1. Monitoring Fetal Growth
Placental insufficiency can lead to poor fetal growth, so your doctor will want to monitor your baby carefully to make sure all is well inside. Doctors use multiple tests to monitor fetal growth and look at varied aspects of your baby's health, and studies have shown that a combination of monitoring techniques is the best way to improve outcomes.
The ultrasound is the monitoring tool with which you are probably most familiar. Most women will have an ultrasound at least once during the pregnancy. Ultrasounds allow healthcare providers to take a closer look at your baby's organs, check for abnormalities, date a pregnancy and monitor your baby's growth and development. Multiple ultrasounds can allow your doctor to evaluate your baby's rate of growth. A small baby is not necessarily cause for concern. However, when a baby is growing poorly or the rate of growth slows down, early delivery may be required.
Doctors also use something called a Doppler scan. This is a type of ultrasound designed to measure blood flow. A Doppler can trace the blood flow from your placenta to your baby. Poor blood flow can indicate that your baby is not getting enough food and oxygen and may be cause for intervention. A biophysical profile is another way of measuring your baby's well being. It is generally done during the last trimester of pregnancy and is used to evaluate your baby's heart rate, muscle tone, movement, breathing and amniotic fluid levels. A non-stress test is usually done at the same time as the biophysical profile. It is an external way of measuring your baby's heart rate.
2. The Question of Bed Rest
Your doctor may recommend that you be put on bed rest as a way of managing the placental insufficiency. Bed rest is commonly prescribed for women with high-risk pregnancies, partly because it can help improve blood flow to the placenta. However, studies have shown that long-term bed rest does not necessarily improve pregnancy outcomes and can actually put you at risk for other health problems. Long periods of immobility raise the risk of developing blood clots. Bed rest can also interfere with your ability to work and makes daily living more challenging. For this reason, some doctors are more in favor of short periods of rest during the day. A couple of hours of napping or lying on your side can help improve blood flow to the placenta, without the negative consequences of bed rest. Your doctor will make a decision about what is best for you, based on your individual condition.
3. Optimal Health During Pregnancy
Taking care of yourself during pregnancy is one way you can help improve your baby's growth and development. Avoiding the use of substances like tobacco, alcohol and drugs is important. Tobacco can temporarily interfere with placental blood flow, so smoking should be avoided entirely during pregnancy. Optimal nutrition is needed to provide your baby with all the nutrients he requires during this important period of growth, so pregnancy is not the time to start dieting. It is also important to get proper treatment for any pre-existing health conditions. Diabetes, for instance, can interfere with your baby's growth if left untreated.
