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Updated: Jul 5, 2026
06:43
High Frequency Ultrasound for the Analysis of Fetal and Placental Development In Vivo
Published on: November 8, 2018
Placental characteristics and birthweight.
Carolyn M Salafia1, Jun Zhang, Adrian K Charles
1Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA. salafiacm@aol.com
Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology
|April 23, 2008
Summary
Placental weight and dimensions significantly influence birthweight, explaining nearly 40% of its variation. These placental characteristics may mediate the effects of maternal factors on fetal growth.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Perinatal Medicine
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Standard gross placental measures are linked to specific placental functions.
- Birthweight is a critical indicator of intrauterine fetal development and health.
- Understanding placental contributions to birthweight is vital for fetal origins research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the independent contribution of placental measures to birthweight variation.
- To determine if placental characteristics mediate maternal influences on birthweight.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 24,152 singleton births in the Collaborative Perinatal Project.
- Employed multiple linear regression to analyze associations between six placental measures, placental weight, and birthweight.
- Investigated mediation effects of maternal characteristics (age, height, weight, parity, SES, smoking, race) on birthweight via placental markers.
Main Results:
- Placental weight explained 36.6% of birthweight variation.
- Six additional placental measures accounted for 28.1% of birthweight variation.
- Combined placental measures explained 39.1% of birthweight variation.
- Maternal characteristics, except smoking, showed associations with birthweight mediated by placental characteristics.
Conclusions:
- Placental size and shape are significant determinants of birthweight.
- Placental morphology plays a role in mediating the relationship between maternal factors and fetal growth.
- These findings highlight the importance of placental evaluation in understanding birthweight determinants.
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