Gritty placenta

[maddymoo]

I had my baby by c section due to her being breech and a small baby. On delivery the nurse mentioned to my husband that my placenta was small and gritty. He diddnt ask her why at the time. (he didd'nt tell me this till the next day) On discovering this i asked various nurses and doctors at the hospital. None of them gave me any information. (i just think they were too busy to care) Anyway I have done some research and found that what i had is called Placenta insufficiency i believe this is why my baby was so small 5p14oz @ 39 weeks. I feel somehow that it was my fault for this - I should of eaten better, rested more etc,etc.
My bub is happy and healthy (still little for her age)
Has anyone out there had a dodgy placenta? Is it likely to happen again?
I just need reassurance!

[Elfin]

I haven't had that problem but I know how you feel that it may be somehow your fault. I felt like that when I had pre eclampsia, I felt if I didn't work so hard, rested more, looked after myself then my son would not have been a premmie and so small. But I realise now there was nothing that I could of done to prevent PE and it is probably the same in your case. Don't be hard on yourself, your bub is healthy that is all that matters. You make the best decisions you can at the time on the information that you have.

My son is 7 now you would never guess he was so small as he is the same size as most other 7 year old boys. He is smart, healthy and happy.

[pinkandblue]

Hi

The same type of thing happened to me. When I was 34 weeks I only measured 31 so was send for an ultrasound to check things. I was told my placenta wasnt working properly and my baby was small. I had him at 37 weeks weighing 1.9kg (I think about 4 pounds but cant be sure) and when they had a look at my placenta, they said it was small. When I asked the doctor if it was my fault or if there was anything I should be doing, he said no, it just happens.

I dont know if it will happen again but just letting you know that it I also had a small placenta.

My son is now 3 months and 5.1kg and doing great.

Natalie

[JanetF]

Some things affect placental function like smoking but generally placentas are healthy no matter what size they are which is why evidence based practice no longer weighs or measures them. It's not an indication of anyway. a 5lb baby at 39 weeks (although remember we're usually guessing gestational age and we can't tell exactly) is on the small side but perhaps she wasn't planning to be born until 42 or 43 weeks in which case she may well have increased quite a lot in size. Grittiness can be present in a postdates placenta sometimes but it isn't really a sign of malfunction on it's own.

This is an interesting study that really hasn't been improved upon :)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/...0&dopt=Abstract

Midwifery. 1991 Mar;7(1):31-9. Related Articles, Links


A contemporary view of the human placenta.

Fox H.

Our current knowledge of the human placenta is briefly reviewed. Particular stress is placed upon the considerable functional reserve capacity of the placenta, the unimportance of most visible abnormalities of the placenta, the lack of any evidence that the placenta ages during gestation and the lack of significance of placental weight. The effects on the placenta of infection and of maternal cigarette smoking are considered and the concept of placental insufficiency critically discussed. It is concluded that most cases of 'placental insufficiency' are, in reality, examples of maternal vascular insufficiency resulting from inadequate placentation during the early stages of pregnancy.

[♥Heaven Sent♥]

my mum had small babies and nothing was wrong with her placenta #1 was 5lbs 9.5oz #2 5lbs 12oz and #3 6lbs 10oz mayby its just in your jeans that you had a small baby?But dont be hard on yourself as long as she is happy and healthy.