Placental Morphometry in Preterm and Term Neonates and its Association with their Birth Weights

Background: - Placenta, a feto-maternal organ that provides oxygen, nutrients and removes waste products from the fetus. The morphometry of the placenta was broadly recognized as having high significance for the outcome of gestation and promoting life long well being of neonates. Objective: To assess the placental morphometry in preterm and term neonates and its association with their birthweights. Materials and Methods: The study was an institution based cross-sectional study conducted at MES Medical College, Perinthalmanna, Kerala, India.350 Placenta with gestational age 34 - 42 weeks were collected after the termination of pregnancy, washed thoroughly, cleaned, and trimmed for morphometric analysis. Result: It was observed that all the placental morphometric parameters were lower in preterms when compared to term neonates. Moreover, placental weight was less in both preterm and term low birth weight neonates than that of corresponding normal weight neonates. Conclusion: Placental morphometric parameters in preterm and term neonates had a significant association with their birthweights. However, in low birth weight neonates, the placental weight showed no significance with gestational age, wherein normal birth weight neonates placental weight significantly increased with gestational age. This shows that as the gestational age advances, the nutritional requirements of the fetus also increases, resulting in a concomitant increase in the morphometric parameters of the placenta and birth weight.