Locations:

Abu Dhabi|Canada|Florida|London|Nevada|Ohio

Fetal Development

Within 24 hours after fertilization, the egg that will become your baby rapidly
divides into many cells. By the ninth week of pregnancy, the embryo
develops into a fetus. There are about 40 weeks to a typical pregnancy.
These weeks are divided into three trimesters.

ContentsOverviewAdditional Common Questions

Overview

Overview

What are the three stages of fetal development called?

Fetal development is an orderly and intricate process. It begins before you

even know you’re pregnant and ends with the birth of your baby. Between
conception and delivery, there are many detailed steps that have to occur.

There are three stages of fetal development: germinal, embryonic and fetal.
Most people don’t talk about their pregnancy in these terms, but it can be
helpful to know.

Germinal stage

The germinal stage is the shortest stage of fetal development. It begins

at conception when a sperm and egg join in your fallopian tube. The sperm
fertilizes the egg and creates a zygote. The zygote begins its journey down
to your uterus over the course of about one week. During this journey, the
zygote divides many times, eventually creating two separate structures. One
structure eventually becomes the embryo (and later, the fetus) and the other
becomes the placenta. Cell division continues at a rapid pace. Eventually,
the zygote turns into a blastocyst. The blastocyst arrives at your uterus and
implants into your uterine lining. If implantation is successful, your body
immediately begins producing hormones to support a pregnancy. This also
stops your menstrual period.
Embryonic stage

The embryonic stage lasts from about the third week of pregnancy until the
end of the eighth week of pregnancy. The blastocyst begins to take on
distinct human characteristics. It’s now called an embryo. Structures and
organs like the neural tube (which later becomes the brain and spinal cord),
head, eyes, mouth and limbs form. The cells that will form the fetal heart
begin to cluster around five to six weeks and can pulse. Buds that will
become arms and legs also form around the sixth week. By the end of the
eighth week, most of the embryo’s organs and systems take shape. For a lot
of people, this is the point in pregnancy where morning sickness begins.

Fetal stage

The fetal stage of development begins around the ninth week and lasts until
birth. This is when the embryo officially turns into a fetus. The fetus gets its
assigned sex around nine weeks of pregnancy, although your healthcare
provider can’t detect it on ultrasound yet. The fetus’s major organs and body
systems continue to grow and mature. Things like fingernails, eyelashes and
hair also grow. The fetus is able to move its limbs, although you may not feel
it until 20 weeks of pregnancy. The majority of growth — in both weight and
length — happens in the fetal stage.

Advertisement

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our

site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic
products or services. Policy

When does a pregnancy start?

The start of pregnancy is actually the first day of your last menstrual period
(LMP). This is the gestational age of the fetus. It’s about two weeks ahead of
when conception actually occurs. Though it may seem strange, the date of
the first day of your last period will be an important date when determining
your due date. Your healthcare provider will ask you about this date and will
use it to figure out how far along you are in your pregnancy.

How does conception work?

Each month, your body goes through a reproductive cycle that can end in
one of two ways. You’ll either have a menstrual period or become pregnant.
This cycle is continuously happening during your reproductive years — from
starting your period to menopause around age 50.
In a cycle that ends with pregnancy, there are several steps. First, a group of
eggs (called oocytes) gets ready to leave your ovary for ovulation (release of
the egg). The eggs develop in small, fluid-filled cysts called follicles. Think of
these follicles as small containers for each immature egg. Out of this group
of eggs, one will become mature and continue through the cycle.

The mature follicle now opens and releases the egg from your ovary. This is
ovulation.

After ovulation, the opened follicle develops into a structure called

the corpus luteum. This releases the hormones progesterone and estrogen.
Progesterone helps prepare your uterine lining for pregnancy. If you don’t
become pregnant during a cycle, this lining is what your body sheds during
your period. If sperm fertilizes the egg, conception occurs and the fertilized
egg begins its journey to your uterus, where it will implant.

How long is a pregnancy?

Traditionally, we think of pregnancy as a nine-month process. However, this

isn’t always the case. A full-term pregnancy is 40 weeks, or 280 days.
Depending on what months you’re pregnant during (some are shorter and
some longer) and what week you deliver, you could be pregnant for either
nine months or 10 months. This is completely normal and healthy.

Stages of Growth Month-by-Month in Pregnancy

The fetus will change a lot throughout a typical pregnancy. This time is
divided into three stages, called trimesters. Each trimester is a set of about
three months. Your healthcare provider will probably talk to you about fetal
development in terms of weeks. So, if you’re three months pregnant, you’re
about 12 weeks.

You’ll see distinct changes in the fetus, and yourself, during each trimester of
pregnancy.

First trimester

The first trimester will span from conception to 12 weeks. This is generally
the first three months of pregnancy. During this trimester, the fertilized egg
will change from a small grouping of cells to a fetus that begins to have
human features. The first trimester is exciting, but also when most people
develop unpleasant symptoms like morning sickness and fatigue.

Month 1 (weeks 1 through 4)

Although it’s strange, the first two weeks of pregnancy are a “getting ready”
period. Your body slowly releases more hormones and your uterus prepares
for a potential pregnancy. At the end of the second week, your ovary releases
an egg (ovulation). If sperm meets an egg just after ovulation, the process to
pregnancy continues.

Week 3: Fertilization occurs during the third week. A sperm and egg join and
create a zygote.

Week 4: The tiny bundle of cells turns into a blastocyst and implants into
your uterine lining. The beginning of what will become the placenta forms. A
water-tight sac forms around the blastocyst. This is the amniotic sac, and it
provides cushioning to a fetus during pregnancy.

By the end of the fourth week, the blastocyst is about 2 millimeters (mm)
long — the size of a poppy seed.

Month 2 (weeks 5 through 8)

The second month of pregnancy is when most people realize they’re

pregnant. Pregnancy hormones go into overdrive, and by about the fifth
week, an at-home pregnancy test will show as positive. This is when many
people begin to feel symptoms of pregnancy.

Week 5: The neural tube (brain, spinal cord and other neural tissue of the
central nervous system) forms. The tiny “heart” tube will pulse 110 times a
minute by the end of the fifth week.

Week 6: Tiny buds that become arms and legs also develop. Blood cells are
taking shape, and circulation will begin. Structures that’ll become the ears,
eyes and mouth take form. Your healthcare provider can probably detect
pulses in the cluster of cells that will form the heart on a vaginal ultrasound.

Week 7: Bones begin replacing soft cartilage and genitals begin to form. The
embryo’s head is large in proportion to the rest of its body. Some people
think the embryo resembles a small tadpole or seahorse due to its prominent
tail (which recedes) and large head.

Week 8: All of the major organs and body systems are developing. The
embryo has web-like hands and feet. Eyes become visible and ears begin to
form. The umbilical cord is fully developed and helps to transport oxygen and
blood to the embryo.

After the 8th week, healthcare providers refer to the embryo as a fetus. It will
remain a fetus until birth.
By the end of the second month, the fetus is about 0.5 to 1 inch (in) long —
about the size of a black bean.

Month 3 (weeks 9 through 12)

The third month of pregnancy is when an embryo becomes a fetus. It’s a

period of rapid growth and development. The fetus develops distinct facial
features, limbs, organs, bones and muscles. By the end of the 12th week, the
fetus has an assigned sex, but it won’t be visible on ultrasound for several
more weeks.

Week 9: The beginnings of teeth and taste buds are forming. Its muscles are
forming and its body shape takes on more of a human appearance. But, its
head is still 50% of its length. Your provider may be able to hear its heartbeat
with a Doppler ultrasound.

Week 10: The arms, hands, fingers, feet and toes are fully formed (no more
webbed fingers). Fingernails and toenails are beginning to develop and the
external ears form. The external genitals also begin to form, but it’s too soon
to see them on an ultrasound.

Week 11: The fetus is starting to explore a bit by doing things like opening
and closing its fists and mouth. Its knees, elbows and ankles are working, but
it’s too soon to feel any kicks. The bones are hardening, but its skin is still
see-through. Facial features are more prominent.

Week 12: All the organs, limbs, bones and muscles are present and will
continue to develop in order to become fully functional. The circulatory,
digestive and urinary systems are also working and the liver produces bile.
The fetus is drinking and peeing amniotic fluid.

Since the most critical development has taken place, your chance
of miscarriage drops considerably after 12 weeks (the end of the first
trimester). Most people begin feeling some relief from morning sickness now,
too.

At the end of the third month, the fetus is about 2.5 to 3 inches long — about
the size of a plum.

Second trimester

The second trimester of pregnancy is often thought of as the best part of the
experience. By this time, any morning sickness is probably gone and the
discomfort of early pregnancy has faded. You may also start to feel
movement as the fetus flips and turns in your uterus. During this trimester,
many people find out about the fetus’s assigned sex. This is typically done
during an anatomy scan (an ultrasound that checks physical development) at
around 20 weeks.

Month 4 (weeks 13 through 16)

Many people begin showing signs of being pregnant at this point in

pregnancy, especially if you’ve been pregnant before. Your pregnancy care
provider can hear the fetal heartbeat loud and clear on a Doppler ultrasound.
The fetus can even suck its thumb, yawn, stretch and make faces.

Week 13: Vocal cords form and the fetus’s large head begins to grow
proportionate to its body.

Week 14: The fetus’s skin starts to thicken and fine hair begins to grow. It
can start bringing its fingers to its mouth and turn its head. External genitals
are fully developed and fingerprints begin to form.

Week 15: Some organs, like intestines and ears, are moving to their
permanent location. The fetus still uses amniotic fluid to practice breathing,
but its lungs are beginning to develop. The fetus begins to make more
purposeful movements, like sucking its thumb or smiling.

Week 16: The fetus has lips and its ears are developed enough that it can
hear you talk. Even though its eyes are closed, the fetus can react to light by
turning away from it.

By the end of the fourth month, the fetus is about 5 inches long and weighs
about 4 ounces. For reference, that’s about as big as an avocado.

Month 5 (weeks 17 through 20)

By the end of the fifth month of pregnancy, most people begin to feel the
fetus moving around. The first movements are called quickening and can feel
like a flutter. If your pregnancy has been healthy to this point, you’ll finally
get your first ultrasound. You may even get to find out the fetus’s assigned
sex.

Week 17: The fetus still has thin skin, but will start to put on fat. Its skin is
covered with a whitish coating called vernix. This “cheesy” substance is
thought to protect fetal skin from long-term exposure to amniotic fluid.

Week 18: The fetus is covered in lanugo, a peach fuzz-like hair. It helps keep
the fetus warm and provides another layer of protection. The fetus may have
a sleep-wake cycle, and loud noises may wake the fetus if it’s asleep.
Week 19: The fetus is getting stronger and most people begin to feel kicks
and punches. The fetus also has its own unique set of fingerprints and can
hiccup.

Week 20: The fetus’s nails grow towards the end of its fingers. The area of
the brain responsible for its five senses begins to develop.

By the end of the fifth month, the fetus is about 9 to 10 inches long and
weighs about 1 pound.

Month 6 (weeks 21 through 24)

If you could look inside your uterus right now, you’d see that the fetus’s skin
is reddish in color, wrinkled and veins are visible through translucent skin. In
the sixth month of pregnancy, its eyelids begin to part and you may notice
regular, jerky movements. The fetus responds to sounds by moving or
increasing its pulse.

Week 21: Limb movements are coordinated and frequent. The fetus has bone
marrow that helps it produce blood cells.

Week 22: The fetus’s grasp is getting stronger and it can touch its ears and
the umbilical cord. It can hear your heartbeat, your stomach rumble and your
breathing.

Week 23: If born prematurely, the fetus may survive after the 23rd week with
intensive care. It will begin rapidly adding fat to its body.

Week 24: The fetus’s lungs are fully developed, but not well enough to work
outside your uterus.

By the end of the sixth month, the fetus is about 12 inches long and weighs
about 2 pounds.

Month 7 (weeks 25 through 28)

The fetus continues to mature and develop reserves of body fat. The fetus
changes position frequently and responds to stimuli, including sound, pain
and light. The amniotic fluid begins to diminish.

Week 25: More body fat makes the fetus’s skin less wrinkled and plumper. Its
nervous system is quickly maturing.

Week 26: The fetus makes melanin, the substance that gives skin and eyes
their color. The fetus’s lungs start to make surfactant, a substance that helps
it breathe after birth.
Week 27: The fetus can open its eyes and blink. It also has eyelashes.

Week 28: The fetus may begin turning head-down in your uterus as it gets
ready for birth. At the end of the seventh month, the fetus is about 14 to 15
inches long and weighs between 2 and 3 pounds.

Third trimester

This is the final part of your pregnancy. You may be tempted to start counting
down the days to your due date and hope that it comes early, but each week
of this final stage of development helps the fetus prepare for birth.
Throughout the third trimester, the fetus gains weight quickly, adding body
fat that’ll help after birth.

Your healthcare provider will monitor you closely as you approach your due
date. You’ll visit your provider biweekly and then weekly. Make sure to ask
your provider any questions you have about labor and delivery.

Month 8 (weeks 29 through 32)

The fetus continues to mature and develop reserves of body fat. The brain
develops most rapidly during this time. The fetus can see and hear most
stimuli. Most internal systems are well-developed, but the lungs may still be
immature.

Week 29: You may notice the kicks and jabs feel more like pokes now that
the fetus is getting cramped in the amniotic sac.

Week 30: The fetus can control its own body heat. Its brain is maturing and
growing rapidly.

Week 31: The fetus can process more information and stimuli. You can
probably notice more distinct patterns in when it’s awake and when it’s
asleep.

Week 32: The fetus’s skin isn’t translucent anymore. Other than the lungs
and brain, most other organs are well-formed and ready for birth.

The fetus is about 17 to 18 inches long and weighs as much as 5 pounds.

Month 9 (weeks 33 through 36)

During this stage, the fetus continues to grow and mature. The lungs are
close to being fully developed at this point in pregnancy. The ninth month is
mostly about putting the finishing touch on growth and brain development.
Week 33: The fetus’s bones are hardening, with exception of the cranial
bones around its brain, which needs to be soft to descend the birth canal.

Week 34: The vernix that protects the fetus’s skin starts to get thicker.

Week 35: The fetus’s brain continues to grow, but still only weighs two-thirds
of what it should at birth.

Week 36: The fetus loses its lanugo and it has hair on its head.

The fetus is about 17 to 19 inches long and weighs from 6 to 7 pounds.

Month 10 (Weeks 37 through 40)

In this final month, you could go into labor at any time. At this point, the
fetus’s position may have changed to prepare for birth. Ideally, it’s head-
down in your uterus. You may feel very uncomfortable in this final stretch of
time as the fetus drops down into your pelvis and prepares for birth. Your
provider may encourage you to perform kick counts, which is a way to track
how much the fetus moves.

Week 37: The fetus’s toenails reach the end of its toes. You may start to feel
the fetus drop into your pelvis.

Week 38: The fetus is packing on 0.5 pounds per week to get to its final size.

Week 39: The fetus is full-term and ready to meet the world!

Week 40: It’s your due date week. Call your pregnancy care provider if you
notice any signs of labor.

The fetus is about 18 to 20 inches long and weighs about 7 to 9 pounds.

Care at Cleveland Clinic

Having Your Baby

Getting Started

Labor & Delivery Services

Advertisement

Additional Common Questions

How early can I know I’m pregnant?

From the moment of conception, the hormone human chorionic

gonadotrophin (HCG) will be present in your blood. This hormone is created
by the cells that form the placenta (food source for the growing fetus). It’s
also the hormone detected in a pregnancy test. Even though this hormone is
there from the beginning, it takes time for it to build within your body. It
typically takes three to four weeks from the first day of your last period for
the HCG to increase enough to be detected by pregnancy tests.

When should I reach out to my healthcare provider about a new pregnancy?

Most healthcare providers will have you wait to come in for an appointment
until you’ve had a positive home pregnancy test. These tests are very
accurate once you have enough HCG circulating throughout your body. This
can be a few weeks after conception. It’s best to call your healthcare
provider once you have a positive pregnancy test to schedule your first
appointment.

When you call, your healthcare provider may ask you if you’re taking
a prenatal vitamin. These supplements contain folic acid. It’s important that
you get at least 400 mcg of folic acid each day during pregnancy to make
sure the fetus’s neural tube (beginning of the brain and spine) develops
correctly. Many healthcare providers suggest that you take prenatal vitamins
with folic acid even when you aren’t pregnant. If you weren’t taking prenatal
vitamins before your pregnancy, your provider may ask you to start as soon
as possible.

Advertisement

What weeks are most important for fetal development?

Each trimester or phase of pregnancy carries its own unique risks. It’s hard to
pinpoint specific weeks as being more or less important. However, most
healthcare providers will say the most important time for fetal development
is the first 13 weeks of the pregnancy (or the first trimester). The risk of
miscarriage drops after the first trimester, when the fetus’s major organs and
systems are formed and working. This isn’t to say that your pregnancy
becomes less important after 13 weeks. It just means a lot of the critical
steps and processes are complete and that a lot of the most major birth
disorders occur in the first trimester.

What does full-term mean in a pregnancy?

Once you get close to the end of your pregnancy, healthcare providers may
use several terms to describe when you go into labor. These terms are labels
that divide up the last few weeks of pregnancy.
They’re helpful in determining how likely a baby is to have complications at
birth. For example, babies that are born in the early term period (or before it)
generally have a higher risk of breathing issues than babies born at full term.

When you’re looking at these labels, it’s important to know how they’re
written. You may see the week first (38) and then two numbers separated by
a slash mark (6/7). This stands for how many days you currently are in the
gestational week. So, if you see 38 6/7, it means that you’re on day 6 of your
38th week.

The last few weeks of pregnancy are divided into the following groups:

Early-term: 37 0/7 weeks through 38 6/7 weeks.

Full-term: 39 0/7 weeks through 40 6/7 weeks.

Late-term: 41 0/7 weeks through 41 6/7 weeks.

Post-term: 42 0/7 weeks and on.

Talk to your healthcare provider about any questions you may have about
gestational age and due date.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

There’s a lot that needs to happen for a pregnancy to occur, grow and result
in a birth. Learning about how the fetus grows can be exciting and eye-
opening, especially when you realize how many organs, systems and body
functions develop within a nine-month period. Both you and the fetus
growing inside of you go through many changes during pregnancy. Ask your
pregnancy care provider about these changes and any other questions you
have. They’re there to be a resource to you and give you the best possible
care.

Medically Reviewed

Locations:

Abu Dhabi|Canada|Florida|London|Nevada|Ohio

Placenta
The placenta is a temporary organ that forms in your uterus during
pregnancy. It attaches to your uterine wall and provides nutrients and
oxygen to your baby through the umbilical cord. Certain conditions of the
placenta can cause pregnancy complications.

ContentsOverviewFunctionAnatomyConditions and DisordersCareAdditional

Common Questions

Function

Overview
The placenta is an organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy. It
provides food and oxygen to the fetus.
What is the placenta?

The placenta is a temporary organ that connects your baby to your uterus
during pregnancy. The placenta develops shortly after conception and
attaches to the wall of your uterus. Your baby is connected to the placenta by
the umbilical cord. Together, the placenta and umbilical cord act as your
baby's lifeline while in the uterus. Functions of the placenta include:

Provides your baby with oxygen and nutrients.

Removes harmful waste and carbon dioxide from your baby.

Produces hormones that help your baby grow.

Passes immunity from you to your baby.

Helps protect your baby.

When does the placenta form?

The placenta begins to form after a fertilized egg implants in your uterus
around seven to 10 days after conception. It continues to grow throughout
your pregnancy to support your baby. The placenta starts as a few cells and
grows to be several inches long.

When does the placenta take over?

The placenta takes over hormone production by the end of the first
trimester (12 weeks of pregnancy). Up until this time, the corpus
luteum handles most of the hormone production. Many people's first-
trimester symptoms of nausea and fatigue go away once the placenta takes
over in the second trimester.

Care at Cleveland Clinic

Having Your Baby

Getting Started

Labor & Delivery Services

Function

What does the placenta do?

The placenta helps to keep your baby alive and healthy during pregnancy.
Your blood passes through the placenta and provides oxygen, glucose and
nutrients to your baby through the umbilical cord. The placenta can also filter
out harmful waste and carbon dioxide from your baby's blood. The placenta
enables the exchange of oxygen and nutrients between the bloodstreams of
you and your baby without ever mixing them. It acts as your baby's lungs,
kidneys and liver until birth.

As you get closer to delivery, the placenta passes antibodies to your baby to
jumpstart its immunity. This immunity sticks with your baby for the first
several months of life.

The placenta produces several important hormones like lactogen, estrogen

and progesterone during pregnancy. These pregnancy hormones are
beneficial to both you and your baby. For example, the placenta produces a
hormone that suppresses milk production during pregnancy.

Advertisement

Does the placenta move?

Sort of. The placenta appears to move only because the uterus expands as
the pregnancy and fetus grow. Your healthcare provider will look at the
location of your placenta during your 20-week anatomy ultrasound and
determine if its position may cause complications. Most placentas move to
the top or side of the uterus by 32 weeks of pregnancy.

Anatomy

Where does the placenta form?

The placenta can form anywhere in your uterus. It develops wherever the
fertilized egg implants into your uterine wall. Some of the positions of the
placenta are:

Posterior placenta: The placenta grows on the back wall of your uterus.

Anterior placenta: The placenta grows on the front wall of your uterus closest
to your abdomen.

Fundal placenta: The placenta grows at the top of your uterus.

Lateral placenta: The placenta grows on the right or left wall of your uterus.

The placenta can move up until about 32 weeks of pregnancy. It's common to
have a placenta that moves upwards and away from your cervix as your
baby gets bigger.

Advertisement
What does the placenta look like?

The placenta looks like a disc of bumpy tissue rich in blood vessels, making it
appear dark red at term. Most of the mature placental tissue is made up of
blood vessels. They connect with the baby through the umbilical cord and
branch throughout the placenta disc like the limbs of a tree.

What color is the placenta?

The placenta has two sides: the side attached to your uterus and the side
closest to your baby. The side attached to your uterine wall is a deep reddish
blue color, while the side facing your baby is gray.

How big is a normal placenta?

The placenta is about 10 inches long and 1 inch thick at its center. It weighs
around 16 ounces (1 pound) by the time your baby is born.

What is the placenta made of?

The placenta begins to develop when the fertilized egg implants into your
uterine wall. The placenta contains mostly blood vessels contained within
structures called “villi.” The blood vessels connect with the baby’s
bloodstream through the umbilical cord. The rest of the placental tissues
mainly connect the villi to the umbilical cord and allow your blood to bathe
the villi, supplying the baby with oxygen and nutrients.

Conditions and Disorders

What are common conditions and disorders of the placenta?

An issue with your placenta can be dangerous for both you and your baby.
Some of the complications associated with the placenta are:

Placenta previa: The placenta covers all or part of the cervix. It's sometimes
called a low-lying placenta.

Placenta accreta: The placenta attaches too deeply to the wall of your
uterus.

Placental abruption: A condition during pregnancy when the placenta

separates from the uterus too early.

Placental insufficiency: When the placenta isn't providing enough nutrients or

oxygen to your baby.
Retained placenta: When part of the placenta stays inside your uterus after
pregnancy.

Tell your healthcare provider if you've had surgery on your uterus or vagina
or if you've had problems with your placenta in prior pregnancies.

What are the most common signs of a placenta disorder?

Bleeding from your vagina is the most common sign that there is a problem
with the placenta. Not everyone experiences bleeding, so it's important to
discuss your pregnancy symptoms with your healthcare provider. Symptoms
like abdominal pain or contractions could also mean there is a problem with
the placenta. In some cases, a baby that measures too small for dates
suggests a problem with the placenta.

How are conditions of the placenta treated during pregnancy?

Treating a condition of the placenta varies during pregnancy. In most cases,

it's dependent on the severity of the condition and how far along you are in
pregnancy. Your healthcare provider will monitor you and your baby closely
to make sure you are both safe. Some of the treatments for placental issues
during pregnancy could include:

More frequent ultrasounds and prenatal appointments.

Preterm birth.

Labor induction.

Avoiding sex, exercise or other activities that can cause bleeding.

Bed rest.

Cesarean delivery.

Care

What types of substances are bad for the placenta?

Medicine, drugs, alcohol and nicotine can all transfer from your bloodstream
to your baby through the placenta. Talk to your healthcare provider before
taking any prescription or over-the-counter medications (including vitamins
and supplements) during pregnancy. Drinking alcohol or smoking
cigarettes is not recommended during pregnancy.

HOW IS THE PLACENTA DELIVERED?

The placenta is delivered shortly after your baby is born (usually between
five and 30 minutes after). This is called the afterbirth or the third stage of
labor. If you've delivered your baby vaginally, your uterus will continue to
contract to expel the placenta. Your healthcare provider may push on your
belly or ask you for one final push. If your baby was born via C-section, your
healthcare provider removes the placenta through the incision used to
deliver your baby. In rare cases, parts of the placenta stay in your uterus
after delivery. This can cause bleeding, pain and infection.

Additional Common Questions

Why do people eat their placenta?

Some people believe that eating or swallowing the nutrient-rich placenta

offers health benefits. The placenta can be cooked or encapsulated into pills
and swallowed like a vitamin. There aren't any studies that confirm eating
your placenta delivers health benefits. It may be harmful to you. Talk to your
healthcare provider before making any decisions about eating or
encapsulating your placenta.

What happens to the placenta after birth?

In most cases, your placenta is thrown away after birth. However, some
people choose to bank placental tissue through a stem cell bank. Placental
tissue banking is when tissue and blood from the placenta are collected and
stored after delivery. The placental tissues are rich in stem cells that can
treat certain diseases and life-threatening conditions. Sometimes your doctor
might ask a pathologist to examine the placenta if you or your baby have
conditions like fever or illness, if the baby is born premature, or if the baby is
small for gestational age.