Month: April 2024

The placenta is the “source of life” for pregnancy. It is an incredible organ, linking the growing baby to its Mum!

It embeds deeply into the maternal uterus soon after conception, and maintains pregnancy in so many differing ways. It is essential for the baby for survival in utero.

To highlight just a few….It nourishes and feeds the baby with nutrients to facilitate growth, and is the point of gas exchange to deliver oxygen & remove carbon dioxide. It facilitates the hormones needed to maintain and grow the pregnancy, as well as the vital role of protecting baby form nasty bugs or “pathogens”.

Aside from the membranes sealing the baby in a “bag” to create that vital safe sterile environment, the waters or amniotic fluid around the baby, allow baby freedom of movement in utero as well as keeping baby at right temperature warm inside the Mum!

Delivery of the placenta is the 3rd & final stage of labour and it is often called the “afterbirth”.

It is crazy that such an organ is considered “medical waste” after it is birthed; its function is complete once the baby and the placenta itself is delivered. Of course many cultures around the world have a differing opinion on the placenta and they perform all sorts of rituals and ceremonies, amounting to a sign of respect for such an incredulous organ!

For me as an experienced midwife, when checking the placenta after birth to ensure it has been delivered complete, it fascinates me enormously. The intricacies & the detail of the human body never fail to astonish me!