Placenta study

Histological examination of the placenta — is a comprehensive analysis of the afterbirth (placenta, membranes, and umbilical cord) after childbirth or late-term abortion. This study is a «pregnancy diary» because it reflects the conditions of fetal development, the state of maternal blood flow, and the presence of hidden infections or pathologies.

Research objective: The analysis is performed to determine the causes of pregnancy complications, developmental pathologies of the newborn, or the causes of an unfavorable birth outcome. Placental histology helps to understand whether the disorders were caused by the mother's health, genetic factors, or external influences.

What does the pathologist evaluate:

• Condition of the hairy tree: correspondence of villi development to gestational age, presence of sclerosis or edema.

• Vascular system: assessment of blood circulation between mother and fetus, detection of blood clots, placental infarctions or vascular malformations.

• Signs of infection: search for foci of inflammation in the membranes (chorioamnionitis) or in the umbilical cord (funisitis).

• Compensatory capabilities: the ability of the placenta to provide the fetus with oxygen and nutrients in the presence of pathologies.

• Umbilical cord and membranes: attachment site, number of vessels, presence of nodes or membranes that may threaten the fetus.

Clinical significance: For a neonatologist, the test result helps predict the health of the baby in the first months of life. For an obstetrician-gynecologist, it is the key to properly preparing a woman for the next pregnancy, as the analysis reveals hidden risks (for example, antiphospholipid syndrome or chronic infections).

When is it prescribed:

• complicated pregnancy (preeclampsia, fetal growth retardation);

• premature or late birth;

• the presence of signs of intrauterine infection in the child;

• multiple pregnancy;

• Abnormalities of attachment or detachment of the placenta.