What does a two-vessel cord indicate?

What does a two-vessel cord indicate?

Most babies’ umbilical cords have three blood vessels: one vein, which brings nutrients from the placenta to baby, and two arteries that bring waste back to the placenta. But a two-vessel cord has just one vein and one artery — that’s why the condition is also referred to as having a single umbilical artery.

Should I worry about SUA?

Having only one artery in the umbilical cord, called a single umbilical artery (SUA), shouldn’t affect their health. Usually, an umbilical cord has two arteries, along with a single vein, making a total of three vessels. The vein carries oxygen and nutrients to your baby, and the arteries remove waste products.

Is SUA considered high risk pregnancy?

Pregnancy complications: Another concern with SUA is a possible chance for problems later in pregnancy, like slow fetal growth, preterm delivery, or stillbirth. However, not all studies agree that there is a higher risk for pregnancy complications. Your OB provider will routinely monitor the growth of the baby.

What is 3 vessel cord in ultrasound?

A normal umbilical cord has two arteries and one vein. This is known as a three-vessel cord. It is covered by a thick gelatinous substance known as Wharton’s Jelly. The vein brings in oxygen and nutrients to the baby from the mother.

What is a SUA baby?

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.

What Causes 2 vessel cord in pregnancy?

Doctors don’t know exactly what causes a two-vessel cord to develop. One theory is that an artery doesn’t grow properly in the womb. Another is that the artery doesn’t divide in two as it normally would. Some women are more likely to have a two-vessel cord than others.

Can you see Down Syndrome on 20 week ultrasound?

A Detailed Anomaly Scan done at 20 weeks can only detect 50% of Down Syndrome cases. First Trimester Screening, using bloods and Nuchal Translucency measurement, done between 10-14 weeks, can detect 94% of cases and Non-invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) from 9 weeks can detect 99% of Down Syndrome cases.

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