What organ gets oxygen and nutrients for the fetus and gets rid of waste?
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The umbilical cord carries oxygen and nutrients to the baby from the mom by way of the placenta. The umbilical cord also carries waste products from the baby to the placenta and then to mom to get rid of though her lungs and kidneys. The umbilical cord has three blood vessels inside it. The largest vessel is a vein which carries oxygenated blood and nutrients TO the baby from the placenta which is attached to the wall of mom’s uterus. The other two vessels are smaller. These vessels are arteries that carry carbon dioxide and metabolic waste FROM the baby to the mom. These waste products are then excreted by mom mostly through her lungs and kidneys. Checking Cord GasesUmbilical cord gases are drawn by a healthcare provider from the umbilical cord after the baby is born. Two samples are taken—one from the artery and one from the vein. The umbilical artery sample of blood reports on the status of the baby close to the time of birth. The venous sample reports on the placental function and mom’s status close to the time of birth. The blood samples report the acid-base balance. The acid-base balance is important for cells in the body to function properly. Slight deviations can be tolerated for short periods of time but chronic imbalances can lead to problems in essential body functions. If the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide is impaired, acid will build up and the baby will become acidotic. If a baby has had an event in which the baby did not get enough oxygen, either acutely or chronically, the umbilical artery blood sample may show a build up of acid which is noted as acidosis if the acid buildup is in the tissues of the body or acidemic. pH is a scale that is used to determine acidity. A cord pH less than 7.1 is considered acidemic and may be evidence that your baby was not well oxygenated at or near birth. 7.1- 14 is alkaline, which is also known as base. The human body is slightly base with a pH between 7.35-7.45. Checking the umbilical artery blood is especially helpful if there is reason to believe that there was an acute or chronic loss of oxygen to the baby. Acidemia may be present in the results if the loss of oxygen caused an anoxic (no oxygen) or hypoxic (not enough oxygen) event. Anoxia or hypoxia can cause hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (brain damage due to lack of oxygen and limited blood flow) leading to cerebral palsy (disorder that affects body movement and posture). If you believe your baby may have suffered from lack of oxygen during the labor and delivery process, call the Bereston Law Offices for a free consultation.Categories: Placenta: How it works, what's normalThe placenta plays a crucial role during pregnancy. Find out what it does, issues that might affect the placenta and how the placenta is delivered. By Mayo Clinic StaffIf you're pregnant, you might wonder what the placenta does and what factors can affect it. Get the facts about this important organ that joins the mother and baby. What does the placenta do?The placenta is an organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy. This structure provides oxygen and nutrients to a growing baby. It also removes waste products from the baby's blood. The placenta attaches to the wall of the uterus, and the baby's umbilical cord arises from it. The organ is usually attached to the top, side, front or back of the uterus. In rare cases, the placenta might attach in the lower area of the uterus. When this happens, it's called a low-lying placenta (placenta previa). What affects the health of the placenta?Various factors can affect the health of the placenta during pregnancy. For example:
What are the most common placental problems?During pregnancy, possible placental problems include placental abruption, placenta previa and placenta accreta. After delivery, retained placenta is sometimes a concern. Here's what you need to know about these conditions:
What are signs or symptoms of placental problems?Consult your health care provider during pregnancy if you have:
What can I do to reduce my risk of placental problems?Most placental problems can't be directly prevented. However, you can take steps to promote a healthy pregnancy:
If you've had a placental problem during a previous pregnancy and are planning another pregnancy, talk to your health care provider about ways to reduce the risk of experiencing the condition again. Also tell your health care provider if you've had surgery on your uterus in the past. Expect your health care provider to monitor your condition closely throughout the pregnancy. How is the placenta delivered?If you deliver your baby vaginally, you'll also deliver the placenta vaginally — during what's known as the third stage of labor. After you give birth, you'll continue to have mild contractions. Your health care provider might give you a medication called oxytocin (Pitocin) to continue uterine contractions and reduce postpartum bleeding. Your health care provider might also massage your lower abdomen to encourage your uterus to contract and expel the placenta. You might be asked to push one more time to deliver the placenta. If you have a C-section, your health care provider will remove the placenta from your uterus during the procedure. Your health care provider will examine the placenta to make sure it's intact. Any remaining fragments must be removed from the uterus to prevent bleeding and infection. If you're interested, ask to see the placenta. In some cultures, families bury the placenta in a special place, such as their backyards. If you have questions about the placenta or placental problems during pregnancy, talk to your health care provider. He or she can help you better understand the placenta's role during your pregnancy. Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. April 13, 2022
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. What organ supplies oxygen and nutrients to fetus?The fetus is connected by the umbilical cord to the placenta, the organ that develops and implants in the mother's uterus during pregnancy. Through the blood vessels in the umbilical cord, the fetus receives all the necessary nutrition, oxygen, and life support from the mother through the placenta.
Which is the organ that provides food and oxygen to the fetus and also removes waste from the uterus?The placenta is an organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy. This structure provides oxygen and nutrients to a growing baby. It also removes waste products from the baby's blood. The placenta attaches to the wall of the uterus, and the baby's umbilical cord arises from it.
What organ is responsible for nutrient and waste exchange in a developing fetus?The placenta is a large organ that develops during pregnancy. It is attached to the wall of the uterus, usually at the top or side. The umbilical cord connects the placenta to your baby. Blood from the mother passes through the placenta, filtering oxygen, glucose and other nutrients to your baby via the umbilical cord.
What exchanges nutrients and waste between the mother and fetus during pregnancy?The placenta allows nutrients and wastes to be exchanged between the mother and fetus. The fetus is connected to the placenta through the umbilical cord.
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