My story - We suspected an SUA, even though the OB and Midwifes refused to tell us. The reason we suspected is I was watching the tech and noted the 2V CI and then the mention of 2 vessel cord present in her notes she typed up. Our care providers totally failed to tell us and monitor the pregnancy closely because of this. I had one additional US, 4 weeks later under the guise of checking the hand they could not see. We asked 3 different times about everything being ok, when all three times the answer was yes, we figured the OB saw something different on the two US's we had done.<br><br>
I had my 1st US at 31 wks. Baby was measuring 33 w 4 d. My follow up US was at 35 w. Baby was measuring 35 w 2 d. That was the only monitoring my care providers offered/provided. Even when she was breach for the last 3+ weeks of my pregnancy, they refused to do anything, saying they would handle it in L&D.<br><br>
At birth, we had some of the many common problems that are associated with SUA's....she was by far the smallest of my two children (DS1 was 9 pounds 2 ounces; DS2 was 10 pounds; DD1 was 7 pounds 6 ounces). There was virtually no amniotic fluid left when I know my water never broke or leaked out. She was also born silently, which is one of the potential complications of an SUA.<br><br>
My advice is to advocate for yourself and research the potential complications and effects. I know another lady whose baby had this and was born with heart problems. I wouldn't take the SUA lightly, and I would read the research even though it is scary, because at least you will know what could happen and do whatever is in your power to prevent it. I was petrified when I researched SUAs about the very real possibility of stillbirth or very early death after birth --- but I also had people re-assure me everything would be fine.<br><br>
Had we ben told that we had an SUA, we would have demanded more monitoring towards the end in the form of NST's; We would have demanded that they turn my daughter through external version instead of allowing them to just push off the fact she was breach. We would have done so many things different. It is sometimes recommended that these babies be born at or before you hit 40 weeks.<br><br>
The autopsy could not make a definate ruling as to the cause of death, but the SUA was confirmed in pathology. They put the cause of death was probably a "True Knot" in the Cord, but they could not confirm it.<br><br>
I guess I am the one person who is going to tell you to research, read what you know, and be prepared....if you don't feel things are right with your pregnancy advocate for yourself in it with this condition, because there are some really serious and multiple complications, including death, that can result from it.<br><br>
We lost our daugther to stillbirth at 40 weeks 2 days on Oct. 12, 2006. That is a day in my life I will never forget for as long as I live.<br><br>
Our providers may narrowly escape a lawsuit because the proof is so tenious, but in my heart I don't think I can ever forgive them for misleading us and not giving us the opportunity to make informed decisions that could have prevented our child's loss.
