Placenta (in pregnancy)

Looks like

A dark-red disc about 20 cm across that grows in pregnancy, joined to the baby by the cord.

What it does

Feeds the baby, takes its waste away and makes the hormones that hold pregnancy.

Keeping it well

Antenatal care, no smoking, blood pressure checks; bleeding in later pregnancy always means hospital.

Related conditions

• Bone metastases and spinal cord compression
• Fetal growth restriction
• Gestational diabetes
• Hyperemesis gravidarum
• Miscarriage
• Molar pregnancy and gestational trophoblastic disease
• Placenta praevia
• Placental abruption
• Postpartum haemorrhage
• Pre-eclampsia
• Preterm labour and birth
• Rubella (German measles)
• Stillbirth