The Placenta: The Lifeline Between Mother and Baby

  1. The placenta is a temporary organ formed just for pregnancy.
  2. It connects to the baby via the umbilical cord — a literal lifeline.
  3. Oxygen, nutrients, and antibodies all pass through it.
  4. Waste products move out of the baby’s bloodstream through the placenta.
  5. It also produces vital hormones like progesterone and hCG.
  6. The placenta acts as a natural filter and protective barrier.
  7. Its structure is made of both maternal and fetal tissue.
  8. The baby and mother’s blood never directly mix — a biological safeguard.
  9. After birth, the placenta is delivered as the “afterbirth.”
  10. It’s one of the most efficient exchange systems ever evolved.