Premature aging of the placenta: causes, treatment, consequences

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Premature aging of the placenta is a term that scares many pregnant women.

The placenta is an important temporary organ that supplies the baby with nutrients and protects it from harmful factors. The he alth of the child depends on her condition.

It begins to form around the third week of pregnancy, then the tissue and vascular bed actively grow, and at the end of pregnancy, the reverse process begins, blockage of blood vessels and deformation, tissue death - this is what is called “placental aging.”

If this happens prematurely, then doctors diagnose "premature aging of the placenta." Why is this condition dangerous, what are its causes and how is it treated?

About the placenta

The placenta goes through several stages of development during pregnancy. So, at the beginning of pregnancy, it grows and develops, but it finally forms by about 10-12 weeks and from that moment begins to fully fulfill its functions.

The weakening of toxicosis at the end of the first trimester is associated precisely with activityplacenta.

At the end of pregnancy, cells and blood vessels gradually begin to die and deform. This usually happens by the 38th week, when all the organs and systems of the child are finally formed.

But there are times when the placenta dies at an earlier date. This is a reason for urgent hospitalization, since the pregnancy must be maintained, and this can only be done with medication.

Degree of maturity of the placenta

The most reliable way to diagnose the maturity of this temporary organ is ultrasound and measurement of blood flow.

Maturity graded:

• 0 degree - normally it is typical until the 30th week of pregnancy. This is the period of its active work, the tissues of the placenta reliably protect the baby from harmful toxins, filter the metabolic products. The vessels are well filled with blood, the child receives oxygen and nutrients in the required amount.
• 1 degree - observed from about 28 to 34 weeks of pregnancy. This is a period of continued growth of the placenta, it reaches its final size.
• 2 degree - observed from about 35 to 38 weeks, this is the normal work of an already mature organ. By the end of 38 weeks, vascular changes begin that do not affect blood flow. The surface of the placenta becomes bumpy, uneven, dense.
• 3 stage - the stage when the organ reaches its maximum degree of maturity, approximately 38-40 weeks. The stage is associated with the natural wear and tear of blood vessels and tissues. There are signs of changes in blood flow and s alt deposits.

If the ultrasound shows that the baby has a normal heart rate, he is active, and his growth corresponds to the gestational age, then there is no point in worrying.

But if changes in the structure of the placenta are detected at an earlier date, they speak of premature aging of the placenta. In this case, vascular preparations and vitamin therapy are needed, they will restore blood supply and provide the fetus with the necessary substances.

Meaning of placenta

The placenta is the element that maintains pregnancy and supports the development of the baby's body. It performs the following important functions:

• Respiratory - the baby does not breathe on its own, gas exchange occurs due to the vessels of the placenta. Thanks to her, oxygen enters the baby's blood and carbon dioxide is removed.
• Nutritional - through the placenta, the baby's blood is enriched with essential substances: fats, vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates.
• Immune - maternal antibodies penetrate the placenta, which protect the baby from germs.
• Endocrine - synthesizes hormones (progesterone and hCG) that support pregnancy and stimulate labor.
• Protective - the placenta is able to destroy substances dangerous to the fetus.
• Barrier - prevents microorganisms from entering the baby.

The consequences of premature aging of the placenta are the deterioration of gas exchange and nutrition of the baby. Early maturation of the placenta during pregnancy leads to a decrease in the quality of all functions.

Causes of aging

The causes of premature aging of the placenta may be related to the woman's he alth or her bad habits. The main ones are:

• Smoking - nicotine has a negative effect on blood vessels, causing spasms. But passive smoking is just as harmful as active smoking. If a woman regularly inhales tobacco smoke, the baby's need for oxygen increases, and, consequently, the vessels of the placenta begin to work in an enhanced mode.
• Chronic diseases of the mother (cholesterol in the blood, diabetes) lead to blockage of blood vessels.
• Renal or heart failure - with these pathologies, the mother's blood circulation is disturbed, and this affects the work of the placenta. In such cases, the mother is prescribed therapy that improves blood flow.
• Infections - such as herpes, toxoplasmosis - are toxic to tissues and cause premature aging of the placenta. Some of them may be in a "sleep" mode and become more active when immunity decreases during pregnancy.
• Abortions and other operations on the uterus in history lead to a decrease in the endometrium, so the placenta develops poorly from the very beginning, does not reach the desired thickness and quickly ages.
• Rh-conflict of the child and mother leads to the formation of antibodies in the blood, which complicate the work of the placenta and cause its aging.
• Prolonged toxicosis, especially if multiple pregnancy.

Also reasonspremature aging of the placenta are:

• Diet violation.
• Failure to sleep and wake up.
• Edema.
• Overweight.
• Polyhydramnios.
• Unfavorable environment.

In order to prevent the development of this adverse phenomenon, preventive treatment is needed, which will slow down the process and maintain the normal functioning of the temporary organ.

Signs of aging

There are no symptoms and signs of the development of this pathology. Only a specialist can diagnose the phenomenon with the help of ultrasound. But watching the baby's movements and counting their number, a pregnant woman herself may suspect premature aging of the placenta.

Reducing or increasing the activity of the baby may be a symptom of hypoxia - oxygen deficiency. This pathology develops with premature aging of the placenta at 32 weeks - stages 2-3. If a woman notices the excessive activity of the baby, you need to contact a specialist and undergo an ultrasound scan.

Consequences

What is the danger of premature aging of the placenta? With this phenomenon, the supply of the child with nutrients and oxygen is disrupted, the filtration function deteriorates greatly, the placenta is no longer a reliable barrier. The baby is exposed to toxins and viruses that can lead to malformations.

Premature aging of the placenta at 32 weeks of gestation and earlier is very dangerous, as this can lead to a h alt in the development of the fetus and evendeath.

This pathology at a later date can lead to fetal malnutrition and impaired development of certain body systems.

If necrotic areas appear, then as a result of tissue aging, placental abruption can occur - this is an extremely dangerous condition for the child and mother.

3 degree of premature aging of the placenta can lead to the development of serious pathologies. These are placental abruption, rupture of amniotic fluid, premature birth, and the worst thing is the death of the child.

Diagnosis

On ultrasound, the doctor may find that the tissue has become denser, there has been a change in blood flow (Doppler ultrasound). With the aging of the placenta, a clear boundary between the wall of the uterus and the body of the placenta is clearly visible.

If the baby's heartbeat is normal and there are no signs of hypoxia, then do not worry. But you need to control the growth of the fetus all the time.

An additional diagnostic method is Doppler ultrasound, which can be used to assess placental blood flow and the degree of oxygen supply to the child.

Also, doctors often use cardiotocography - with its help you can observe the baby's vital activity, the method shows the child's movements and his heartbeat, and their relationship. Based on the results of this method, you can assess the degree of hypoxia in the baby.

Treatment

Premature aging of the placenta poses a threat to the he alth and life of the fetus, so maintenance therapy is needed. First of all, the causes that caused this condition should be eliminated. Otherwise, drug treatment will not be effective. Treatment of premature aging of the placenta is carried out in a hospital, where there is the possibility of medical supervision.

Required:

• Expectant mother to quit smoking, avoid secondhand smoke.
• If the cause is the mother's disease (cholesterol in the blood, diabetes), then adjust the doses of drugs, this will reduce the rate of aging of the placenta.
• If the cause is an infection, get treated.
• If the cause is late toxicosis, start taking drugs that will reduce toxic tissue damage.

Treatment should be started as early as possible. A set of measures to restore blood flow in the placenta and to maintain pregnancy includes:

• Vascular drugs and drugs that improve blood flow.
• Vitamins C, A, E.
• Drugs to minimize uterine tone.

In addition, a pregnant woman needs to spend more time outdoors, avoid stressful situations, overexertion. The expectant mother should reconsider her diet, do not eat fatty, smoked, s alty, semi-finished products. Eat as many fruits and vegetables, fish, dairy products, cereals as possible.

If drug treatment is effective, then a woman can give birth on her own, but if progressive aging of the placenta is diagnosed, doctors recommend a caesarean section.

Prevention

To avoid such a pathology, it is necessary toprepare for conception, undergo examinations, treat infections on time, get the necessary vaccinations.

During pregnancy, it is imperative to take multivitamin preparations, give up bad habits, follow all the doctor's recommendations, undergo ultrasound in a timely manner, treat all complications (anemia, preeclampsia, hypertension) on time, relax more, do gymnastics and yoga. And the most important thing is to have a positive attitude towards life and be in a good mood!