Placenta sent for histology? Uk protocol.

[annaki]

Wasn't sure where to put this but wanting to know if anyone knows why my placenta would have been sent for histology?

I'm in the UK and told this isn't normal practice so I'm worried.

A little bit of history...had Cat 1 C section after suspicious CTG following induction at 40 + 12 weeks. Only has 2 pessarys with no effect. Unable to break waters. Suffered from hypertension throughoutregnancy, but it came down during BP profile each time.

Also told there was a small haemorrhage behind placenta.

Baby is now 11 days old and doing fine. I have asked why placenta sent off but just been to.d it looked gritty.

My comm MW says its not normal practice for it tobe sent off just for this reason. She said to check with GP at 6 week post natal check. So I ave a long time to worry :-/.

Can anyone shed some light?

 

[Lownthwaite]

I've never heard of this myself hun but didn't want to read and run.

 

[dan-o]

My first one was sent off and I presumed it was because of my previous molar pregnancy, but looking back, mine wasn't in the best shape (high BP last 5-6 weeks and then induction as a result) and my baby had mild IUGR (head 75th centile, body 9th) nothing ever came of it. This time round my placenta wasn't sent off, but maybe that's because baby was normal size for dates and my BP normal

 

[AP]

Mine was taken for research but I signed my placenta away before I gave birth

 

[Mrs Eleflump]

I hope you don't mind me answering this, as I'm not pregnant or TTC yet...but I work in a histology lab

We get placentas where there was a problem with mum or baby during pregnancy or labour, e.g. if mum has diabetes or pre-eclampsia, if there was an abruption or infection of the membranes, if the baby was premature or has IUGR or there are problems with the cord vessels. From what you've said, your hypertension, baby's CTG, and the haemorrhage may have been enough, along with being quite a bit overdue.

A 'gritty'-looking placenta needs to be looked at to ensure there haven't been previous haemorrhages in it, or any other cause of placental insufficiency. The gritty appearance can be a normal part of an ageing placenta, since the placenta's function starts decreasing later in pregnancy, but it can be caused by problems with the blood supply, smoking, or simply going overdue.

To be honest, if baby is well, I really wouldn't worry about it. The pathologists in my lab vary in their opinions on when it's necessary to do histology on a placenta, and there's actually very rarely anything to worry about in them. It's more the Maternity dept making sure they've covered all the bases if your labour and birth didn't go 100% as planned, that's all.

Congratulations on your new arrival, you're so lucky!

 

[annaki]

Thanks for your replies they have been very useful! Only just seen them