Placental morphology findings in SARS-CoV-2 infection are considered nonspecific, although the role of trimester and severity of infection are underreported. Therefore, we aimed to investigate abnormal placental morphology, according to these two criteria. This is an ancillary analysis of a prospective cohort study of pregnant women with suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection, managed in one maternity, from March 2020 to October 2021. Charting of clinical/obstetric history, trimester and severity of COVID-19 infection, and maternal/perinatal outcomes were done. Placental morphological findings were classified into maternal and fetal circulatory injury and acute/chronic inflammation. We further compared findings with women with suspected disease which tested negative for COVID-19. Diseases’ trimester of infection and clinical severity guided the analysis of confirmed COVID-19 cases. Ninety-one placental discs from 85 women were eligible as a COVID-19 group, and 42 discs from 41 women in negative COVID-19 group. SARS-CoV-2 infection occurred in 68.2% during third trimester, and 6.6% during first; 16.5% were asymptomatic, 61.5% non-severe and 22.0% severe symptomatic (two maternal deaths). Preterm birth occurred in 33.0% (one fetal death). Global maternal vascular malperfusion (MVM) were significant in COVID-19 group whether compared with negative COVID-19 tests group; however, fetal vascular malperfusion lesions and low-grade chronic villitis were not. Three placentas had COVID-19 placentitis. Decidual arteriopathy was associated with infection in first/mid trimester, and chorangiosis in asymptomatic infections. Placental abnormalities after an infection by COVID-19 were more frequent after first/mid-trimester infections. Extensive placental lesions are rare, although they may be more common upon underlying medical conditions. •Placental morphological findings of SARS-CoV-2 infection are mostly considered nonspecific.•Placental abnormal morphological findings can occur post COVID-19 infection at any moment during pregnancy.•Placental abnormal morphological findings were more common in early infections, and extensive lesion is rare.•Extensive lesion may be more common in women with underlying medical conditions.