Patient's question:
I am eight months and eight days pregnant. A few days ago, I went to the hospital for an ultrasound. The doctor said my placenta is relatively thick. Could you please ask the doctor what this means? Does this affect the baby?First follow-up question: The doctor said my baby is smaller, and it might be due to the thick placenta. Is there such a saying?
Doctor's answer:
Normal placental thickness at full term is 3.6-3.8 cm and generally does not exceed 5 cm. In abnormal cases, the placenta may become enlarged. Conditions such as blood type incompatibility or diabetes can cause the placental thickness to exceed 5 cm. Placental thickening usually suggests that the pregnant woman has complications or that there are some abnormalities in the intrauterine growth of the fetus. It is recommended to conduct further examinations on the fetus and closely monitor its growth status.