Updating reference values for placental weights in Northern Alberta.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to establish normal parameters for placental weights and fetal/placental weight ratios.


METHODS
Placentas (2402) from uncomplicated singleton deliveries at the Royal Alexandra Hospital (Edmonton, Alberta) were collected from 1997 to 1998 and weighed after fixation. The nonparametric Mann-Whitney test was applied.


RESULTS
New reference values were developed for fixed placental weights. Placentas at the 90th percentile were 50 to 100 g heavier than previously reported. Fetal/placental weight ratios at term were similar to published values.


CONCLUSIONS
The new placental weight reference values from our institution represent a recent and local population. New values may partly reflect parallel increases in term birth weights.
Dy
Colleen L
CL
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.colleen_dy@hotmail.com
Chari
Radha S
RS
Russell
Laurie J
LJ
D000416:Alberta; D001724:Birth Weight; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D020567:Fetal Weight; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009929:Organ Size; D010920:Placenta / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D012016:Reference Values; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric