The placenta is an evolutionary marvel, in my opinion. These beautiful organs have likely been around since just after the (non-avian) dinos got evicted by a very large space rock and 95% of the 5500 living mammal species have them (the other 300 species comprise the likes of kangas, roos and platypus superheros that provide lovely pouches or eggs for their wee ones).
This fantastic sandwich of maternal tissue (the decidua) and embryonic tissue (the chorion) finds its etymology in the Latin word for flat cake. (Placenta-replica cake for my next birthday, please?! The more vascularised, the better!) >>warning, if you like cake, probs not a great idea to click on that last link!
This fantastic sandwich of maternal tissue (the decidua) and embryonic tissue (the chorion) finds its etymology in the Latin word for flat cake. (Placenta-replica cake for my next birthday, please?! The more vascularised, the better!) >>warning, if you like cake, probs not a great idea to click on that last link!
Traditionally revered by many cultures as the awesome caretaker and provider that it is (the Māori word for placenta, whenua also means land, belying its link to that which gives us life and please have a look at the beautiful short film, PLACEnta to witness a Cree woman's journey to a respectful placenta ceremony), the human placenta has evolved to help us be the bipedal brainy-types of the jungle. Any old placenta can provide its foetus with nutrients, gas exchange, excretion and immunity, but by implanting earlier, deeper and more extensively than those of our non-human relatives, the human placenta offers much nicer access to maternal blood and thus more efficient transfers that help feed the noggin.
Nice big noggin, StormyD!
Of course, in the carnival that is natural selection, there are always trade-offs. Being bipedal is awesome (romantic moonlit walks along the beach and soccer would be very different otherwise)! However, it is not so great on our hearts and decreases cardiac output. Some studies suggest that a more invasive placenta counteracts this by making the mom's heart work harder and increase the pressure. It tells the mom's body, in no uncertain terms, what is going to be provided for the foetus. In short, the placenta runs the whole pregnancy show and can sometimes take it a little far. It is kinda like the foetus' agent in the sport of birth.
At about 26 weeks, our doc became concerned about Kay's high blood pressure. This has resulted in modified bed rest for Kay (no driving, vacuuming or grocery shopping allowed!), daily visits from antenatal care to monitor StormyD as well as close analysis of Kay's blood pressure (shouldn't go about 150/105) and urine (for protein). So in StormyD's case, her placenta is Jerry Maguire. StormyD has said "Show me the money!" and Jerry (her placenta) is focusing all efforts and making it happen through the wonder that is gestational hypertension. Our doc characterised StormyD's placenta as angry but more than likely, she is just very dedicated to her job!
It has been a little touch and go since then (although we have had awesome support from our friends who quickly remembered that Jen doesn't cook!). We see the doc every week now, have ultrasounds every two weeks to ensure StormyD is growing well and have had a few free trips to the hospital. Kay was injected with steroids to boost StormyD's lung development and we braced ourselves for a pre-term kidlet with at least 3 weeks in the NICU. However, as of this week, StormyD has been cooking for 32 weeks and is past any major danger of of prematurity!
At about 26 weeks, our doc became concerned about Kay's high blood pressure. This has resulted in modified bed rest for Kay (no driving, vacuuming or grocery shopping allowed!), daily visits from antenatal care to monitor StormyD as well as close analysis of Kay's blood pressure (shouldn't go about 150/105) and urine (for protein). So in StormyD's case, her placenta is Jerry Maguire. StormyD has said "Show me the money!" and Jerry (her placenta) is focusing all efforts and making it happen through the wonder that is gestational hypertension. Our doc characterised StormyD's placenta as angry but more than likely, she is just very dedicated to her job!
It has been a little touch and go since then (although we have had awesome support from our friends who quickly remembered that Jen doesn't cook!). We see the doc every week now, have ultrasounds every two weeks to ensure StormyD is growing well and have had a few free trips to the hospital. Kay was injected with steroids to boost StormyD's lung development and we braced ourselves for a pre-term kidlet with at least 3 weeks in the NICU. However, as of this week, StormyD has been cooking for 32 weeks and is past any major danger of of prematurity!
Keep growing, StormyD!
There is still a risk of preeclampsia (half of the women with gestational hypertension level up to preeclampsia!) but our doc is feeling pretty good that we might actually make it to 37 weeks! As the newly discovered Sappho fragment (I've quoted below) suggests, we are rejoicing in our good fortune!
let us then divert all
other concerns on to the lesser spirits;
after all, after hurricanes the clear skies
rapidly follow;
and the ones whose fate the Olympian ruler
wants to transform from troubles into better –
they are much blessed, they go about rejoicing
in their good fortune.
~newly discovered fragment! translated by Tom Payne
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