7-minute read The placenta is a temporary organ that develops during pregnancy.

It
attaches to the lining of your uterus and delivers oxygen and nutrients to your
growing baby through the umbilical cord. If something goes wrong with the placenta,
it can be serious and even life-threatening to both mum and baby. The placenta
passes oxygen, nutrients and antibodies from your blood to your baby. It also
carries waste products from your baby back to your blood, so your body can get rid
of them. The placenta also produces some hormones like oestrogen and progesterone
that are needed during pregnancy. The placenta should attach to the wall of the
uterus, usually at the top, side, front or back. The exact location will vary from
person to person and in each pregnancy. The placenta can sometimes develop low in
the uterus but will generally move higher as your uterus stretches. The position of
the placenta will be checked at your 18-week ultrasound. Fraternal twins come from
separate eggs and each have their own placenta. Identical twins come from the same
egg that separates, and they may share a placenta or have their own. Alcohol,
nicotine, medicines and other drugs can cross the placenta and affect your baby’s
health. It’s important to visit your healthcare provider regularly during
pregnancy. If there are complications, they can be identified during these
appointments. Tell your doctor if you have had problems with the placenta in a
previous pregnancy, or if you have had any surgery to your uterus. If you smoke,
drink alcohol or take certain drugs during pregnancy, this increases the likelihood
of problems with the placenta. Always consult your doctor before you take any
medicines, including over-the-counter medicines, natural therapies and supplements,
while you are pregnant. Speak with your doctor or midwife if you have any concerns,
or if you experience: After your baby is born, you will need to birth your
placenta. This is called the third stage of labour. This stage of labour can be
managed in different ways. If you had a vaginal birth, you will usually have some
mild contractions and need to give a few pushes to help your placenta to come out.
If you have a caesarean section, your doctor will remove the placenta at the same
time your baby is born. Once you birth your placenta your doctor or midwife will
check that it looks complete. If there is any concern that your placenta isn’t
complete, they may suggest further investigations. If any bits of placenta are
retained (stay inside you), they may have to be surgically removed to prevent
infection. It is your choice what you do with your placenta. You may choose to
discard it; in which case your hospital or birthing centre will take care of this.
If you wish to take your placenta home, you can speak to your doctor or midwife to
arrange this. In some cultures, people bury the placenta in a special place.
‘Placentophagy’ is a practice where people cook and eat their placenta. There is no
research to support health benefits from this. However, you may choose to do this
for cultural, spiritual, or personal reasons. Some commercial service providers
offer to turn your placenta into capsules for you to swallow. It should be noted
that there may be a risk of infection from poor preparation. These practices should
be treated with caution. Problems with your placenta can happen during pregnancy,
birth and after birth. These are potentially dangerous for both you and your baby.
If your bleeding is severe and you have significant pain, call triple zero (000)
for an ambulance or go to your nearest hospital emergency department. If you have
any vaginal bleeding during pregnancy, it’s important to see your doctor as soon as
possible. Placental abruption is when some or all the placenta comes away from the
wall of the uterus before your baby is born. Placenta praevia is when the placenta
partially or totally covers the cervix (the narrow opening in the uterus).
Placental insufficiency is when the placenta doesn’t work properly during
pregnancy. It deprives the baby of oxygen and nutrients they need to grow and
develop. Placenta accreta is when the placenta grows too deeply into the wall of
the uterus. This can lead to severe bleeding during or after delivery and can be
life-threatening. Retained placenta is when your placenta does not completely come
out after the birth. This might be because it is stopped by your cervix or is still
attached to your uterus. Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal
child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET),
7 days a week. Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of
healthdirect content. Last reviewed: July 2022