Should I worry about SUA?

A baby with an SUA has a slightly increased risk of having kidney problems. But as long as your baby’s kidneys appear to be working fine, your sonographer won’t be concerned. Nearly all babies with a single artery are perfectly healthy, and your baby won’t need a kidney scan after he’s born.

Why does single umbilical artery occur?

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 can you do for one umbilical artery?

There is no treatment for a single umbilical artery. Your doctor or midwife will watch how your baby develops before and after birth. If other problems are found, your doctor or midwife will talk to you about treatment.

Is Sua high risk?

Isolated single umbilical artery is associated with increased risk of adverse perinatal outcome and third stage of labor complications, and there is a risk of recurrence. This population study found that isolated single umbilical artery justifies follow up of fetal wellbeing and labor surveillance.

What does single umbilical artery mean for a baby?

Single Umbilical Artery. Single umbilical artery (SUA) is the most common malformation of the umbilical cord. On its own, SUA does not necessarily pose a risk to you or your child as an umbilical cord with just one artery is sufficient to support a pregnancy to term. However, SUA does increase your child’s risk for certain birth defects.

What are the risks of having one umbilical artery?

On its own, SUA does not necessarily pose a risk to you or your child as an umbilical cord with just one artery is sufficient to support a pregnancy to term. However, SUA does increase your child’s risk for certain birth defects.

Is the umbilical cord a hypocoiled artery?

The increased diameter of the single umbilical artery (SUA) is most apparent on cross-sectional views. Gross image and longitudinal US of an umbilical cord with a SUA show a hypocoiled cord. The UA coils around a relatively straight UV . This finding is common with SUA.

How many blood vessels are in the umbilical cord?

Usually there are three blood vessels in the umbilical cord: one vein (which carries oxygen and nutrients from mom to baby) and two arteries (which move fetal waste from the baby to mom). Sometimes there are only two blood vessels, one vein and one artery, instead of the usual three.