Sending placenta to pathologist...

[nimblemama]

Does anyone know what this is for? I looked it up on the internet and saw that it is common for stillbirths, multiples, etc. My friend just had her seventh baby yesterday at 38 weeks and everyone is healthy and the labor went perfectly. When the midwife was examining the placenta, she said she was going to send it to pathology, but of course did not mention why at the moment (mom was going to ask why today). Do any of you have experience with this?

[bryonyvaughn]

Around here one hospital was sending placentas of HB transfers, tatooed mothers, basically anyone too hippy or new age-ish to the lab for testing for illegal drugs. The only reason we found out was one woman got a copy of the bill sent her insurance company, we started asking about other people's experiences, and then started asking some knowledgeable folks at the hospital.

~BV

[sweettalker]

For stillbirths, they test the placenta to see if there are any abnormalities that might help to explain the stillbirth -- for the parents but also for research purposes (i.e., identifying issues that need more research). I think the university research hospital here also examines those from multiples to add to the statistics about the timing of placenta degredation throughout pregnancy.

While I don't doubt that some hospitals send them for drug testing (as bryonvaughn indicated), I think most of it is done to further scientific knowledge. There's a lot of good information in those there placentas!

[mwherbs]

ask it may be just habit or maybe there is some pathologist that has a penchant for looking at and studying placentas or maybe they saw something that they were curious about--

[Fyrestorm]

After my HB transfer, I asked for mine and they told me I couldn't have it because it had to be sent to pathology because of the mec and section. They also refused to let me have it when they were done since it was then considered 'medical waste'


Now I wonder why they really wanted it...I never thought to ask for the pathology report during the lawsuit:

[DoomaYula]

Mine with my twin boys who had TTTS was taken to pathology, because of the TTTS... I didn't mind, under that circumstance. I hope that whatever they found can help other moms whose twins have TTTS. However, if I'd had a "normal" pregnancy and birth, I'd definitely want to know why it was being sent to pathology.

[djinneyah]

ds's was sent for 3 reasons: because he was "large for gestational age" (6.11 at 35 weeks), they suspected (had never confirmed) that i had GD, and i'd had a persistent ovarian cyst throughout the pg.

the report came back completely normal, of course.

[megadoula]

Mine was sent to pathology even though I wanted it. I was mad at the time but at my 6 week post partum I found out that it was riddled with blood clots. One hematologist appointment later I found out I have genetic blood clots. This probably saved me from a stroke later in life so I was not complaining about my missing placenta anymore.

[pamamidwife]

i think all the placentas are sent to "pathology". even if you found a placenta in the dump, i believe it's standard care to send it to a hospital (like if you found a severed foot, you know).

i know some facilities sell the placentas after doing biopsies or swabs on them.

i donate the ones that parents don't want to our county sheriffs office - they train their search & rescue dogs with them.

[lilgsmommy]

With my twins, mine was sent off because thier placentas were fused together and had started growing into eachother.

With my oldest I wasnt up to date on stuff like I am now, so I never even thought to ask.