Feedback on Single Umbilical Artery (SUA)

lilchino4af

During our 20-week ultrasound (and based on feedback from the tech/dr), there didn't seem to be any issues/reason to worry (baby was exactly where she should be at 20 weeks growth wise, organs, spine, etc. that they were looking at looked good). However, at our 20-week appt with the midwife the following week to discuss the results, among other things for this milestone, we were told the report noted an abnormality in the ultrasound: what should be a 3-vessel umbilical cord is only a 2. In other words, (besides the blood vessel that delivers nutrients to the baby), instead of the 2 arteries that carry waste away from the baby, there's only 1 (known as a single umbilical artery or SUA). This happens in .5-1% of pregnancies. Because the kidney and heart ultrasound pics looked normal, we look to fall in the 75% of the 1% that result in normal births with no issues. But my midwife is not taking any chances and is working on the side of caution: I'm being referred to another hospital in town with a specialty clinic every couple weeks to have additional detailed ultrasounds & fetal echocardiograms and around 34 weeks I'll go twice a week fetal monitoring. All of this is to make sure the heart and kidneys are still ok, baby's growth stays on track, and keep watch for any other issues/defects that could arise because of the SUA. Also, because of the potential of higher risk for complications (to include potential stillbirth) after 39 weeks should things not stay normal, they will induce early.

Anyone else personally experience this or know of someone who has? I've done some research on it and from what I can tell the gist of the message is "as long as everything else is normal, there's nothing to worry about." Still doesn't stop me from constantly thinking worse-case scenario every time I do/don't feel something "right" now throughout the rest of my 18 weeks Help!

Ninkyou

My now 6 year old daughter had SUA. She was born 100% perfect. They basically put you in high risk and refer you to Maternal Fetal Medicne, etc to monitor growth and such to make sure baby is growing properly, since IUGR can happen and such. But really, more often then not, SUA babies are born perfectly fine.

I was induced 8 days early with my daughter, after she failed her last BPP (Biophysical Profile). They sent me to L&D for a Non-stress test, which she passed. She was just being lazy I guess. But at that point my OB just said it would be better to have her out than in, just in case. So I was induced the next morning.

She was born 6 lbs 7 oz. She did have a little jaundice, but that can happen with any baby.

I was concerned about the SUA with this baby, but MFM told me that, SUA is NOT genetic, but it does run in families. So someone in your family may have had it, but since medical stuff like that wasn't tracked before, they might not have even known. I know *I* personally am also a SUA baby.

I'm high risk again this pregnancy, but for a completely different thing... but the effects can be exactly the same as SUA, lol.

Try not to worry about the SUA. My OB said that it's actually pretty common, and she'd seen it alot. Just enjoy the extra ultrasounds you'll be getting