What does placental calcification mean and in what forms does it occur?

Although placental calcification can be concerning to expectant parents, it is a typical occurrence in a large number of pregnancies. The accumulation of microscopic calcium deposits in the placenta—the organ that sustains a developing fetus—is the cause of this disorder. It’s critical to comprehend the meaning of this process and how it is classified, even though it may cause some anxiety.

Placental calcification frequently occurs spontaneously as the pregnancy goes on. Particularly in the later stages of pregnancy, it is frequently interpreted as an indication that the placenta is maturing. It can also happen earlier, in which case medical professionals monitor the mother and child more closely to make sure they both stay healthy.

The appearance and timing of placental calcification during pregnancy can vary, leading to different types of the condition. By identifying these forms, medical professionals can keep an eye on the patient’s condition and determine whether any further action is required to ensure a safe and easy delivery.

The accumulation of calcium deposits in the placenta during pregnancy, particularly in the later stages, is referred to as placental calcification. It can show up in a variety of ways, from moderate calcification that doesn’t affect the pregnancy to more advanced calcification that may need to be monitored by a medical professional. Even though it’s usually benign, it can occasionally point to possible problems with placental function, so it’s crucial to monitor it during routine prenatal exams.

What is it?

The structure of placental tissue can be determined by conducting an ultrasound examination. During an ultrasound, the doctor evaluates the density, thickness and other parameters of the placenta. Normally, placental tissue up to 30-32 weeks of pregnancy has a fairly smooth outer surface. At the same time, the placental tissue itself has a fairly uniform (homogeneous) structure, in which there are no additional inclusions or determinable formations. If the placenta has a non-homogeneous structure, then in this case, various calcifications are often found in it – compacted areas. Usually, calcification of the placenta occurs in the third, final, trimester of pregnancy. The closer to childbirth, the greater, as a rule, the probability of detecting various calcifications in the placental tissue. If dense areas (calcifications) were detected during examination of the placenta at earlier stages of pregnancy, then doctors call this condition calcification. It is often recorded in obstetric practice. With calcification, calcifications are usually detected at 26-30 weeks of pregnancy, less often – at earlier stages.

Reasons for development

For a long time, doctors studied the placenta only retrospectively – after its direct "birth" during childbirth. Studying the structure of the placenta during pregnancy became possible only thanks to the introduction of ultrasound diagnostic devices into medical practice. When conducting ultrasound examinations of pregnant women, doctors were given the opportunity to study structure of placental tissue and got an objective idea of ​​what the placenta should be like during normal and complicated pregnancy. The appearance of calcifications in the placenta at 34-36 weeks of pregnancy should not be a cause for concern for the expectant mother. At this time, even in a healthy placenta, certain structural changes begin to occur. This is a kind of preparation of the body for the upcoming birth.

In cases where placental tissue calcifications were discovered considerably earlier, medical professionals work to determine the condition’s potential etiology. In this situation, a doctor closely monitors the expectant mother in whom the condition was discovered.

• the presence of bad habits in the pregnant woman (smoking, alcohol abuse);
• sexually transmitted infections of the genitourinary system;
• some bacterial, viral and fungal diseases;
• the presence of concomitant pathologies of internal organs;
• severe gestosis;
• severe anemia;
• chronic diseases of the reproductive organs (endometriosis, fibroids, uterine malformations and many others).

It is thought that some pathological process that disrupts the blood supply to the placental tissue is what leads to the development of this condition. A severe constriction of the blood vessels may cause the placenta’s ability to receive oxygen and nutrients in certain sections to be disrupted. Significant reductions in blood flow will cause functional disorders, which will then play a role in the development of calcifications—compacted areas of altered tissue.

In the calcified region of the placental tissue, a significant amount of calcium is deposited. This explains the distinctive density and appearance of the calcification. The placenta’s calcified regions are substantially harder than its overall, typically quite loose and soft tissue.

What is the danger?

Its early "aging" may be indicated by the multiple calcifications that appear in the placental tissue much earlier than expected. Generally speaking, the prognosis for the development of pregnancy in this case could get worse. In this case, placental calcification could potentially cause complications during the third trimester of pregnancy or even trigger the emergence of certain negative effects.

The placenta’s ability to function is compromised when it has several calcifications, which makes it dangerous. In this instance, the foetus does not get enough oxygen or nutrients. This typically has a detrimental impact on the intrauterine development process as a whole.

Because fetoplacental insufficiency is a very dangerous condition, a severe disruption in the provision of the body of a baby developing in the mother’s womb can be dangerous. The pathological condition may even contribute to premature birth if it worsens.

Clinical options

The placenta’s level of maturity also affects how compacted areas appear in it. The placental tissue is more altered the "older" it is. Depending on its maturity, the placenta can be classified into various types.

• Zero (0). Typical for placental tissue in the norm "younger" than 30 weeks. The structure of the placental tissue is homogeneous, foreign inclusions are absent.
• First (1). Typical for the normal course of pregnancy for 36-37 weeks. In the placenta of such maturity, single calcifications are usually found, age-related changes are moderate.
• Second (2). Typical for 34-39 weeks of pregnancy. The structure becomes less homogeneous, various depressions appear in it. Calcifications are usually multiple.
• Third (3). Typical for placental tissue "older" than 37 weeks. The structure of the placental tissue becomes heterogeneous. A multitude of various depressions appear on the outer surface of the placenta. Calcifications are multiple, located almost throughout the entire depth placental tissue, can merge with each other.

A normal process that typically occurs in the later stages of pregnancy is placental calcification. Doctors should keep an eye on it even though it’s not always a reason for alarm because it makes sure the placenta is still healthy enough to sustain the fetus.

Calcification can take many different forms, some mild and some more advanced. The duration of the pregnancy and other personal factors frequently influence the stage of calcification. Physicians will assess the condition to see if any action is required.

Placental calcification doesn’t cause problems for most pregnancies. Nonetheless, routine examinations are necessary to monitor its development and guarantee the mother’s and the child’s health.

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