Calcification of the placenta: causes, risks, and how to prevent it

Have you ever heard about calcification of the placenta? Calcification of the placenta can be said to be one of the many complications of pregnancy. What are the symptoms when pregnant women experience calcification of the placenta and what is the main cause? The following is the full review.

What is placental calcification?

Placental calcification is a condition of aging of the placenta due to a buildup of calcium.

The placenta is a sac-shaped organ that serves as a home for the fetus to grow and develop while it is in the mother's stomach.

The placenta is responsible for providing oxygen and nutrients as food for the baby while it is in the womb.

In addition, the placenta also serves to protect the baby so that it is always healthy and free from viruses and germs that may be present in the mother's body.

That is why, placental health is certainly important and influential for the fetus. Placenta that is disturbed during pregnancy is certainly at risk of having a negative impact on the development of the baby.

Apart from calcification of the placenta, there are various placental problems that may occur during pregnancy including placenta previa and placental abruption.

What are the symptoms of calcification of the placenta?

Calcification of the placenta is characterized by the appearance of white spots that spread from the base of the placenta to its surface.

White spots, a sign of calcification, are commonly seen on ultrasound examinations during pregnancy.

The doctor will usually convey the condition of the baby as well as other problems that may occur in your pregnancy through the ultrasound results.

Usually, as gestational age increases, the placenta will undergo changes to be able to support the baby's growth and development over time.

It is during this change in the placenta during pregnancy that calcification may occur.

What causes calcification of the placenta?

The cause of calcification of the placenta is not known with certainty. However, this condition can be influenced by various factors.

Heredity to environmental conditions such as radiation, low sound frequency, and reactions to certain drugs are risk factors for this condition.

Bacterial infection is also thought to be the cause of calcification.

At what gestational age is this condition prone to occur?

The placenta has begun to form as soon as gestational age reaches 12 weeks. Then the placenta will continue to change over the course of pregnancy.

According to the Baby Center website, this medical condition can be divided into several stages starting from a score of 0 (immature) to a score of 3 (very mature).

The following is the classification of the calcification of the placenta in pregnant women:

Stage 0: Before 18 weeks of gestation
Stage I: When the gestational age is between 18-29 weeks
Stage II: When the gestational age is between 30-38 weeks
Stage III: At about 39 weeks of gestation

Liming is considered more risky in the following conditions:

Pregnancy at a young or adolescent age.
Pregnancy of the first child.
Mothers who smoke while pregnant.

It should be noted that placental changes that occur at the end of pregnancy are normal and should not be a cause for concern.

However, if this problem with the placenta occurs when the gestational age is too young, it is likely that there are complications in the pregnancy.

What are the health risks due to calcification of the placenta?

Although calcification is considered a normal condition during pregnancy, it can also indicate health problems experienced by the baby in the womb.

The risk of calcification also varies depending on when it started to occur during pregnancy and how your health condition was during pregnancy.

In general, the earlier calcification occurs, the higher the risk of harm that may be caused.

The following are various problems that may occur due to calcification of the placenta according to gestational age:

1. Gestational age 28-36 weeks

Calcification in the early to mid-pregnancy period is classified as a high-risk pregnancy, including this week 28-36.

Calcification that occurs before 32 weeks of gestation is known as calcification or premature premature placental calcification.

This is because calcification of the placenta around 32 weeks of age is at risk of causing various complications.

Complications that may occur are bleeding during delivery, abruption of the placenta, and premature babies.

In fact, APGAR infant scores can be low and are at risk of dying while still in the womb (stillbirth).

The steps taken to get medical help to deal with this condition will depend on the risks it poses and its severity.

For those of you who have a high risk of pregnancy such as having placenta previa, gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, or anemia in pregnant women, it is recommended to consult pregnancy regularly.

2. 36 weeks of gestation

If calcification occurs at 36 weeks of gestation, you are at risk of developing hypertension in pregnancy and giving birth to a baby with low birth weight (LBW).

Doctors can help detect the possibility of a high risk of pregnancy by performing an ultrasound examination at 36 weeks of gestation.

3. Gestational age 37-42 weeks

About 20-40 percent of normal pregnancies at 37 weeks can develop calcification of the placenta. Even so, you don't need to worry because this condition is considered harmless.

However, according to research in the journal Placenta, Calcification that occurs in stage III has the risk of causing stillbirths.

Is there a way to prevent this?

The health risks or impacts that may arise from calcification are not always the same for every pregnant woman.

The difference in the impact experienced by pregnant women due to calcification depends on the severity, how fast it occurs, the pregnancy conditions that are at risk or not, and the handling.

The placenta has an important role in protecting the health and safety of the fetus during pregnancy.

However, because the cause of calcification of the placenta is still unknown, it is difficult to determine specific preventive measures.

In general, maintaining the health of pregnant women is the best way to avoid placental disorders and pregnancy complications.

Try to stop smoking during pregnancy, live a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet, and be diligent in doing sports for pregnant women.

You can meet nutritional needs during pregnancy by eating food for pregnant women.

Sports that are safe for pregnant women can include walking, cycling, swimming during pregnancy, to pregnancy exercise.