ABSTRACT
The term "great obstetrical syndromes" was originally applied to pregnancy-related disorders such as preterm labor, preterm premature rupture of membranes, preeclampsia, spontaneous pregnancy loss, stillbirth, and abnormally delayed or accelerated fetal growth. The placenta interfaces the maternal and fetal compartments, and in the first trimester, placenta-mediated maternal adaptations ensure preferential nutritional supply to the placenta and fetus. The placenta has many roles. Other than being a selective barrier between the maternal and fetal circulations that is capable of controlling nutrient and gas exchange, it also has immune and endocrine functions. The term gestational diabetes mellitus encompasses all women first discovered in pregnancy and accordingly by itself does not distinguish between diabetes exclusively precipitated by pregnancy from preexisting type 2 diabetes incidentally discovered during pregnancy. Microscopically, a number of lesions have been found in increased frequency in placentas of diabetic women compared to controls.
