Normal placental function and fetoplacental blood circulation in advanced abdominal pregnancy.

Normal levels of unconjugated estriol and human placental lactogen hormone in the maternal serum and a normal, reactive pattern of non-stress test cardiotocography were recorded in a case of advanced abdominal pregnancy with surviving newborn. The placenta was inserted at the base and side walls of fossa Douglas. Fetal, umbilical and retroplacental arterial Doppler ultrasound examinations revealed normal velocity waveforms. These findings indicated that the trophoblast invasion to the retroplacental arteries also occurs when the placenta has an extra-uterine insertion, and this can result in a normal placental blood supply and function.