6 Amazing Facts About Your Placenta
Okay, I know what you might be thinking. So, they’re a little unsightly to some, but really your placenta is the most under appreciated organ during pregnancy. If you get the chance, you should ask your provider to show you your placenta after birth. If no other reason at all, take amazement in the fact that it is part of the sac that your baby grew, and lived in for 9 (really like 10 but who’s counting?) whole months. They’re usually happy to show you and hold it up so that you can even get the visual like some of the photos below!
..so let’s get to the good stuff
6 amazing facts about your placenta
6. Your placenta functions as a gland, secreting hormones such as progesterone. Progesterone is what helps to sustain the pregnancy by providing support to the lining of the uterus which gives the perfect environment for your baby to grow. It also secretes another hormone called human chorionic gonadotrophin, [or hCG] which is the hormone detected on that little stick you peed on to let you know you’re pregnant!
5. Your placenta carries both yours and your baby’s blood but does not mix. Blood travels through the placenta’s vessels to your baby, providing nutrients and oxygen. The oxygen is expelled as carbon dioxide and expelled through the vessels along with other waste product. This is what facilitates the growth of your baby.
4. Your baby receives antibodies from the placenta from your own immunity towards certain diseases. This is true for both in the womb, and even up to 6 months after birth. That means that whatever your immune system is protecting you from, it is also protecting your baby!
3. The placenta is the only organ that is disposable, and grows a new one when it is needed. That means that every pregnancy will develop its own placenta.
2. In about 70-75% of identical twin pregnancies, the placenta and amniotic sac is shared. This is called Monochorionic-monoamniotic twins (or MoMo & Mono mono). Monochorionic-diamniotic twins (Mono Di) share a sac, but not placenta, and make up the other 25-30% of identical twin pregnancies.
1. The blood in placenta contains stem cells which help to fight off disease. During pregnancy, if certain organs are struggling, the placenta can provide stem cells to those organs to aid in health through gestation.
Some cords are long and some are very short. They all contain the blood that are very vital to your baby at birth. Choosing to let to cord stop pulsing before clamping is called Delayed Cord Clamping.
Wasn’t that amazing?
Carey Lauren is a birth photographer & videographer serving all of Phoenix and major surrounding cities including Peoria, Glendale, and Scottsdale. Learn more about birth photography with Carey, here
