Q: What is the placenta?
A:
The placenta, also known as the afterbirth, is a spongecake-like object, attached to the wall of the womb. It transfers oxygen and nutrition from your blood to your baby's blood. The placenta can be seen on an ultrasound scan. Sometimes it may be described as ‘low’ on the 22-week scan. This would be a reason to have a repeat scan at 32-34 weeks. Ninety-five per cent of placentas that are low will have moved to a normal, higher position by this time. Five per cent will be described as placenta praevia.
