The placenta is an essential component of the growing baby during pregnancy, supplying it with nutrients and oxygen. The placenta matures at different rates as the pregnancy goes on. These phases are crucial to comprehending the placenta’s overall health.
The first degree of maturity is one of these phases, and it typically happens at a particular time during pregnancy. It assists physicians in keeping an eye on the baby’s health and the placenta’s capacity to sustain growth.
Expectant mothers can feel more at ease and have a better understanding of how their pregnancy is progressing if they know what the first degree of maturity is and when it usually occurs.
- Features
- Degrees of maturity
- Norm or deviation?
- Video on the topic
- Is premature aging of the placenta dangerous? Degree of maturity of the placenta.
- Aging of the placenta / Victoria Matvienko
- Aging of the placenta: are there any risks for the fetus? Elena Nikologorskaya. Obstetrician-gynecologist
- Aging of the placenta
- The effect of premature maturation of the placenta on the child during pregnancy. Aging of the placenta.
- PLACENTA DURING PREGNANCY | About the degrees of maturity of the placenta
- Degrees of maturity of the placenta. Aging of the placenta
Features
The placenta, also known as the "baby’s place," is the most vital organ without which it would be impossible to conceive. This organ, which has a disc shape and is slightly flattened, grows into the uterus on one side and is connected to it by a network of blood vessels on the other side by the umbilical cord. The developing baby is fed, shielded, and defended by the placenta. It produces the hormones required to sustain pregnancy, taking over the functions of the endocrine gland. The placenta removes carbon dioxide, urea, and creatinine from the baby’s body while supplying it with water, oxygen, and other essential nutrients.
As soon as the fertilized egg is inserted into the uterus, the placenta starts to develop. The chorion is its ancestor. The chorion develops gradually, giving rise to a developing placenta that gets thicker and larger. By the fourteenth or sixteenth week of pregnancy, the placenta has typically finished forming. And that’s when it starts to age steadily. The placenta gradually changes, gives the baby everything it can, and by the time labor starts, it has already used up all of its valuable resources. Within 20 to 50 minutes after the baby is born, the placenta emerges because it is no longer biologically necessary.
This irreversible process of placental maturation and aging is quantified by the degrees of maturity of the "baby’s place." Every stage of aging should ideally line up with specific gestational periods. If the "baby’s place" ages more quickly than usual, the infant may experience hypoxia, hypotrophy, and a severe developmental delay because he won’t get enough oxygen and vital nutrients. Hypoxia can occasionally result in the fetus dying inside the womb.
A rapidly growing baby places significant and ever-increasing loads on the pathologically underdeveloped "baby’s place," which is why too slow placental maturation also creates a threat.
The placenta’s initial degree of maturity denotes a developmental stage during which it starts to form tiny calcium deposits. This stage usually appears between weeks 12 and 28 of pregnancy, which is normal and indicates that the placenta is doing its job of supporting the developing baby. It’s a common aspect of pregnancy and usually not anything to be concerned about unless it’s discovered too early, in which case a doctor may need to monitor you more closely.
Degrees of maturity
From the moment of complete formation of the placenta and up to 30 weeks of pregnancy, the zero degree of maturity is normally observed. This means that the temporary organ is in its prime and functions at full capacity. The first degree is considered normal for a period from 30 to 34 weeks of pregnancy. In practice, from about the 27th week of pregnancy, the doctor can determine the first signs of initial changes in the placenta using ultrasound – its growth has stopped, and the thickness has also almost fixed. But the organ remains smooth, only small wave-like changes in the membrane and single inclusions in the structure are visible on the ultrasound scanner monitor. These inclusions are salt deposits, because we know that the "baby"s place" receives the baby"s waste products.
If the signs of aging are not yet obvious, then a borderline 0-1 degree can be set and for the pregnancy period from 26-27 weeks to 32 weeks this is a completely normal phenomenon. However, provided that the pregnancy is proceeding without complications, there is no presentation and marginal location of the placenta. 0-1 degree before 26 weeks is a dangerous sign of premature aging of the "baby"s place". From 32 weeks, another borderline degree of maturity can be set – 1-2. From 35 weeks, most expectant mothers register the second degree, and from about 38 weeks – borderline 2-3 or 3. The third degree of maturity of the "baby"s place" indicates that the placenta has exhausted its capabilities. Normally, it is diagnosed immediately before childbirth and if this occurs within the specified time frame, then such an adult, or rather, old placenta does not pose any danger to the child.
In this instance, aging is solely physiological. When the first degree of the "baby’s place" does not match the times at which it is deemed normal—that is, between 27 and 34 weeks of pregnancy—pathology is mentioned.
Norm or deviation?
The woman is monitored more closely if the ultrasound doctor determines that the first degree of maturity was declared earlier than 27 weeks. Active medical intervention tactics take the place of observational tactics when needed. In the event that the unborn child is growing healthily and does not exhibit any warning indicators, medical professionals will only conduct observation, giving the expectant mother vitamin recommendations and encouraging her to take more walks outside.
In the event that additional issues arise and the infant exhibits hypoxic symptoms or developmental delays, the mother is admitted to the pregnancy pathology unit and given medications to enhance uteroplacental blood flow and decrease uterine tone.
When the first degree of maturity is determined at 31–34 weeks, this is normal and causes no cause for concern. If the first degree is identified after 35 weeks of pregnancy, it could be a sign of the baby’s malformations, the placenta’s structural irregularities, metabolic issues affecting both the mother and the fetus, or the presence of nodes on the umbilical cord. Hospitalization and additional testing are unavoidably necessary for this condition.
| Placenta Maturity Level | Normal Week of Pregnancy |
| First Degree | 18 to 30 weeks |
| Description | The placenta starts to show signs of maturing but continues to function normally for the baby’s development. |
It is normal for the placenta to reach its first degree of maturity during pregnancy. As part of the process of sustaining the baby’s growth, it indicates that the placenta is beginning to age and develop. The placenta is still doing a good job at this point of supplying the baby with oxygen and nutrients.
Typically, this stage of development occurs between weeks 18 and 30 of pregnancy. It’s a normal milestone that doesn’t indicate any problems unless the doctor notices something out of the ordinary while doing routine checkups.
It is best to discuss any concerns you may have with your healthcare provider regarding placenta maturity. They will discuss the status of your pregnancy and whether any additional testing is required.
