RESUMEN
Background: The placenta being a foetal organ, undergoes the same stress and strain to which the foetus isexposed. Common yet life threatening complications of Pregnancy like Gestational Diabetes, Hypertension,Anaemia and Intra uterine growth retardation result in both macroscopic as well as microscopic changes in theplacenta. Hence study of the placenta will give a valuable insight in cases of adverse foetal outcome.Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted on a total of two hundred and ninety two freshlydelivered placentae with umbilical cord obtained from the labour rooms and operating theatres of the Departmentof Obstetrics & Gynaecology. Exclusion criteria was multiple pregnancy. Inclusion criteria’s were normaluncomplicated primigravida and multigravida and pathological factors complicating pregnancy like Anaemia,Gestational Diabetes mellitus, Pregnancy induced Hypertension and prematurity. The 292 placentae were dividedinto four categories according to the risk factors and clinical diagnosis of pregnant women namely normalpatients(147), patients with Pregnancy induced hypertension(15), Gestational Diabetes mellitus(30) , anaemia(65)and preterm(35).Results: The circular type of placenta is the common shape of placenta. The diameter of the placenta is increasedin anaemia ,gestational diabetes and decreased in prematurity. The weight of the placenta is increased ingestational diabetes mellitus, anaemia and decreased in prematurity. The number of maternal cotyledons isdecreased in prematurity and increased in gestational diabetes mellitus. The eccentric type of cord attachmentis the most common type in complicated pregnancies.Conclusion: The diagnosis of such risk factors in pregnancies during antenatal period and early intervention willimprove the perinatal outcome