The Effects of Placental Location on Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Objective: Published research exists that investigates placental location, as well as maternal and fetal outcomes. It is posited that placental location could be an indicator of subsequent maternal and or infant outcomes that could be identified and proactively treated. The aim of this study was to determine whether indeed there is an association between placental location and specific maternal or fetal outcomes. Materials and Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on 361 women, who delivered and had obstetric sonograms in a New York academic hospital, between June 2019 and December 2020. The study variables compared to placental location were maternal demographics, substance use during pregnancy, body mass index, blood type, parity, prenatal care, rupture of membranes, mode of delivery, postpartum hemorrhage, systolic/diastolic (S/D) ratio of the umbilical artery, placental location, gestational age at delivery, birth weight, Apgar scores (1 and 5 minutes), and fetal gender. Results: Statistical significance was appreciated in the 5-minute Apgar score category between anterior and posterior placentas (P =.03). Conclusion: Further prospective research is needed to determine whether different placental locations indeed has an effect on maternal or neonatal outcomes, in which case women may benefit from more intensive pregnancy monitoring.