A Comparative Study on the Weight of Post-Mature and Normal Placentae Not Complicated by Diseases

Original Article

Abstract

Background: The placenta has a very important function because it provides nutrients, and oxygen for the fetus. Differences in placental weight, especially between normal term and post-mature placentae, may characterize the function and fetal health results. Late pregnancies might result in a state of placental dysfunction or adaptation, which will normal affect weight and efficiency.

Objectives: In order to investigate post-mature placental weight variability with reference to normal placental weight in uncomplicated pregnancies and then evaluate the theoretic relevance of such distinctions.

Study design: A descriptive cross-sectional study

Place and duration of study. Department of Anatomy Ayub Medical college ,Abbottabad from jan 2017 to july 2017

Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional  study targeting 100 pregnant women; 50 with post-mature pregnancy, and 50 with normal term pregnancy. Birth weight and placental weight were assessed soon after the birth of the baby. Data was then analysed for differences in the mean placental weight between the two groups using SD and using p-values to establish the probability of significance. Statistical tests utilised in the data analysis were t-tests targeting the differences in the means between groups.

Results: In normal pregnancy mean placental weight was measured to be 570 ± 40 grams and in post-mature pregnancy 510 ± 60grams. The analysis of placental weight produced a statistically significant difference in the two groups ( p < 0.05). Placental calcification was strongly noted in post mature placentae. The mean value of SD in the normal group was smaller and ranged than that of the post-mature group, it indicates that there was a small variance in the normal group than in the post-mature group.

Conclusion:Following mature placentae, the weight of ;placentae is generally less than that of normal placentae because of placental aging and calcification. This paper underscores the need for observing placental integrity in prolonged pregnancies with a view of avoiding complications in placental sufficiency. Such changes may have effects on the fetal outcomes, and further research can improve the knowledge about those effects.

Keywords: Birth weight placenta, post mature, normal pregnancy, placental calcification