Association of Placental Thickness with Birth Weight and Other Neonatal Anthropometries: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Placental growth is concordant with fetal growth and any impairment would negatively impact fetal development and subsequent birthweight that is vital for newborn survival.

Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between placenta thickness and birth weight.

Patients and methods: This prospective cohort study carried out at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu, Nigeria, involved 80 consecutive pregnant women with thick placenta (>4 cm) and another 80 in the control group with normal placenta thickness (2.5-4 cm) and matched for parity and maternal weight between 38 and 40 weeks of gestation. Both groups were followed up until delivery and the neonatal parameters were measured. Data analysis was descriptive and inferential at 95% confidence levels using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software version 20.

Results: The mean placental thickness at recruitment were 5.3 ± 0.7 cm and 3.7 ± 0.2 cm among the study and control groups, respectively. The study group had significantly higher birthweight, head circumference, and crown-heel length compared to the control group (P < .05). There was a positive linear correlation between placental thickness and birth weight, head circumference, and crown-heel length.

Conclusion: This study demonstrated that sonographic measurement of placental thickness antenatally is a reliable predictor of birth weight and other neonatal anthropometric parameters.