The placenta is a vital part of growing a baby. Mothers-to-be grow this brand new organ alongside their baby, and it serves as the baby’s lifeline during pregnancy. Attached to the wall of the uterus, the placenta provides essential oxygen and nutrients, removes waste, and produces hormones that support pregnancy and the baby’s development. Throughout pregnancy, this remarkable organ adapts and grows to meet the changing needs of the baby, playing a crucial role in a healthy pregnancy.

You might be told that you have an anterior or posterior placenta during a pregnancy scan. Neither of these are anything to worry about and simply inform your healthcare provider where your placenta is located – at the front or back of the uterus. It may affect how strongly you feel your baby’s movements compared to other pregnancies, however the location of it should have no impact on the pregnancy itself.

There are, however, some complications that can affect the placenta during pregnancy that might impact its function or the maternal or infant’s health. These can lead to challenges during pregnancy or delivery. We’ve outlined some of the most common conditions below.

Placenta Previa

Placenta previa occurs when the placenta partially or completely covers the cervix which is where the baby exits the body at birth. There are usually no symptoms of placenta previa, unless the mother experiences bleeding. Scans throughout the pregnancy will pick up placenta previa in the vast majority of cases, which means that it rarely poses a serious risk to the mother or baby. 

The placenta isn’t completely static, however, and can often move away from the cervix during pregnancy. If not, the condition can lead to bleeding during the third trimester and can complicate the delivery. If the placenta is still covering the cervix at later stages of pregnancy, a C section is usually necessary.

Placenta Abruption

Placental abruption is a serious condition where the placenta separates from the uterine wall prematurely. This detachment can reduce oxygen and nutrient supply to the baby, leading to distress or complications. Symptoms include intense abdominal pain, bleeding, and contractions. Placental abruption requires prompt medical intervention and can sometimes necessitate early delivery.

Retained Placenta

After childbirth, the placenta usually detaches and is expelled within 30 minutes. However, if the placenta or parts of it remain in the uterus, it is known as a retained placenta. This condition can lead to infection and excessive bleeding (postpartum haemorrhage), posing a risk to the mother. Medical intervention, sometimes including surgery, is often necessary to remove the retained tissue.

Placental Insufficiency

Placental insufficiency, sometimes known as placental dysfunction, occurs when the placenta does not develop properly or cannot provide sufficient nutrients and oxygen to the baby. This condition can lead to intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), where the baby may be smaller than expected for gestational age. In severe cases, placental insufficiency may result in premature birth or require close monitoring throughout pregnancy.

Placenta Accreta

Placenta accreta is a condition where the placenta grows too deeply into the uterine wall, making it difficult to detach after delivery. In severe cases, this condition can lead to excessive bleeding and may require a C section and hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) to control bleeding. Placenta accreta is often diagnosed before birth through imaging studies and managed carefully to reduce risks.

Do any of these complications affect the ability to collect cord blood?

There is a small risk when you experience complications with the placenta that the phlebotomist may not be able to collect any cord blood or an amount that may not be sufficient to extract the necessary stem cells from. Our minimum cord blood volume collection is 10ml to be able to process and store stem cells.

Fortunately, this situation is a relatively rare situation and only 5.8% of our cord blood collections in 2023 had volumes below 10ml, whether that was as a result of placental complications or other factors such as the length of the umbilical cord and the size of placenta.

What happens to the placenta after birth?

After the birth of the baby, the placenta is typically delivered during the final stage of labour. This process, known as the third stage of labour, usually occurs within the first hour after birth. If no complications arise, the placenta detaches naturally, and the healthcare provider assists in its delivery.

In some cases, parents may choose to preserve the placenta for cultural, medical, or personal reasons. It can be encapsulated, used for tissue banking, or processed for other uses.

The baby’s umbilical cord can be clamped before or after the delivery of the placenta. Delayed cord clamping is advised by most healthcare providers, and fortunately, we are still able to offer cord blood collection alongside this. When the placenta is delivered with the cord still attached to the baby and left unclamped and uncut, this is called a lotus birth.