Understanding The Timeline Of Placenta Development In The Womb

Did you know that during pregnancy, in addition to growing a tiny human being, you also gain a whole new organ? Exactly! The placenta is an organ composed of fetal and maternal tissues and begins to form alongside the embryo in the earliest stages of pregnancy. In this article, #MommyVeronika has prepared for you the answers to all questions related to the placenta – from what it is to how and when it starts forming.

What is the placenta and what is its role?
Before learning when the placenta is formed, it is good to get to know it more closely and learn exactly where it is formed. The placenta is an organ that develops in your uterus and provides a connection between you and your baby. This connection (via the umbilical cord) helps support the developing baby throughout pregnancy. Necessary nutrients, oxygen and antibodies pass from the placenta through the umbilical cord to your baby. The placenta also works in reverse, meaning it removes waste products and carbon dioxide from the baby’s blood and returns them to your blood. Because the placenta keeps your blood separate from the baby’s blood, it also helps stop some bacteria and viruses from reaching the uterus to protect the fetus from infections.

When is the placenta formed?
Now that you’ve learned what a placenta is, it’s time to answer the question of when it begins to form. Pregnancy involves a complex series of events, one of which is the formation of the placenta. Generally speaking, after the fertilized egg implants in the uterine wall, the placenta begins to form, but the process itself begins a few days before implantation. When you ovulate, the egg leaves the ovary and travels through the fallopian tube in hopes of being fertilized. If successful, the ovulated egg meets the sperm to begin the formation of the fetus. This ovulated egg is called a zygote. Over the next few days, the zygote will undergo multiple cell divisions in the fallopian tube.

When the zygote reaches the uterus, these cell divisions continue, and the zygote becomes a blastocyst. At this stage, some cells start to become the placenta and others – the fetus, after which the blastocyst implants in the endometrium. To support pregnancy, the placenta produces a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This same hormone will be measured with an at home or a blood pregnancy test, but you won’t get a positive result before conception.

Throughout the pregnancy, your placenta grows from a few cells to an entire organ. By week 12 of gestation, the placenta is formed and ready to take over the nutritional function for the baby. However, it continues to grow throughout pregnancy and is considered mature after 34 weeks of gestation. Under normal conditions in the process of forming the placenta, it attaches to the wall of your uterus. As the pregnancy progresses, it moves and grows together with the uterus.

When does the placenta take over key functions?
Although every pregnancy is different, the placenta can be expected to take over around 8 – 12 weeks of gestation, with 10 weeks being the average time for most women. This does not mean that your own production of hormones and nutrients are not important. On the contrary, in terms of nutrients, it means that what you consume can already reach your baby through the umbilical cord and placenta.

Those who conceive through artificial insemination or are hormone deficient may need supplemental progesterone in the first trimester. These women can often stop taking this hormone when the placenta starts making its own.

Placenta formation and morning sickness
Many women look forward to the second trimester because energy levels increase, hormones begin to balance, and pregnancy morning sickness disappears. But why does everything seem to be getting better? As already mentioned, towards the end of the first trimester (around week 10 of gestation), the placenta takes over the production of progesterone. This helps reduce morning sickness and vomiting. For many mothers-to-be, this means an end to morning woes.

Complications in the formation of the placenta
The placenta usually attaches to the side or top of the uterus, but this is not always the case. Sometimes it can develop in the wrong place or get attached too deeply, which can lead to various diseases of the placenta. Even if you have a healthy pregnancy, complications with the placenta can still happen. However, these conditions usually occur as a result of factors such as:

– genetics
– mother’s age
– high blood pressure
– carrying more than one baby (twin pregnancy)
– previous stomach operations
– use of prohibited substances
– previous problems with the placenta
– trauma to the abdomen

The good news is that your doctor will monitor many of these conditions throughout your pregnancy and work with you to avoid any concerns. That’s why it’s important not to miss your scheduled appointments and to monitor your pregnancy closely.

However, here are some possible complications in the formation of the placenta:

– Placenta previa is a condition in which the placenta grows in the lowest part of the uterus, usually 2 cm from the cervix. As a result, the placenta covers all or part of the cervix. If the placenta completely covers the cervix, this can cause bleeding at birth and will likely require a C-section.
– Placental abruption is a serious condition in which the placenta separates from the wall of the uterus during pregnancy or childbirth. Symptoms include vaginal bleeding and back or abdominal pain.
– Placenta accreta occurs when part or all of the placenta is embedded too deeply into the uterine wall.
– An anterior placenta means that the placenta is attached to the front of the stomach. This isn’t usually a problem—it’s really just a normal variation—but let your doctor know if you feel a decrease in baby movement.
– Retained placenta indicates that part of the placenta is still in the uterus after birth. If the placenta does not come out in a certain amount of time (usually 30 minutes, but it can be up to 60 minutes), your doctor will perform a procedure to remove the placenta.
– Placental insufficiency is diagnosed when the placenta cannot deliver enough oxygen and nutrients to the fetus, which can lead to complications during pregnancy. Your doctor will monitor this condition throughout your pregnancy.

The birth of the placenta
After the complete formation of the placenta comes the turn of its so-called birth. If this is your first pregnancy, it may surprise you to learn that the birth of your baby is not the only stage of labor. As you have learned, the placenta is a new organ in your body, which, after performing its function, must also be birthed. During this final stage of labor, your uterus will continue to contract, allowing the placenta to separate from the uterine wall and finally pass through the birth canal outside of your body. If you had a vaginal birth, this process takes about 30 to 60 minutes. For mothers who give birth by surgery, your doctor will remove the placenta. Also to speed things along, your doctor may ask you to squeeze or massage your uterus. In some cases, he may give you Pitocin to help your uterus contract. Or he may recommend that you have brief skin-to-skin contact with your newborn baby, which in turn will help your uterus contract.

Now that you know when the placenta forms, finally #MommyVeronika will remind you that the placenta is an important organ that provides oxygen and nutrients to your developing baby. It also plays a significant role in the health of your pregnancy. During these 9 months, the placenta grows and changes its shape. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience any symptoms such as vaginal bleeding, abdominal or back pain. These may be signs of more serious conditions and problems in the process with or in the formation of the placenta.