Placenta plays an important role in the growth and development of the fetus. Formation of Placenta is typical to mammals like humans alone. Egg laying creatures and marsupial animals are not known to produce Placenta during pregnancy. Besides, offering a safe refuge for the fetus, the Placenta plays an important role in separating the amniotic fluid from the rest of the body of the mother. The formation of the placenta is a gradual process. Most medical practitioners are of the opinion that the Placenta begins to form as soon as a woman conceives.
Functions of the Placenta
Considered to be one of the natural wonders, the Placenta protects the human fetus from all the harmful fluids and waste product that the mother's body may have. Moreover it also receives, all the nutrients and antibodies from the mother;s body and passes it on to the developing fetus. Since the health of the fetus is intimately related to the health of the mother, doctors often prescribe pregnant ladies to consume healthy foods during this time. The Placenta also transmits oxygen and other beneficial hormones from the mother's body to the fetus. But such liquids like alcohol, opiods, cocaine and other drugs along with nicotine can not be filtered by the placenta. Pregnant women who continue to take any of these harmful products run the risk of producing still born babies.
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However, that does not mean that Placenta allows the blood of the fetus to get mixed up with the blood of the mother. The Placenta hence prevents blood transfusion between the mother and the pre natal child. The blood of the mother passes into the intervillious space of the Placenta via the endometrial arteries. The passage is indeed quite small. The blood therefore enters in high speed and with tremendous pressure. Once the blood has entered the deep inside the intervillious spaces, the pressure gradually decreases. This blood then transfers all the necessary ingredients into the fetus with the help of the umbilical cord. Both the umbilical cord and the Placenta play an important role in transferring the nutrients from the maternal body.
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Placenta after Birth
Once the baby is born, doctors take no time to separate the baby from the umbilical cord. A medical protocol, better known as the “active management of the third stage helps the mother to release the placenta from her body. The placenta thus released from the maternal body is usually used for medical purposes or is treated as medical waste.
Browse through pregnancyxl.com and know more about other factors of pregnancy.
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