Below information found at this website: Ebwhealthcare.com
Every placenta must be examined for:
- Completeness.
Make sure that both the placenta and the membranes are complete after the delivery of the placenta:
- The membranes are examined for completeness by holding the placenta up by the umbilical cord so that the membranes hang down. You will see the round hole through which the infant was delivered. Examine the membranes carefully to determine whether they are complete.
- The placenta is now held in both hands and the maternal surface is inspected after the membranes are folded away. A missing part of the placenta, or cotyledon, is thus easily noticed.
- Abnormalities.
- Cloudy membranes, or a placenta that smells offensive, suggests the presence of chorioamnionitis.
- Clots of blood which adhere to the maternal surface suggest that abruptio placentae has occurred.
- Size.
The weight of the placenta increases with gestational age and is usually 1/6 the weight of the infant, i.e. 450–650 g at term.
If the placenta is abnormally large, the following possibilities must be considered:
- A heavy, oedematous placenta is suggestive of congenital syphilis.
- A heavy, pale placenta is suggestive of Rhesus haemolytic disease.
- A placenta which is heavier than would be expected for the weight of the infant, but with a normal appearance, is suggestive of maternal diabetes.
- A placenta which is lighter than would be expected for the weight of the infant, is suggestive of fetal intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR).
- Umbilical cord.
Two arteries and a vein should be seen on the cut end of the umbilical cord. If only one umbilical artery is present, the infant must be carefully examined for other congenital abnormalities.
Infarcts can be recognized as firm, pale areas on the maternal surface of the placenta. Calcification on the maternal surface is normal.
All placentas must be carefully examined for completeness and abnormalities after delivery.
More Links
No comments:
Post a Comment