Placental Insufficiency
Alternate Names : Placental Dysfunction
Placental insufficiency is the failure of the placenta to supply nutrients to the fetus and remove toxic wastes.
What is going on in the body?
When the placenta fails to develop or function properly, the fetus cannot grow and develop normally. The earlier in the pregnancy that this occurs, the more severe the problems. If placental insufficiency occurs for a long time during the pregnancy, it may lead to intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR).
What are the causes and risks of the condition?
Between 3 to 7% of all pregnancies are complicated by IUGR due to placental insufficiency. A low birth weight may be suspected if the size of the woman's uterus is smaller than what is expected for each week of pregnancy. The woman has a higher risk of having a child with IUGR if the following are present:
defects of the placental membranes
defects of the umbilical cord
abnormal implantation of the placenta in the uterus
a break in the placental membrane that causes the baby's blood to mix with the mother's blood
Rh incompatibility, a condition in which the mother's blood is not compatible with the baby's blood
being pregnant with twins or triplets
previous low-birth-weight infant
long-term high blood pressure
diabetes
severe kidney disease
heavy smoking
insufficient weight gain by the mother during pregnancy, defined as less than 10 pounds
preeclampsia or eclampsia, conditions which raise the mother's blood pressure
high altitude
drug addiction, such as addiction to cocaine
blood thinners such as warfarin
immunosuppressive medications
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in the mother
alcohol abuse
infection with cytomegalovirus, toxoplasmosis, rubella, or syphilis, known collectively as TORCH infections
poor nutrition of the mother
infant with known birth defects or chromosome abnormalities
frequent vaginal bleeding due to placenta previa, a condition in which the placenta is attached to the uterus over or near the cervix
certain blood disorders in the mother, such as sickle cell anemia or thalassemia
premature placental separation, known as placental abruption
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