What is placenta?

The placenta is a temporary organ that forms in the uterus during pregnancy. It connects the mother’s blood supply to the baby’s blood supply without mixing them.

What does it do?

It does the following:

• Transfers oxygen and nutrients from the mother to the baby.

• Removes waste products like carbon dioxide from the baby to the mother’s blood.

• Produces hormones like progesterone and hCG to support the pregnancy.

• Acts as a barrier, protecting the baby from some harmful substances (but not all).

The umbilical cord links the baby to the placenta.

How placenta helps the fetus

The placenta is a temporary organ that connects the fetus to the mother. It helps the fetus by:

• Supplying nutrients like glucose, proteins, and vitamins for growth

• Giving oxygen from the mother’s blood

• Removing waste like carbon dioxide and urea from the fetus

• Producing hormones (like hCG, progesterone, estrogen) to support pregnancy

• Passing antibodies to protect the baby from some infections

• Acting as a barrier, blocking some harmful substances—but not all

It also connects to the fetus through the umbilical cord and keeps the baby in a stable, protected environment.

Parts of the placenta

• Chorionic villi: Tiny projections that absorb nutrients and oxygen from the mother’s blood.

• Decidua basalis: The mother’s uterine lining where the placenta attaches.

• Placental barrier: Thin layer that separates mother’s and baby’s blood but allows exchange.

• Umbilical cord: Connects baby to placenta; has 2 arteries and 1 vein.

• Amnion: Inner membrane holding amniotic fluid around the baby.

• Chorion: Outer membrane that helps form the placenta.

Favourite part/ note/ summary- Placenta is called as they temporary organ cause it grows with the fetus during the pregnancy and will come out after the delivery. If it’s a natural delivery, the placenta will come out by it self, and if it is a caesarean section (c-section) The doctors will take out the placenta manually. Placenta helps the fetus by supplying nutrients, oxygen through the mothers blood, removing Easter and urea from the fetus, producing hormones, passing antibodies and acting as a barrier.

I’ll be making more post related to this post, this is just a brief.