A Retrospective Audit of Placental Weight and Fetal Outcome at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The placenta is an organ unique to mammals that connects the developing fetus to the uterine wall. The placenta supplies the fetus with oxygen and nutrients and allows fetal waste to be disposed of effectively via maternal circulation. Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the relationship between placenta weight at delivery and fetal outcomes. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study carried out between January 2022 and December 2023 at the labor ward of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria. Results: The mean age of the women was 32.5 (3.4) years. The majority of the women were between 20 and 34 years of age. The mean placental weight was 657.5 (221.5) g. Maternal obesity and increasing parity were significantly associated with larger placenta weight (P = 0.04 and 0.01, respectively). Heavier placentas were also associated with fetal macrosomia and poor Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, and Respiration (APGAR) scores at 5 min (P < 0.05). Conclusion: This study concludes that a heavier placenta is associated with increasing parity, more operative delivery, bigger newborns, and a higher placenta-birth weight ratio.

Keywords

• cesarean section; fetal outcome; macrosomia; placenta weight