Ask a doctor on the topic of Gynecology

The Cause

February 16, 2017 | 20,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Frauke Gehring

Dear Sir or Madam,

I gave birth to a child weighing 2610 g at 40 weeks gestation. My child was born normally and is healthy. The placenta was sent in and it was determined that there were no infarctions, inflammation, etc. However, the report mentioned that the placenta had some fibrin. The placental weight was at the 5th percentile. The gestational age and the tests conducted (multiple Dopplers) were normal. 3 weeks before birth, I had Grade I calcification.

According to the doctor, this is a normal placenta. He mentioned that fibrin deposits, especially towards the end of gestation, are normal. He reassured me that everything was fine.

1. What was the cause of this low weight and was my child undernourished?
During the pregnancy, I smoked 1-2 cigarettes a day. Could the low weight be due to smoking? In my other pregnancies, I did not smoke, but also had some calcifications/fibrin.

Thank you and best regards.

Dr. med. Frauke Gehring

Good day,

Smoking even in small amounts leads to oxygen deficiency (while smoking, 90% of red blood cells are occupied by CO and have no capacity for oxygen transport). This may be a reason why your child and your placenta are relatively small.

Fibrin deposits are completely normal towards the end of pregnancy.

Your child could have been better taken care of, but I hope that it continues to develop normally. If you are planning to have another child: Please do not smoke under any circumstances!

Sincerely, Dr. Höllering