Is it possible to feel the placenta

The blastocyst embeds in the endometrium aka implantation. To help support pregnancy, the placenta produces a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin hCG. Over the course of your pregnancy, the placenta grows from a few cells into an organ that will eventually weigh about 1 pound. By week 12, the placenta is formed and ready to take over nourishment for the baby. However, it continues to grow throughout your pregnancy.

Under normal conditions, the placenta will attach to the wall of your uterus. As pregnancy progresses, it will move with your growing uterus. Although each pregnancy is different, you can expect the placenta to take over around weeks 8 to 12 of pregnancy, with 10 weeks being the average time for most women. Those who get pregnant via in vitro fertilization or have hormone deficiencies may need progesterone supplementation in the first trimester.

These individuals are often able to stop taking this hormone once the placenta begins its own production. Many women look forward to the second trimester — energy levels rise, hormone levels begin to balance out, and morning sickness subsides.

But why does everything seem to get better? As already mentioned, towards the end of the first trimester around week 10 , the placenta takes over the production of progesterone. This helps reduce nausea and vomiting. For many mamas, this means an end to morning sickness. The placenta may play a role in that case, too.

If you happen to have a higher concentration of a protein called GDF15 in your blood, those frequent bouts of nausea and vomiting may continue for some time. One study found that women who reported vomiting in the second trimester had a higher level of maternal circulating GDF15 concentrations around week 15 of pregnancy. The good news? Researchers speculate that high levels of GDF15 could mean that the placenta is developing properly. The placenta usually attaches to the side or at the top of the uterus, but this is not always the case.

Sometimes, it can develop in the wrong location or attaches too deeply, leading to placenta disorders. Even if you experience a healthy pregnancy, complications with the placenta can still occur.

That said, these conditions typically happen as a result of factors, like:. The good news is your doctor will monitor many of these conditions throughout your pregnancy and work with you on a delivery plan. Placenta previa is a condition that causes the placenta to grow in the lowest part of the womb, typically within 2 centimeters from the cervical opening.

As a result, the placenta covers all or part of the cervix. If the placenta is completely covering the cervix, this can cause bleeding during delivery and most likely will require a C-section for delivery. Placental abruption is a serious condition that causes the placenta to detach from the wall of the uterus during pregnancy or birth. Symptoms include vaginal bleeding and back or abdominal pain.

Placenta accreta happens when part or all of the placenta is embedded too deep into the uterine wall. Anterior placenta indicates that the placenta has attached to the front of the stomach. If you deliver your baby vaginally, you'll also deliver the placenta vaginally — during what's known as the third stage of labor. After you give birth, you'll continue to have mild contractions.

Your health care provider might give you a medication called oxytocin Pitocin to continue uterine contractions and reduce postpartum bleeding. Your health care provider might also massage your lower abdomen to encourage your uterus to contract and expel the placenta.

You might be asked to push one more time to deliver the placenta. If you have a C-section, your health care provider will remove the placenta from your uterus during the procedure. Your health care provider will examine the placenta to make sure it's intact. Any remaining fragments must be removed from the uterus to prevent bleeding and infection.

If you're interested, ask to see the placenta. In some cultures, families bury the placenta in a special place, such as their backyards. If you have questions about the placenta or placental problems during pregnancy, talk to your health care provider. He or she can help you better understand the placenta's role during your pregnancy.

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Healthy Lifestyle Pregnancy week by week. Products and services. Placenta: How it works, what's normal The placenta plays a crucial role during pregnancy. By Mayo Clinic Staff. Open pop-up dialog box Placental abruption Close. Placental abruption The placenta is an organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy.

Open pop-up dialog box Placenta previa Close. Placenta previa The placenta is a structure that develops in the uterus during pregnancy. Thank you for Subscribing Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information.

Please try again. Something went wrong on our side, please try again. Show references Roberts V, et al. Placental development and physiology. Accessed Feb. On this page. Symptoms Why the bleeding happens Possible complications Causes and risk factors Diagnosis methods Digital vaginal examinations should be strictly avoided Treatment options vary Treatment during pregnancy Delivery Where to get help Things to remember.

Symptoms The most important symptom in placenta previa is painless vaginal bleeding after 20 weeks. Why the bleeding happens During the later stages of pregnancy, the bottom part of the uterus thins and spreads to accommodate the growing baby.

Possible complications Some of the complications of placenta previa include: Major haemorrhage bleeding for the mother Shock from loss of blood Fetal distress from lack of oxygen Premature labour or delivery Health risks to the baby, if born prematurely Emergency caesarean delivery Hysterectomy, if the placenta fails to come away from the uterine lining Blood loss for the baby Death.

Causes and risk factors Some of the possible causes and risk factors of placenta previa include: Low implantation of the fertilised egg Abnormalities of the uterine lining, such as fibroids Scarring of the uterine lining endometrium Abnormalities of the placenta Multiple babies, such as twins Multiple pregnancies - a woman who has already had six or more deliveries has a risk of one in Diagnosis methods A pregnant woman who experiences any vaginal bleeding should be admitted to hospital and tested.

Digital vaginal examinations should be strictly avoided It is sometimes difficult to tell the difference between placenta previa and placental abruption. Treatment options vary Treatment depends on a number of factors, including: Whether the placenta previa is complete or partial The exact location of the placenta The amount of blood lost The gestational age of the baby The position of the baby The health of the baby The health of the mother.

Treatment during pregnancy Medical treatment aims to ease the symptoms and prolong the pregnancy. Options may include: Bed rest. Blood transfusion for the mother. Avoiding any activity that triggers uterine contractions or irritates the cervix, such as sexual intercourse or orgasms.

Delivery Once the baby is old enough to be delivered, a caesarean section is usually performed. Where to get help Your doctor Obstetrician Emergency department of your nearest hospital Always call an ambulance in an emergency Tel. Treatment aims to ease the symptoms and prolong the pregnancy until at least 36 weeks. Eds R. Berkow, M. Beers, A.

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