The placenta can be classified into four grades, between 0 and 3, which will depend on its maturity and calcification, a normal process that occurs throughout pregnancy. However, in some cases, you may age too early, requiring frequent evaluation by your obstetrician to avoid complications.
The placenta is a structure that is formed during pregnancy, which establishes communication between the mother and the fetus, guaranteeing the ideal conditions for its development. Its main functions are to provide nutrients, oxygen and immune protection to the baby, stimulate the production of hormones, protect the baby from shocks and eliminate the waste produced by the baby.
Placental maturation can be classified as follows
In some cases, early maturation of the placenta can be detected. Its origin is not yet known, but it is known to be more common in very young women, women having their first pregnancy, and pregnant women who smoke during childbirth.
The maturation of the placenta during pregnancy is a normal and not worrisome process; however, if grade 3 placental maturation occurs before 36 weeks’ gestation, this may be associated with maternal-fetal disease.
When an early placental maturation is detected, pregnant women should be monitored more frequently and also during delivery, to avoid complications such as premature delivery, placental abruption, heavy postpartum bleeding or low birth weight.
See how the placenta is developing and find out what the most common changes are and what to do.
The obstetrician can identify the degree of maturity of the placenta by observing the calcifications present during an ultrasound examination.