What is the normal weight of the placenta at term?

Appeared in: NVS Staff Nurse - 2022

Explanation

At term, the typical placenta weighs approximately 470 to 500 grams.
The option of 500 g is the most widely accepted average value in clinical practice and is the closest choice to the reference value of 470 g.
There is a general correlation between fetal weight and placental weight, with a ratio of about 6:1 (fetus to placenta). For an average 3000 g fetus, the placenta would weigh around 500 g.

Option A: A weight of 800 g is excessively high for a term placenta and is considered placentomegaly (an abnormally large placenta).
Option B: A weight of 1000 g (1 kg) is pathologically large for a term placenta.
Option D: A weight of 300 g is considered abnormally low for a term placenta.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Normal placental characteristics at term as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Routine examination of the placenta after delivery is a crucial nursing and midwifery responsibility to assess for completeness and identify abnormalities that could signal risks for the mother or newborn.
An abnormally heavy or light placenta is a key indicator of potential maternal or fetal pathology that may require further investigation or closer monitoring of the neonate for complications.
What if a piece of the placenta is retained? If a fragment, such as a succenturiate lobe, is left in the uterus, it can prevent proper uterine contraction and lead to immediate or delayed postpartum hemorrhage or puerperal sepsis. This underscores the importance of ensuring the placenta is delivered intact.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the core of the question: It asks for a specific factual value—the normal weight of a term placenta.
Recognize this as a direct recall question that tests your knowledge of normal pregnancy parameters.
Access your memory or knowledge base regarding the characteristics of the placenta at term.
Recall that the standard weight of a term placenta is approximately 470-500 g, or about one-sixth of the fetal weight.
Evaluate the given options against this known standard value.
Select the option that best matches this value, which is 500 g.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Obstetrics Williams p. 9-26

Practise the full NVS Staff Nurse - 2022

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.