Hi - I am 21 weeks pregnant and at my 20 week ultrasound, I was told the umbilical cord appears to only have 1 artery instead of 2. We are going in for a Level II ultrasound this week to look closer and see if there are any other abnormalities. Has anyone else been diagnosed with this? If so, were there complications?
Thanks so much.
One of my twins (now three years old) had this as well and everything is just fine. The pediatrician had her go in for a heart x-ray when she was around two months old, just to be sure everything was fine and it was.
My oldest son was diagnosed with brain damage from the ultrasounds I had with him...when he was born he was perfectly fine and is on the dean's list in college now. You can't always trust ultrasounds, I'd wait till you have the level 2 ultrasound to worry about anything...and they should see any other problems with a level 2 ultrasound anyway. From what I understand this is a common occurance.
Hi - I am the one that posted recently about having 2 vessels in the cord instead of 3, or in other words, a single umbilical artery. I had about 20 awesome moms post back to me that they had either been through the same thing, or knew someone who had the same thing, and in every case, all was well with the baby. I even had an ultrasound tech post and tell me that she sees these fairly often, and 9 times out of 10, there is nothing to worry about. I'm also now 21 weeks, and I will have another scan at 28 weeks to check her growth. For your baby, once they can get clear pictures of the baby's heart and kidneys and determine that everything is fine there (which it probably is), then they will just continue to monitor the baby's growth closely until birth. Try not to worry, eat healthy, take it easy, and you and baby will be fine. :)
S.,
My daughter had 1 artery as well and although she was small (5lbs 4oz.) she was perfectly healthy.
Good luck,
C.
Hi S.,
I just had that with my last pregnancy, and I delivered a healthy little boy 7 1/2 weeks ago. The only thing that was different was I had to go for two extra ultrasounds through the pregnancy to check to make sure he was growing at a normal rate...and I also started getting non-stress tests at about 34 weeks to monitor his movements. When I was told I had a single umbilical artery, I was a wreck and so worried. My doctor said all the babies that he delivered with people that had single umbilical arteries were healthy babies. My cousin had this with her first too and she had a healthy little boy too. Although I think technology is great, I also think it causes more worry than we need sometimes. Try not to worry, although I know that's easier said than done!
There's another thread on this from 2/14 (I think it's called "Two Vessel Cord" or something similar. As everyone said then- this is fairly common and I think you are showing that by posting the same question so soon. Good luck to you.
Hi S.-
I had the same thing with my now 14 month old son. I was terrified when they initially told me the news. The doctors actually said this is not as unusual as you would think. My son came a week early and is perfectly healthy and normal. My best friend also had this same problem and her son is healthy as well. You will most likely have to be monitored closer towards the end of your pregnancy, IE:I had to go in for weekly stress tests starting at week 34 or 35. I'm sure your baby is fine!!! Do not let this ruin your pregnancy. Healthy babies are delivered all the time in this situation. Smile.....you're having a baby!!! :-)
