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Published on: August 2, 2017
Placental position and late stillbirth: a case-control study.
Jane Warland1, Helen McCutcheon, Peter Baghurst
1University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia. jane.warland@unisa.edu.au
Journal of Clinical Nursing
|June 4, 2009
Summary
A posterior placenta location increases stillbirth risk. This finding highlights a potential risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes, emphasizing the need for increased fetal monitoring during pregnancy.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Perinatal Medicine
- Pregnancy Outcomes
Background:
- Limited research exists on placental position beyond placenta previa.
- Understanding placental positioning's impact on pregnancy outcomes is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between placental position and stillbirth risk.
- To determine if specific placental locations increase stillbirth incidence.
Main Methods:
- A matched case-control study was conducted.
- Retrospective review of case-notes from two tertiary obstetric centers.
- Placental position at 20-week ultrasound was compared between stillbirth cases (n=124) and live birth controls (n=243).
Main Results:
- A posterior placental location was statistically associated with a higher likelihood of stillbirth.
- Women with posterior placentas had an odds ratio of 1.64 (95% CI 1.02-2.65, p=0.04) for stillbirth compared to other positions.
Conclusions:
- Posterior placental location may be a risk factor for stillbirth.
- Further research is recommended to validate these findings.
- Healthcare providers should consider this risk and enhance fetal well-being monitoring.
