What causes a racket-shaped placenta?

The placenta is closely related to the health of the fetus. In order to ensure the nutrition of the fetus, the nutrients in the placenta must be sufficient. Many pregnant women will refer to online recipes for dietary supplements during pregnancy, hoping to supplement their own nutrition and then pass it to the fetus through the placenta. The normal shape of the placenta is round or oval, and a racket-shaped placenta is rare. How does a racket-shaped placenta occur?

What is a racket placenta?

A normal placenta is round or oval, with the umbilical cord attached to the fetal surface of the placenta, between the edge and the center. If the umbilical cord is attached to the edge of the placenta, it resembles a racket, which is called a racket placenta. Racket-shaped placenta is relatively rare, with an incidence of 0.1% to 15%. It is an abnormal umbilical cord attachment and is difficult to diagnose before the placenta is delivered.

The racket-shaped placenta itself has no clinical importance. During delivery, the attachment of the umbilical cord edge generally does not affect the life of the mother and fetus and is discovered during postpartum placental examination. However, if the umbilical cord attachment point is just at the lower edge of the placenta near the cervix, it may be compressed by the fetal presenting part, causing fetal distress or even death.

Globose placenta is a placental developmental abnormality, the cause of which is still unclear. It may cause combined fetal malformations, but it may also be just a simple placental abnormality.

Generally, it will not affect blood supply. As long as the B-ultrasound does not show any obvious problems with the fetus, there is no need to worry. Most fetuses are normal and it will have no effect on the baby's physical condition after birth. However, personal lifestyle factors are not ruled out, so pregnant women are advised to have regular check-ups, pay attention to fetal movements, and observe at all times.

1. A racket-shaped placenta usually does not cause the umbilical cord to break during pregnancy, nor does it affect the baby, so pregnant women do not need to worry too much. As long as you don't do heavy physical work and aren't too nervous, there won't be any big problems. However, it should be noted that the umbilical cord may be easily compressed during delivery, causing the baby to suffocate due to lack of oxygen and ischemia. Therefore, you must have regular prenatal check-ups before delivery so that the doctor can understand the situation and decide on the method of delivery.

2. If the racket-shaped placenta has poor blood supply, it may affect the development of the embryo. Therefore, it is recommended that pregnant women rest in bed on their left side, pay attention to fetal movements, and have regular check-ups. They can remind the doctor during delivery to avoid excessive pulling on the umbilical cord and causing umbilical cord rupture.

3. It is recommended to eat more vegetables and fruits and exercise appropriately.

Whether a racket-shaped placenta can be delivered naturally depends mainly on where the umbilical cord is attached to the placenta. If the umbilical cord is only attached to the edge of the placenta, it generally does not affect the lives of the mother and fetus, and a normal delivery is possible. Most of the time, it is discovered when examining the placenta after delivery.

If the umbilical cord is located just above the cervical canal and the fetal presenting part is pressing on this place, it will affect the delivery process. Because as the cervix dilates, the fetal membrane may rupture and may injure the umbilical blood vessels. Painless intrauterine bleeding may occur, which requires attention. It is recommended to observe the relationship between the umbilical cord and the fetal presenting part to see if there is any compression of the umbilical cord presenting part. If there is any abnormality, cesarean section is recommended for safety.