The role of the placenta in pregnancy is crucial for the health of both the mother and the child. While routine medical checks monitor the overall health of the mother and baby, the placenta often gets overlooked after the 20-week ultrasound. However, researcher Pascalle Wijntjes has spent the last four years studying the placenta to understand its potential as an early indicator of common pregnancy complications.
Wijntjes and her team have been studying the placenta by examining donated placentas from willing women. Through advanced imaging techniques like contrast-enhanced ultrasound and ultrasound localization microscopy, they have been able to map the intricate vascular system of the placenta. By injecting microscopic bubbles into blood vessels, they can study details such as vessel angles and diameters, creating a detailed mathematical model of the placenta.
One of the key goals of Wijntjes’ research is to develop a hybrid model that combines clinical data and physiological insights with the mathematical model. This will allow for a more realistic and reliable assessment of a woman’s risk of complications during pregnancy. By simulating abnormalities in the placenta, such as those seen in conditions like preeclampsia, the team hopes to further refine their model and improve its predictive capabilities.
In addition to her research, Wijntjes has also mapped the growth of the placenta during pregnancy based on extensive literature reviews. She notes the personal connection she felt to her research when she became pregnant with her daughter during her Ph.D. studies. Despite the temptation to use her own placenta for research, she chose to keep her work and personal life separate.
Overall, Wijntjes’ research sheds light on the importance of understanding the placenta’s role and functioning in pregnancy. By developing a comprehensive model that integrates clinical data and physiological insights, her work paves the way for better risk assessment and management of pregnancy complications.
