The normal development of pregnancy and the course of the birth itself largely depends on the state of the placenta. It is she who is responsible for feeding the baby and supplying it with oxygen. Therefore, doctors supervise this body for the whole pregnancy.
Regular conduct of ultrasound will allow to detect any deviations in time and take appropriate measures. The study determines the location of the child's place, the degree of its maturity, the thickness of the placenta , the structure.
And if a woman is told that there is a heterogeneous structure of the placenta, this, of course, causes anxiety and anxiety. And this is not surprising, because the placenta, in addition to nutrition and respiration, serves as a defender against infections, the supplier of the necessary hormones and a transportation of the products of the baby's life in the womb.
What causes a heterogeneous placenta?
Not always the heterogeneity of the placenta is a cause for concern. In some cases, such a state is considered the norm. The placenta is finally formed by week 16. And after that, until the 30th week, the structure of the placenta should not change. And you need to worry if it is during this period that the doctor discovers changes in its structure.
The cause for concern is the placenta structure of increased echogenicity and the detection of various inclusions in it. In this case, the heterogeneous structure of the organ indicates a violation of its normal functioning.
The cause of these disorders may be infections that are present in the body of a woman. Negatively affect the development of the placenta, smoking, alcohol, anemia and some other factors. As a result of heterogeneity of the placenta, the blood flow between the mother and the child can be disturbed, which will affect the latter. Due to fetal hypoxia, pregnancy can slow down and even completely stop the development of the fetus.
If changes in the structure of the placenta are found after 30 weeks, this means that everything is normal and goes as expected. Sometimes even at week 27, changes are considered normal, if there are no abnormalities in fetal development.
There is a record in the ultrasound conclusions "structure of the placenta with the expansion of the MVP." MVP are intervillar spaces, a place in the placenta, where there is a metabolism between the blood of the mother and the child. Expansion of these spaces is associated with the need to increase the area of exchange. There are several options for expanding the profit center, but they are not related to the development of fetoplacental insufficiency. With this diagnosis, no additional research is needed.
The heterogeneous structure of the placenta with calcification is another variant of the placental structure. In this case, the danger is not the calcification as such, but their presence. They prevent the placenta from performing its functions to the fullest.
The structure of the placenta with small calcifications in late pregnancy is not a cause for concern. This is more likely to indicate the aging of the placenta, which after 37 weeks is quite normal. In 50% of cases after 33 weeks in the placenta, calcicates are found.
The degree of maturation of the placenta and its structure
The placenta is clearly visible on ultrasound, starting at the 12th week. During this period, its echogenicity is similar to the echogenicity of the myometrium. On the degree of maturity 0, a homogeneous structure of the placenta is noted, that is, a homogeneous structure bounded by a smooth chorionic plate.
Already at degree 1, the structure of the placenta loses its uniformity, echogenic inclusions appear in it. The structure of the placenta of the 2nd degree is marked by the appearance of echopositive sites in the form of commas. And grade 3 is characterized by increased calcification of the placenta.