I just had a US that showed only 1 umbilical artery (usually there are two). I'm full term BTW and will be induced next week. At my 20 week ultrasound I did have the normal 2 arteries. My perinatologist says it is rare but it does happen for something to happen to one of the arteries. He did go back and recheck the previous US to make sure there was not a mistake with the first reading. I have tried finding info on this online but have not come across anything about initially having two arteries but now only one. If someone has been through this before or knows a website that can give me some basic info I would appreciate it. Baby does look good, is a good chunky size, and has not had any other issues. I just want to do some more reading. I have found plenty of information on single arteries from the start but nothing on going from 2 to 1.
Both arteries and one vein was present at delivery.
I had this but from 3 months. You have NOTHING to worry about. Your baby is healthy and normal! Trust me, do not google this or try to find info. You are in the clear. My little guy is seriously the smartest one from all my kids and he was the one we were really worried about due to this issue!
I had single umbilical artery with my daughter, now 5. She is totally normal. After I delivered, the obgyn looked at the umbilical cord and said that there was actually 2, but one was not being used. The working one was actually enlarged to compensate. Don't worry about it. Reading about it may make you worry more. It did for me, anyway. I was induced 3 weeks early because baby was measuring big and the doc was concerned about her getting enough nutrients and oxygen.
why are you getting induced? If baby looks good then let him cook for as long as he needs to. Anyway, sorry about that, here is some info on your question.
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, and you are already there so that's in itself good news!
During a normal single pregnancy, the umbilical cord will contain three blood vessels: two arteries and one vein. One umbilical artery is all that is needed to handle blood flow to the placenta, so the other artery is functionally redundant.
Sometimes (between 1 and 5% ) an umbilical cord may contain only two vessels, one artery and one vein. This condition is called "Single Umbilical Artery." This is the most common umbilical malformation. The cause of this abnormality is unknown. If an ultrasound examination shows that the baby appears to have no other abnormalities, the baby is likely to be born healthy.
Some studies have suggested that as many as 25% of babies with single umbilical artery may have chromosomal or other abnormalities. Which means 75% do not.
While Single Umbilical Artery may not in itself cause other abnormalities, it can be a flag that other abnormalities once the baby is born stress free tests will be done. The most common side effect of induction is stress to the baby's heart beat which can lead to more interventions. Ask your doctor if it is ok to wait a little longer and see if you can go into labor on your own. Best you can do is relax and trust that all will be well.
the more you look the more worried you will be. i'd say you only have a week so pary and hope or the best i googled it and
http://pediatricperinatalpathology.com/id6.html
the only actual evidence it seems is that its linked to UTI's in utero if i read correctly..but i J. skimmed
Anatomically, an artery doesn't just disappear. There are still either two and the u/s was ready wrong or there was always one and it was read wrong. Either way, someone made a mistake.
My SIL had only one umbilical artery with a bifurcated uterus and had a homebirth. All was fine.
I found this: "Single umbilical artery (SUA) is the most common malformation of the umbilical cord... Occasionally, one artery wastes away or fails to develop leaving only a single umbilical artery (a two vessel umbilical cord)... Precisely why this occurs is not entirely known. It is suspected, though, that one artery may simply stop growing as it develops or perhaps that the primordial umbilical artery does not divide properly... A SUA is seen in 0.2% to 1% of pregnancies... 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... recent studies have shown that babies with isolated SUA do not appear to be at any greater risk for poor growth..."
Do not be surprised if additional tests are ordered as a precautionary measure, it does NOT mean something is wrong, it just means they want to make sure that nothing IS wrong. "SUA does increase your child's risk for certain birth defects... Anywhere from half to two-thirds of babies born with single artery umbilical cord are born healthy and with no chromosomal or congenital abnormalities. Of the remaining babies with SUA, some studies suggest that about 25 percent have birth defects..."
I would say that the fact you are full-term and the baby is a healthy weight and showing no other problems is a good sign that the baby will be fine.
Good luck and God bless!
Really, I think the problem that you would see with only one artery is a failure to grow due to lack of nutrients. If he is a good size, he should be perfectly healthy.
