Did you know there are multiple different things that can happen with your placenta when it begins to form? And many times it’s totally fine. Some times however, complications can occur, and necessary medical actions need to take place.

I hope to give you some insight into the variations of placentas in an easier to understand way!

placenta variations

Valementous Cord Insertion

In a normal cord insertion in a placenta, the placenta attaches in the middle area of the baby’s side, protected by the placenta itself. However with a valementous cord insertion, the portion of the cord that near where it attaches to the actual placenta, doesn’t get buried in the placenta. The blood vessels will actually travel along the amniotic sac, typically unprotected. Many times, a valementous cord insertion isn’t realized until after baby is born. There are times where it is caught on an ultrasound and a cesarean is recommended. The reason a cesarean is recommended is because of the unprotected blood vessels. Medical professionals want to reduce the risk of any accidents in labor (like a hard kick from baby or a short cord) to prevent any damage to those blood vessels.

Marginal Cord Insertion

A marginal cord insertion is where the umbilical cord inserts near the end of the placenta instead of the middle. The issue with this type of insertion is that the edges of the placenta aren’t as sturdy as the center. It is typically thinner around the edges, making blood vessels travel outside of the placenta, along the sac, and then back into the placenta. This leaves portions of the blood vessels exposed and vulnerable.

Circumvallate

This type of placenta variation has to do with the placenta’s shape being abnormal. In this instant, the fetal side of the placenta is too small. The uterine side of the placenta (the side that attaches to the uterus) appears to roll over towards the fetal side, thus produces a much thicker edge to the placenta than normal. This can increase the risk of IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction) or the baby not receiving enough nutrients to properly grow. However this placental abnormality is super rare.

Circummarginate

This type of placenta is similar to the circumvallate placenta, however it is the opposite. So instead of the placenta rolling towards the fetal side thus thickening the edges of the placenta, it rolls away from the fetal side toward the uterine side. The edges do not become thick, and it is said that there isn’t necessarily a clinical difference from that of a normal healthy placenta. This is simply a variation of normal.

Succenturiate Lobe

The easiest way to describe a succenturiate lobed placenta is that the placenta has an “extra” smaller placenta attached to it. Sometimes it even has two extra lobes attached to it and many times the smaller lobes are not as healthy as the main placenta. Issues arise from this variation when there is a larger amount of blood supply to the extra lobe, because it is typically attached by the blood vessels and sac like in a valementous cord insertion. Another issue that could arise is when birthing the placenta, the extra may detach as the main placenta is exiting the body. Any left over placenta in the uterus can lead to an increase in postpartum bleeding and if not extracted manually can lead to a D and C in the OR.

Bilobed

A bilobed or trilobed placenta is similar to a succenturiate placenta, but in order to be classified as a bilobed placenta, the second lobe needs to be of similar size as the main lobe. Many times the umbilical cord actually inserts in the middle portion where both lobes are connected (think like the neck of a bottle). It’s also said that if you have one bilobed/trilobed placenta in one pregnancy/gestation you are more likely to have it in subsequent pregnancies/gestations.

Placenta’s are seriously rad

I geek out over them at every. single. birth. Seriously, every single time I see one I’m always amazed.

They support life and provide nutrients. They are the ONLY organ the human body grows that is discarded. AND if people have multiple pregnancies/gestations their body grows more placenta’s, AND sometimes even TWO at the the same time (with multiples depending on the type of multiples). UGH so freaking cool.

I hope after you give birth, that you’re able to explore your placenta a bit and truly see how amazing this organ is up close. Your body grew it. It nourished your baby until you could meet them. And once it’s job is done, the cycle is over and it is finished.