Hey, my sister is due in dec. she has had @ least 6 ultrasounds & has been seen @ ruby memorial in morgantown because her baby's cord has only 2 vessels instead of three. her dr. up here (cumberland) told her the ONLY danger from this is a low birth weight baby. she is not due till dec. 13 & maddox's estimated weight is 4 lbs 4oz. (not low to me.) so, like a dummy, i looked it up on the 'net & have frightened myself. read this:
The umbilical cord normally contains 2 arteries and a single vein. Occasionally, cords have an absence of one umbilical artery, with the left artery absent more commonly than the right. Single umbilical arteries are associated more commonly with fetal anomalies than normal cords.
Of infants with a single umbilical artery, 20-50% have associated fetal anomalies, including cleft lip, cardiovascular abnormalities (especially ventricular septal defects and conotruncal defects), ventral wall defects, central nervous system defects, esophageal atresia, spina bifida, diaphragmatic hernia, cystic hygroma, hydronephrosis, dysplastic kidneys, polydactyly, syndactyly, and marginal and velamentous insertion of the cord.
With single umbilical arteries, a 20% perinatal mortality rate exists. Two thirds of deaths occur before birth. Of the one third of neonates who die postnatally, most have associated congenital abnormalities. Many of those without overt abnormalities are premature or have intrauterine growth retardation.
Prenatal diagnosis of a single umbilical artery should prompt examination for other anomalies. Echocardiograms may be considered because heart defects are common.
Thirty percent have congenital anomalies, which may include trisomy 13, trisomy 18, and triploidy; trisomy 21 is uncommon.
here is a link to the rest.
but if it is no big deal why are they checking up on it so much? has anyone had this? it's probably nothing but it scared me to see all the possibilities laid out like that.
reassure me please!
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The umbilical cord normally contains 2 arteries and a single vein. Occasionally, cords have an absence of one umbilical artery, with the left artery absent more commonly than the right. Single umbilical arteries are associated more commonly with fetal anomalies than normal cords.
Of infants with a single umbilical artery, 20-50% have associated fetal anomalies, including cleft lip, cardiovascular abnormalities (especially ventricular septal defects and conotruncal defects), ventral wall defects, central nervous system defects, esophageal atresia, spina bifida, diaphragmatic hernia, cystic hygroma, hydronephrosis, dysplastic kidneys, polydactyly, syndactyly, and marginal and velamentous insertion of the cord.
With single umbilical arteries, a 20% perinatal mortality rate exists. Two thirds of deaths occur before birth. Of the one third of neonates who die postnatally, most have associated congenital abnormalities. Many of those without overt abnormalities are premature or have intrauterine growth retardation.
Prenatal diagnosis of a single umbilical artery should prompt examination for other anomalies. Echocardiograms may be considered because heart defects are common.
Thirty percent have congenital anomalies, which may include trisomy 13, trisomy 18, and triploidy; trisomy 21 is uncommon.
here is a link to the rest.
but if it is no big deal why are they checking up on it so much? has anyone had this? it's probably nothing but it scared me to see all the possibilities laid out like that.
reassure me please!
