Heavier placenta and fetal vulnerability The researchers used genetic analyses to solve this enigma and found increased placental weight in women who continued to smoke throughout pregnancy ...

This may result from poor placental status due to hypertension and preeclampsia of the mother. Other reasons include a maternal smoking status and low birth weight of the mother.

Using ultrasound to measure blood flow in the placenta and the fetus could help spot issues tied to low birth weight, researchers report. As the Dutch investigators explained, about 10% of fetuses ...