Placental Function and Adaptations to Exercise

The Placenta is an organ that develops during pregnancy, it functions to maintain the transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the mother and the baby. It basically serves as the baby's lung. It is highly vascularized; small blood vessels carrying the baby's blood run through the placenta which is full of the mother's blood. Nutrients and oxygen from the mother's blood and transferred to the baby's blood, and waste products (including CO2) are transferred from the baby's blood to the mother's blood so that her body can get rid of it. Although not relevant to the discussion of exercise, it is important to note that the mother and the baby's blood never actually mix, the baby has it's own blood separate and individually unique from the mother