between the woman and the fetus;
• hydrops fetalis;
• diseases of the genital organs of an infectious nature (chlamydia, syphilis, mycoplasmosis);
• gestosis in late pregnancy;
• mutations due to genetics.

Every expectant mother should be aware of the reasons for the development of hyperplasia, since they all form the basis of its prevention. However, if a thickening does form, its timely diagnosis is of great importance.

Signs of thickening of the placenta during pregnancy

The most important danger of hyperplasia is the absence of visible signs of pathology. This means that the expectant mother, if she has such a disease, will feel good and will not suspect anything.

The disease becomes known during a planned ultrasound procedure. Let us highlight the following characteristic signs of pathology that the diagnostician sees on the monitor of the ultrasound machine:

• excessively expanded space between the villi of the placenta at a period of 18 - 30 weeks;
• a sharp change in the activity of the child’s movements: intense movements in a few moments become smooth and slow;
• muffled heartbeat of the child and changes in the activity of heart contractions (tachycardia is replaced by bradycardia);
• too much amniotic fluid;
• elevated blood sugar in a mother with gestational diabetes mellitus.

Thickening of the placenta during pregnancy: norm and pathology

For each period of pregnancy, there are certain norms for the size of the placenta, which the doctor always focuses on when managing the pregnancy of each of his patients. Once established, normal values ​​help specialists confirm or refute the diagnosis of hyperplasia. It would be a good idea for expectant mothers to familiarize themselves with this information so as not to worry in vain:

• 20 weeks of pregnancy - the normal thickness of the baby's place fluctuates within 20 mm;
• 25 weeks - 25 mm;
• 33 weeks - 33 mm;
• 37 weeks - normal thickening of the placenta reaches its limit and is 37 mm.

If the pregnant woman’s personal indicators are the same, there is nothing to worry about. If there are deviations, you should not panic, but go to the hospital. By trusting doctors, a woman increases her chances of successfully giving birth to a healthy child.

Treatment of thickening of the placenta in pregnant women

Medical intervention in the pathological process of growth of the child's place has two goals - to achieve normalization of blood circulation in the placenta and to eliminate the root cause of the disease. The expectant mother is prescribed a course of treatment with medications, and is also recommended to do everything to ensure the most comfortable intrauterine development of the baby. An approximate course of complex therapy for hyperplasia looks like this:

1. A variety of healthy foods.
2. Constant rest.
3. Measures to eliminate the factor that served as the impetus for thickening of the placenta.
4. Fetal blood transfusion if there is a Rhesus conflict.
5. Taking iron-containing drugs in combination with ascorbic acid (Hemoferon, Actifferin, Ferrocomplex)
6. Taking medications that help restore normal blood circulation in the child's area (Actovegin, Trental, Dipyridamole).
7. Taking multivitamin complexes, anticoagulants and essential phospholipids.

Often the treatment is successful and the worst fears of the worried expectant mother are not confirmed. However, if the pathology was discovered too late and there is little time left before birth, even the most prompt treatment will not be able to prevent the development of complications when the baby is born.

Thickening of the placenta during pregnancy: how to prevent complications of the pathology

If an ultrasound at the 20th week of pregnancy prompted the doctor to think about hyperplasia of the baby’s place, the expectant mother should put aside panic. The specialist will certainly prescribe appropriate treatment for her, and will also instruct her on preventive measures to prevent the development of complications of the disease.

To promote a speedy recovery, nothing supernatural is required from a pregnant woman. Enough:

• Regularly walk away from busy traffic areas. Ideally, you need to get out into the forest more often;
• do not drink alcoholic beverages and forever forget about smoking, if you have such a habit;
• eat high-quality healthy food;
• avoid crowded places to avoid getting ARVI;
• monitor body weight;
• take vitamins regularly;
• undergo scheduled tests in a timely manner so as not to “overlook” anemia;
• do not miss scheduled visits to the antenatal clinic.

If the baby’s place is developing incorrectly and the reason for this has already been found, the only thing left to do is the doctor draws up a treatment program taking into account the duration of pregnancy in order to improve metabolism and help the fetus grow in the current conditions. The main thing is not to miss valuable time, then the baby will have every chance to be born healthy even with such an unfavorable diagnosis. Be healthy!

During pregnancy, a woman’s body forms a temporary organ called the placenta, which is extremely necessary for the successful gestation and development of the fetus. The process of placenta formation is completed by the sixteenth week of pregnancy during its normal course. This organ is formed as a result of implantation of a fertilized egg into the uterus. The main functions of the placenta are to provide the fetus with the right amount of nutrients and transport oxygen to it. Using an ultrasound examination, you can determine the thickness of the placenta, which in turn will show how well it copes with its responsibilities.

Causes of placental hyperplasia

Diagnostics

Diagnostic measures are focused on identifying the cause of placental hyperplasia. To do this, the expectant mother is prescribed the following actions:

• biochemical blood test;
• fetal cardiotocography;
• general urine and blood tests;
• examination for detection of sexually transmitted infections and TORCH infections;
• blood test for antibodies;
• Doppler ultrasound;
• gynecological smear for flora.

Treatment of placental hyperplasia

• If, during additional diagnostics, it is discovered that, along with thickening of the placenta, intrauterine development of the child is delayed, then in this case the expectant mother must be hospitalized and her further treatment should be carried out in a hospital.
• To normalize the thickness of the placenta, medications that help improve microcirculation of the embryonic organ, as well as medications that thin the blood, can be used.
• The most important stage of treatment is taking medications to improve oxygenation of the fetus and the placenta itself.
• To prevent cell destruction, the most effective way is to use essential phospholipids, which perfectly perform their construction function.
• Also, treatment of placental hyperplasia may include vitamin therapy, antiviral therapy, treatment of late gestosis, intrauterine blood transfusion, and normalizing blood sugar levels.
• If the enlargement of the placenta is insignificant, and the development of the fetus proceeds according to schedule and norms, then treatment of hyperplasia may not be necessary.

Consequences and prevention of placental hyperplasia

Thickening of the placenta provokes development, in which there is a failure in the supply of nutrients and oxygen to the baby, which results in a slowdown in its intrauterine development and increases the likelihood of complicating the birth process.

To avoid such consequences, it is necessary to undergo all diagnostic measures prescribed at the antenatal clinic in a timely manner.