Ideally, during pregnancy, the placenta has a certain thickness, regulated by the week. So at 22 week of the term the thickness of the child's place should be 3.3 centimeters. At 25 weeks, it increases to 3.9 centimeters, and already at 33 weeks of pregnancy, the thickness of the placenta is 4.6 centimeters.
When a thicker placenta is observed during pregnancy, this may indicate intrauterine infection of the fetus. In this case, it is necessary to pass a blood test for toxoplasmosis or cytomegalovirus.
If a pregnant woman has a placenta that is thicker than normal, then a woman is observed by a specialist and sends it to ultrasound and CTG. Only thanks to such examinations can you accurately determine the presence or absence of pathologies in the baby.
Causes of thick placenta
Causes that affect the thickening of the placenta may be as follows:
- viral diseases;
- infectious diseases;
- rhesus-conflict in pregnancy ;
- diabetes maternal;
- severe anemia;
- risk of miscarriage;
- multiple pregnancies;
- gestosis;
- excess or shortage in weight of the pregnant woman.
Consequences of thick placenta
When the place for the child becomes thicker, calcifications appear that affect the functioning of the placenta. As a result of such processes, the fetus does not receive enough oxygen, and this affects its intrauterine development. In addition, because of puffiness of the placenta, its hormonal function decreases, which threatens with the termination of pregnancy or childbirth before the term.
In severe cases of thickening of the placenta, antenatal fetal death and premature detachment of the placenta are possible. To avoid terrible consequences, the doctor prescribes an additional examination as soon as he suspects the thickened placenta. If his fears are confirmed, then immediately treated the disease.