Harvey Kleiman

Mom, of course, doesn't want to die. She doesn't want the fetus to take all her nutrients. But if she is successful and wins the battle, if you will, the placenta is too small, the fetus is too small, and the pregnancy may not survive.

Good guess.

Good guess.

Good guess.

All right, are we ready for the moment?

All right, are we ready for the moment?

All right, are we ready for the moment?

And this is the placenta, which is in the standard Ziploc bag. That's what it's in right now.

And this is the placenta, which is in the standard Ziploc bag. That's what it's in right now.

And this is the placenta, which is in the standard Ziploc bag. That's what it's in right now.

It's kind of bloody, isn't it?

It's kind of bloody, isn't it?

It's kind of bloody, isn't it?

And so I'm going to open the Ziploc bag.

And so I'm going to open the Ziploc bag.

And so I'm going to open the Ziploc bag.

Like a normal term placenta is about 550 grams, which is just about a pound. It's about eight to nine inches in diameter.

Like a normal term placenta is about 550 grams, which is just about a pound. It's about eight to nine inches in diameter.

Like a normal term placenta is about 550 grams, which is just about a pound. It's about eight to nine inches in diameter.

I think this is another miracle. So the baby goes first and... The uterus is elastic and has muscle, so it contracts down. And it's that contracting down that actually shears the placenta off, the lining of the uterus, and the placenta gets delivered. And then... All those blood vessels that have been supplying blood to the placenta for all those weeks and months have to close down.