Maternal and fetal outcomes of placenta location in primiparous pregnant women

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the placental location by ultrasonographic examination in primiparous pregnant women in the second trimester and to evaluate the effect of this placental location on complications during pregnancy, delivery, postpartum maternal and fetal outcomes. Material and Methods: This study is a retrospective descriptive study and 250 patients who met the inclusion criteria among pregnant women who applied to the antenatal outpatient clinic of Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology between 01 January 2020 and 01 October 2022 were included in our study. The placental locations of the patients, which were detected in the second trimester by the ultrasonography, were recorded. Placental location was compared with pregnancy complications, mode of delivery, delivery week, maternal outcomes, neonatal weight, neonatal Apgar score, need for neonatal intensive care unit follow-up, cord blood gas etc. Results: The mean age of the patients was 24.59±5.11 years. Complications were observed in 41.2% of the cases. Fetal distress was the most common complication with 37.9%. IUGR, GDM, Preeclampsia, GHT, Oligohydroamnios followed by fetal distress. No statistically significant difference was found when complication rates and types of complications were compared according to placenta location (P<0.05). There was no difference between prenatal and postnatal maternal haemoglobin measurements according to placenta location (p:0,762; p<0,05). Similarly, it was determined that placenta placement had no statistically significant effect on the prediction of birth week, mode of delivery, neonatal weight, Apgar score and the need for intensive care unit follow-up (p<0.05). While no statistical difference was found in cord blood gas PH, PO2, PCO2 and lactate values, significant findings were obtained in glucose values (p=0,009; p<0,05). Postnatal cord blood gas glucose value was found to be higher in patients with posteriorly located placenta compared to right lateral location. Conclusion: In our study, in the comparison of cord blood gas parameters and placental location, cord blood gas glucose was found to be higher in patients with posteriorly located placenta compared to those with right lateral placenta. Keywords: Placenta location, pregnancy complications, cord blood gas, neonatal outcomes