Grading of the placenta can be done by ultrasound and by looking and how much calcifications there are in the placenta. A grade 3 placenta, for example, is normal at 40 weeks. But if too many calcifications are seen early in pregnancy, it can indicate that the placenta is aging too rapidly. This can happen in high blood pressure and diabetes, for example. If the placenta is found to have advanced calcifications early in pregnancy, the baby will be evaluated for growth at intervals to be sure he is getting the nutrients that he needs. In addition, the amniotic fluid level is checked frequently to make sure there is enough of it, because decreased fluid could mean the placenta is not providing enough nutrients to the fetus.
