The Placenta and Its Functions – Your Baby’s Life Center

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The placenta is an essential though comparatively short-lived organ with a significant function during pregnancy. Also referred to as the ‘life center’ of the baby, it is the point at which the mother and the fetus connect as it provides nutrients, oxygen, waste disposal, and some hormones. Familiarizing oneself with the platysma functions will help in find a way to appreciate its place in mothers’ bodies in enabling her to nurture her baby.

What Is the Placenta?

The placenta is a flat, round pinkish-grey organ which develops in the early stages of pregnancy and is attached to the wall of the uterus. It is attached to the fetus by an umbilical cord that supplies it with necessities like food and oxygen. This organ is made up of both maternal and fetal tissues and is the main conduit for interchange between the mother and the baby (Bianchi, 2020). It starts developing after the fertilized egg buries itself into the uterus wall, and by the third month of development, the placenta is complete.

Key Functions of the Placenta

Nutrient and Oxygen Transfer

It is evidenced that one of the main roles of the placenta is to supply the fetus with the necessary nutrients and oxygen. The placenta is a barrier that lets needed nutrients, including glucose, amino acids, and oxygen, pass from the mother to the fetus. Likewise, unwanted metabolites such as carbon dioxide are returned to the maternal circulation for removal (Hecht, 2021). The effectiveness of this nutrient and oxygen exchange is very essential in the growth of the fetus.

Hormone Production

The placenta also serves as an endocrine gland. It secretes several hormones that are crucial to pregnancy as they are:

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG): This hormone sustains the corpus luteum, which is in charge of generating progesterone during the early stages of pregnancy (Aukamp et al. 2020.

Progesterone: This hormone aids in preparing the uterus to accept the fertilized egg and control contractions in the early stages.

Estrogen: Important in maintaining the pregnancy and facilitating uterine blood flow and fetal organogenesis (Goswami et al., 2019).

Immunological Protection

Some level of immunity can be offered by the placenta since it also acts as a barrier to many pathogens. Although it cannot guarantee a hundred percent protection of the fetus from infection, it offers some protection from microbes that may cause infections. The placenta also transports antibodies of the mother to the fetus in order to immunize the baby passively during the first few months of its life (Rook et al., 2021).

Waste Removal

The placenta also plays a role of removing wastes which are toxic to the fetus from the mother’s body such as carbon dioxide and urea, which if accumulated, may harm the developing fetus. These waste products are transported to the maternal blood to be removed by the mother’s kidneys (Jiang & Wu, 2022).

Barrier to Harmful Substances

However, certain substances can still pass through the placenta because it is not totally impermeable. Among these substances, it is reversible drugs, ethanol, and certain infections that may easily cross the placental barrier to harm the fetus (Patel et al., 2018). For instance, taking alcohol by pregnant women is likely to cause Fetal alcohol syndrome, which affects the growth and development of a child (Chavez, et al, 2020).

Placental Health and Complications

In order for a pregnancy to be successful, the placenta must be healthy. Some of these complications include placental insufficiency where the placenta fails to provide adequate nutrients and oxygen to the fetus and this can cause IUGR or preterm birth (Hecht, 2021). Conditions such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes can also impact the integrity of the placenta.

Conclusion

The placenta is a vital organ required for the growth of the fetus and the well-being of the mother. From supplying nutrients and oxygen to protecting the baby from infections and removing waste materials, the role of the placenta is crucial to the health of the mother and the baby. Hence, efforts should be taken to maintain placental health as this will help support pregnancy and minimizes the occurrence of complications.

References

Aukamp, L. R., Smith, M. S., & Jones, P. (2020). Placental function and the maternal-fetal interface. American Journal of Reproductive Immunology, 83(4), 2-10.

Bianchi, D. W. (2020). Fetal medicine: Principles and practice (2nd ed.). Elsevier.

Chavez, S. L., Dominguez, R. E., & Rodriguez, L. S. (2020). The Zika virus and its impact on pregnancy: A comprehensive review. Journal of Perinatal Medicine, 48(6), 567-574.

Goswami, D., Nanda, S., & Bansal, P. (2019). Endocrine functions of the placenta: An overview. Endocrine Reviews, 40(5), 695-710.

Hecht, J. M. (2021). The role of the placenta in fetal development and maternal health. Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America, 48(3), 361-373.

Jiang, H., & Wu, L. (2022). Placental health and fetal development: Mechanisms of nutrient and waste exchange. Placenta, 114, 50-58.

Patel, M. J., Gupta, R., & Mehta, S. (2018). Alcohol use during pregnancy and its effects on fetal development. Journal of Clinical Pediatrics, 57(4), 390-398.

Rook, G. A., Yockey, L. J., & Lehmann, I. (2021). Immunological mechanisms of maternal-fetal immune tolerance. Immunology Reviews, 299(1), 14-26.