7 Amazing Facts About Placentas

Updated September 12, 2022

Placentas are incredible organs. I always try to capture at least one image of the placenta at the birth of each of my clients. I find them to be beautiful and fascinating (I even have a couple of my own placenta prints from my last daughter's birth!), but even for those who may not see them as I do, there are still many reasons to respect and admire them. Here are 7 interesting facts you may not know about your baby's lifeline!
 

1. THE PLACENTA FUNCTIONS AS A GLAND, SECRETING IMPORTANT HORMONES DURING PREGNANCY...

...including Human Chorionic Gonadatropin (hCG), which stimulates the production of estrogen and progesterone, is associated with morning sickness, and is the hormone detected by pregnancy tests to produce a positive result. Estrogen, which is responsible for increasing blood flow and stimulating uterine growth, as well as the growth of breast tissue. Progesterone, which maintains the uterine lining for successful implantation and the support of a pregnancy. Human Placental Lactogen, responsible for speeding up the pregnant person's metabolism to keep up with the energy requirements for growing a baby. The placenta also secretes Insulin Growth Factor (IGF-1) responsible for the development of Gestational Diabetes in some people.

2. THE PLACENTA IS A MULTIFUNCTIONAL ORGAN.

While the baby is still in utero, the placenta performs the functions that the lungs, kidneys, and liver do for humans after birth. It supplies oxygen, glucose, nutrients, and antibodies to the baby, while filtering out waste and carbon dioxide from your baby’s blood.

3. THE PLACENTA IS THE ONLY DISPOSABLE ORGAN.

Although there are other organs that we can function fine without, the placenta is the only organ that naturally expels itself when it's purpose is fulfilled. Each pregnancy grows a new placenta to support that baby perfectly. 

4. THE BLOOD OF BOTH MOTHER AND BABY PASS THROUGH THE PLACENTA, BUT NEVER MIX.

Every minute, one pint of blood is pumped to the uterus, exchanging oxygen and nutrients via the placenta. The parent's blood and baby's never mix, however, if they did, the parent's immune system would create antibodies for the baby's blood in an attempt to get rid of it. Instead, the baby's blood and parent's blood pass through separate arteries in the placenta.

5. IDENTICAL TWINS MAY OR MAY NOT SHARE A PLACENTA.

Depending on when the fertilized egg splits, there may be one shared placenta, or one placenta for each fetus! If the egg separates before the formation of the placenta, there will be two, if it splits after, only one.

6. FETAL CELLS CAN TRANSFER TO THE PREGNANT PERSON THROUGH THE PLACENTA.

Fetal cells have been found in the skin, liver, kidney, and bone marrow of pregnant people. They may target and help heal injured areas, and there is evidence that they exist in higher quantities in diseased tissue. 

7. MANY PEOPLE CONSUME THEIR PLACENTAS AFTER BIRTH.

Anecdotal evidence shows that people who eat their placentas after birth reap numerous benefits, including more balanced hormones, increased energy and lactation, a reduction in postpartum bleeding, and replenished iron stores.

Did you get to see your baby's placenta after giving birth? Would you (or did you) have it encapsulated? Share your experiences in the comments!

Sources: 
Cleveland Clinic
10 Incredible Facts About The Placenta
What Is A Placenta? 10 Amazing Placenta Facts
Placenta Facts: The 'Least Understood' Organ Is Pretty Freaking Amazing
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