What happens if the umbilical cord only has one artery?
If your umbilical cord only has one artery, it increases your risk for fetal anomalies. Single umbilical artery risks. Single artery umbilical cord problems only happen in around 1% of pregnancies, although the risk increases to 5% for twin pregnancies. A lack of one vessel is called a two-vessel cord.
What happens if my baby’s umbilical cord has one artery instead of two?
There are many babies that have a single umbilical artery that have healthy pregnancies and deliveries. However, some babies with a single artery are at increased risk for birth defects. Examples of birth defects that babies with a two-vessel diagnosis may have include: heart problems.
Is single umbilical artery normal?
A single umbilical artery is a rare phenomenon. In one study of nearly 35,000 infants, examination of the placenta showed that only 112 (0.32%) had a single umbilical artery. In a recent study, a single umbilical artery was detected in 2% of fetuses.
Is SUA genetic?
It has been suggested that genetic and persisting environmental factors influence the development of SUA, since a possible increased risk has been seen in siblings and twins4, and maternal risk factors, such as hypertension and smoking, have been identified2, 5.
Is SUA a birth defect?
A single umbilical artery (SUA) is a malformation of the umbilical cord where only one artery instead of two is present. It may be associated with other birth defects. The pathogenesis of an SUA is thought to be secondary to vessel atrophy of a previously normal cord in the mid trimester.
What to do if your baby has a single umbilical artery?
When the low-speed ultrasound findings indicate the possibility of SUA, a high-speed ultrasound will be done. If the baby is diagnosed to have a single umbilical artery or other abnormalities, an amniocentesis, where the foetus is tested for congenital abnormalities using a sample of amniotic fluid, is done.
Are there two arteries and one vein in the umbilical cord?
The umbilical cord usually contains two arteries and one vein. The vein carries the oxygenated blood from the placenta to the fetus. The arteries carry the deoxygenated blood and the waste products from the fetus to the placenta. Occasionally, primary agenesis or secondary atrophy of one of the arteries occurs resulting in single umbilical artery.
What happens if one umbilical artery is missing?
In these cases, one artery is missing (2). The cause of this abnormality, called single umbilical artery, is unknown. Studies suggest that babies with single umbilical artery have an increased risk for birth defects, including heart, central nervous system and urinary-tract defects and chromosomal abnormalities (2,…
Are there any abnormalities in the umbilical cord?
However, sometimes, there are abnormalities in the umbilical cord. They can be shorter than the normal or longer, and at times, there could be a two-vessel umbilical cord instead of a normal one.