Fetal sex impacts birth to placental weight ratio and umbilical cord oxygen values with implications for regulatory mechanisms

Abstract

Highlights Birth/placental wt is decreased in females as a measure of placental efficiency. Cord vein O2 is increased in females as a measure of placental O2 transport. Cord artery O2 is decreased in females as a measure of fetal systemic O2 levels. Sex differences in placental development link to cord O2-birth/placental wt findings.

Keywords

• Fetal sex
• Placenta
• Fetal oxygen
• Fetal growth