The remaining chromosomes have been counted and in spite of my extremely advanced maternal age (38 on Tuesday, Happy Birthday to me), everything is in pairs, like how they’re supposed to be.
Oh, and there’s no toxoplasmosis virus in the fluid either.
But the two-vessel umbilical cord thing is more of an issue than first reported.
While the purported tenuous link to Down’s and other birth defects was not borne out by the amnio test results, there are now other issues we have to not worry about.
What? Me? Worry? Never.
Apparently the two-not-three-vessel cord is also linked to a “very slight” risk of growth issues and stillbirth.
My OB wants us to have extra ultrasounds to monitor the baby’s growth, and then starting at 32 weeks, she wants me to come to the hospital weekly (or was it biweekly?) for “antepartum testing” which includes fetal heart monitoring, and I’m not sure what else. The main concern is that with only two tubes connected to it, the placenta may not be doing its job.
Oh, you know, they’d probably have me monitored like that anyway because I’m SO OLD, she said (but maybe in nicer words).
“You are old!” said my mother.
“I’m not THAT old!” I argued back. Anyway, 38 means a lot of different things in a lot of different bodies.
My friend R., the nurse practitioner, said “Doctors really don’t know everything.”
Several friends have asked me what would be done if the doctor decided the baby wasn’t growing properly. I’ll have to ask that question at my next OB appointment on Monday.
“Don’t worry,” my father said.
I’m trying not to. But so far, I’ve only had about one week of not worrying out of the last 18.
First there was the first-trimester-you-don’t-know-you-might-lose-the-baby so-don’t-tell-anyone-you’re-pregnant worry.
Next came the crazy toxoplasmosis scare and then the amnio. It was only the week between getting the good news from the FISH results, and the bad news about my defective cord (bad mama, can’t nourish your baby properly), that I actually got to get groovy with the growing baby, angst-free. Oh, except for the part where I had to get over it being a boy and not a girl.
This is why people who don’t even know me frequently suggest I have a drink, learn to golf, meditate.
The good news is that I actually already meditate twice a day. Imagine how much worse I would be without that!
Then again, I’m Jewish. It’s my heritage to worry.
I think the Kinsey Sicks express this sentiment better than I could in their song “Worry.” (I tried to find a track or video to link to on the Internet, but none exist, probably due to the fact that it’s a reworking of Bobby McFerrin’s famous 1980s feel-good hit. So you’ll just have to buy the CD, which you should do anyway, because you haven’t lived until you’ve heard their rendition of the “Macaroona.”)
Oh man, i should have bookmarked this site and read up BEFORE I saw you last night at your birthday dinner. (Happy birthday again, BTW. What a lovely dinner party we had). I’m glad to get the info. Don’t panic is right.
I know how it is to live with the uncertainty. God bless you. I’m pulling for all three of you.
SO, I’m wondering….did everything turn out with your baby. I just found at at 18 weeks that I have a 2 vessel cord – not sure how to feel about it. Everything chromosomally is fine based on my amnio.
I, too, have just found out that I have a 2 vessel cord. I am petrified of the outcome now and have so many questions for my doctor. I am currently 21 weeks and had a nuchal translucency risk assessment at 12 weeks which screens for Downs and Trisomy 13/18 and that came back fine. I am very very interested in learning if your baby was healthy once it was born. Any info or advice you have a this point would be much appreciated!
Signed,
Worried and confused in Canada….Nancy
Dear Nancy,
I’ll tell you the same things I emailed Diana a few months back:
In my case, everything turned out fine.
The risks, as I understood it are low fetal weight and kidney or heart problems. I had all the tests, ultrasound to measure his weight and check his heart and kidneys at 26 weeks, and fetal non-stress tests from about 34 weeks on to make sure my amniotic fluid was okay, and his heart rate was fine, and to measure him — if they found that he’d stopped growing, I would have been induced.
He was good at all tests. Born small in the end, about 6 pounds 12 oz, but not abnormally small. (I was a small baby too.) Also, at the birth, the OB said my placenta was a little on the small side but I’m not sure if that was 2-vessel cord related. No kidney or heart issues either.
Genetic defects used to be considered linked to 2-vessel cords, BUT my ultrasound doc told me that this old research wasn’t accurate and in fact the medical establishment no longer considers it valid. I gather from your message that you’re worried about the genetics issue. As far as I know, 2-vessel cord or SUA as it’s also called, is NOT a risk factor for genetic disorders.
I worried a lot during my pregnancy too, but nothing bad happened. I would say, if you can, try not to think too much about it. The majority of 2-vessel babies have no problems, as far as I can tell from my research.
Good luck!
Those of you with the 2 vessel cord, please please please do several kick counts daily and require your doctor give you 2 non-stress tests weekly. I even recommend renting a personal fetal heartbeat doppler. My baby was stillborn at 37 weeks because the cord clotted and cut off his blood supply. He was perfect at 36 weeks and if I had been taking my kick counts seriously he may be here with us today. Not trying to scare anyone I just don’t want this to happen to anybody else.
Lisa:
Thank you SO MUCH for sharing your experience here. It is very important for moms with pregnancy risk factors to do the kick counting, yes. I am so sorry for your loss.
Many people find this blog post by googling “two vessel cord.” Your contribution here is absolutely appreciated.
After having quite a fright at my most recent prenatal exam (no heartbeat detected, no movement seen on a very old, dilapidated portable ultrasound scanner), UI have a scan done at a Maternal Fetal health clinic. Found out baby is, in fact, alive and very much kicking, but now the concern is a two-vessel cord.
I’m glad to have found this and all it’s comments. It helps ease the extreme fear that was building up inside me after reading all the OTHER websites regarding SUA. My Sonographer didn’t show too much concern about anything other than fetal growth, so maybe I ought to take a cue from him and relax a bit.
HA! Easier said than done.
My daughter had twins 3 weeks ago, a boy and girl. The girl had a two-vessel cord. She was 4 lbs. 7 oz, whereas the boy was 6 lbs. 13 oz. Both are doing fine — the little girl was in the NICU for an extra week because of her small size, but now is at home and gaining — she is 5 lb. 4 oz. now. Hope this encourages those who are expressing their worries over the cord.
Hello Everyone,
I totally agree with Lisa, everyone who knows they have the two vessels cord should pay great attention to the baby’s movements, or even rent an ultrasound monitor. I know that that is what I will do for my next pregnancy. On Sept. 10/08 I found out at a regular Dr’s Appt that my baby’s girl’s heart stopped beating, and the next day at almost 23 weeks I had to deliver my baby stillborn.
I remember that I could feel the baby moving the night before, unfortunately I didn’t know that my baby has only 2 vessels until the next day at the Dr’s office. I wish I could have done something to prevent it. When she was born, she was smaller then expected.
I don’t want to scare everyone, but I think it is better to know what risks you are facing (eventhough small), and to ensure that you are, and have done everything in your power to try and prevent this from happening to your baby. Better safe then sorry, trust me I know how guilty I feel, and I didn’t even know I had this problem.
Also had an amnio done earlier, and had no abnormalities shown, and that is why we are so shocked that this happened to us so suddently with no warning. Sorry if I scared some of you.
Best of luck to everyone, and we will try again to get pregnant.
My daughter Jane was born 4lbs 9oz after being diagnosed with a 2 vessel cord. My doctor assured me that this is a common thing to happen and not to worry. Although Jane is quite healthy, we experienced MANY delays and she is still working through them today. My advice is to keep a close eye on all their milestones and if they are not hitting them, get them evaluated and into early intervention as soon as you can. Jane is making lots of progress, but is far from normal. There were no tests that we could have done to catch this. I had an amnio, catscans, sonograms….blah blah blah. I have to tell you that I am glad I didn’t know in advance. She is the joy of my life and incredibly loving and delicious. Compared to my other “typical” kids, she is a ton of work, but an inspiration to my family. Good luck!
I am so scared. I am 38 weeks 2 days and found out today my boy has a 2 vessel cord. I guess the dr’s knew from 20 weeks, but didn’t tell me. The only reason I know now is because I had to go for an u/s last night because he was still measuring 36cm and had been for 3 weeks, and the u/s tech kept asking me if my 20 weeks u/s had been normal. I questioned the dr this morning and she said it must have been because he only has a 2 vessel cord. Now I am scared that something will happen to him in the next 2 weeks
Thanks to all of you who have shared your stories here, even the sad ones. My heart goes out to those of you who have lost your babies. May God give you His comfort.
My husband and I found out that we were expecting this spring. We were very surprised since our other two boys are 25 and 27! I didn’t find out I was pregnant for two months and thought it was menopause. I’m 51!
We found out at 20 wks that our little girl has a two vessel cord. We were told that if one thing is wrong, it’s more likely that she could have other problems. It took almost all the joy out of finding out we have a daughter. Three weeks later we were sent to a university medical center for a more detailed ultrasound with their more sophisticated equipment. The Lord gave us assurance from Mark 5:36.
They confirmed the two vessel cord diagnosis, but everything else looked good on the ultrasound. The two doctors we saw who specialize in high risk pregnancies were obviously freaked out about my age and my 51-year-old egg and pressured us about having amniosintesis, but we had already decided against it. We were then sent to a pediatric cardiologist who did an EKG which showed our baby has a healthy heart which makes it much less likely that there are any genetic problems. The cardiologist was very reassuring.
I’m going on 32 wks now. I’m much less worried about our baby ever since the second ultrasound and the EKG. She could still have problems, but I’m trying to focus on preparing for the delivery and am taking good care of myself, eating healthy foods and walking a lot. I can tell she is growing since I’m getting bigger by the day. I will pay more careful attention to her movements now after reading of the warnings posted here. We’re trusting God and praying for our baby’s health daily.
My story is … well, I guess it’s a comment on America’s healthcare business.
I was 40, and on Medicaid, and my doctor of 6 years treated me like a nuisance. I had had placenta previa with my son 2 years earlier, and then a d and c to get the pieces of placenta she left behind, but I had insurance that time. When I came in with my second pregnancy (after 5 miscarriages in 5 years) they gave me as minimal care as possible. It was awful, but since I felt so low already having had to file bankruptcy after a “friend” talked me into a bad land deal, I didn’t stand up for myself. She barely gave me one sonogram, and in my first pregnancy she gave me at least 6. But now, no-one was paying her the big bucks. All my risk factors, and no concern. The all-mighty dollar outweighed her duty.
Near the end of the pregnancy, I just knew something was wrong. Her office barely tolerated giving me two non-stress tests. Then I pointed out that my hands were swollen and I was seeing spots – after a 2-day peeing test they found I was pre-eclampsic and needed to have the baby right away (36 weeks). So she induced. Wrong thing to do with a two-vessel cord, but of course, they hadn’t bothered to find that out because sonograms are too expensive; let alone do a Level 2 (which I found out later is considered required by her practice for a woman of my age and history, but only if she’s also insured, apparently).
I ended up having an emergency C-section. The cord was wrapped around my daughter’s neck twice, and the placenta had grown into the uterun wall and clacified. If my baby’s heart hadn’t stopped over and over they would have continued the vaginal birth (cheaper) and I would have bled to death as my uterus was pulled out with the placenta.
My daughter spent a week in NICU. She had a form of spina bifida requiring reconstructive surgery on her spine at 2 years old. She has a neurogenic bladder that refluxes into both kidneys and they are scarred. She will need another surgery for that soon.
I DO mean to scare you. Be proactive. If you have any worries, you MAKE that doctor give you every test you want until you are reassured. My daughter never should have gone through an induced vaginal birth. She should have been monitored religiously and delivered via C-section as soon as she was viable outside of the uterus.
I am convinced she and I only lived through this because we have a pack of guardian angels watching over us. Starting with my mother.
Diana, Nancy, Shannon and Tara,
Please update us so we’ll know how you and your babies are doing.
Shawn,
It’s sad how much you’ve both have had to go through. I hope the next surgery goes well for your daughter. I would definitely have changed doctors if I felt I was not getting adequate care and was being neglected. The doctor I see has many medicaid patients and he is very caring regardless of their financial status.
I read one other place on the internet that two vessels babies should not be induced. Why is that? If the baby stops growing, isn’t that what they have to do? The hospital where I’m going usually induces labor and gives epidurals. I want to avoid both. Do you remember where you read that two vessel babies shouldn’t be induced? Any information would be much appreciated by you or anyone else reading this.
Thanks,
Susan
Hi, just found out at my 20 weeks ultrasound that i have 2 vessels umbilical cord instead of 3. It was good to read through this information after all the scary articles. I have another ultrasound in 4 weeks to check for growth. I will ask about non stress tests and will pay attention to kick counts. I’m due in March 2009. Wish me luck!
I am 31, and 36 weeks pregnant. i was diagnosed w/SUA very early on in my pregnancy. I have gone for high risk u/s…everything looks good, although they could not be 100% she wouldnt have down…we decided not to do the amnio. at the very begining of my pregnancy at 7 weeks, i went into the hospital for throwing up, and they did blood work my hcg levels were 230k…and they told me at that time, i either had multiples or the baby could possibly have down.
i freaked out. and then when the cord issue came up even more so.
i had my last high risk u/s today, i am continually getting them at my ob office weekly. but they upped my NST’s to 2x’s a week and they said she was measuring small…and i have a scheduled induction date 10 days from now. im so scared.
my cervix is already very soft and i am 1cm dialated, so he doesnt think i’ll have a problem w/being induced.
although the above stories scare me, as she is a lot less active now as well. my nst last friday was only to be 30 min long and i was there for 2 hours because they were not getting satisfied readings from her, but then said it all looked good and sent me home.
my high risk dr said i am not to go past 2-3 weeks from now that i have to be induced and i have to do my kick counts through out the day. i havent been doing that and need to research online about all this.
this is my 2nd baby…my first delivery was awesome i had her in 3 hours from being admitted to the hospital! i was already 5 cm when i had gotten there.
please keep us in your prayers, i am really worried about her.
Hi Hind,
I hope that things go well for you and for your baby. Check back in and let us know how you are both doing.
May God bless you and your little one.
Susan
Angel,
Sorry, I did not see your post when I wrote mine above. I will be praying for you and your baby and the safe and healthy delivery of your baby. Please keep us posted.
~Susan
im 27 years old and have a 2 vessal cord with my 5th child, all my children are vey healthy. I am now 39 weeks and didnt have alot of worrys untill reading these articals. I did wonder why they wanted to induce me at 40 weeks. All my scans have checked out to be fine my baby girl is very healthy in size, i will now be checking her movements regulary.
I’m now coming up to 40 weeks, my baby girl is still alive and well. im going to have a membrane sweep in 2 days and if that dont bring things on i’ll be going in to be induced on thursday 15th january. Anyone else who has a two vessal cord if no abnormalities are found in your scans then i wouldn’t worry too much because hundreds of babys with a two vessal cord are born perfecly healthy. I will write another message when my baby is here.
I was induced on 15th january my baby girl is perfect although the cord was wraped around her neck twice so she was not breathing and they had to do resus and it took a while to get her to breathe which was awful but thankfully she is fine.She weighed 8 pound 4. I have no worrys at all about her health, i know she is totally healthy like my other 4 children. I think that with two vessal cords when abnormalities are found its just coinsidence because babys are found with abnormalities without a two vessal cord all the time.
Karen,
Thank you so much for checking back in and congratulations on your healthy baby girl!
The lab tech at my 16-week ultrasound who first spotted my SUA said that the research linking two-vessel cords to birth defects was outdated and she no longer considered it an issue.
Sorry it took me so long to update. I’m now 33 weeks and my baby boy is doing great. In my last monthly growth ultrasound (yesterday) he weighed in at 5lbs 9oz, they said he growing very well. I also have weekly NSTs now and am due for a c-section on March 11th. This site has been wonderful in seeing all the positive outcomes. I’m still nervous but believe and have faith that he’s going to be just fine. Will post again soon or after birth.
I want to join the other ladies who lost their babies in saying that if your baby has a two vessel cord the please insist on extra scans and count those kicks. I was told I could have one extra scan at 34 weeks to check for growth. No other information was given to me and I was not told to count kicks etc, i have never heard of stress testing. Last week my baby’s heart stopped beating during the night at exactly 31 weeks (i had felt him moving the evening before)and he was finally born sleeping two days later after a long induction. I know that there is probably nothing I could have done but I wish i had insisted on more regular scans.
Do all you can to protect your baby – of all stillbirths 25% of them have 2 vessel cords – that is a lot.
Here is a very useful site about SUA: http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/SUA.html.
I have been a nicu nurse for 6 years and mostly all of the babies I worked with were very sick anyway, so when I was told at 21 weeks that suprise it’s a girl and there’s a two vessel cord, I thought only the worse. It was hard for me to be happy, because I am obsesive and crazy anyway when I’m preg given my work history. I have two heathy boys and I just turned 35, I’m thrilled about having a girl, now I’m just nervous. I did insist on an amnio that day the sonagram was done and now I’m 21 weeks and waiting anxiously for the results of that. I do feel a lot better reading about happy endings. Thank you to everyone for the positive comments posted. It’s a little easier to sleep for me now. Thanks again!
im pregnant with my 9th child,a little girl,at my 20 week scan it was found there is only a 2 vessel cord,as no other markers were seen no more is to be done,im expected to just carry on with my pregnancy and “enjoy it”,my other children i assume had 3 vessels to their cords…as nothing was ever said to the contrary…and all those children were born healthy and are still healthy!im really worried for this baby now ,im seeing my consultant at 28 weeks..as she wasnt available at my 20 week scan and am going to raise a few of my worries with her,i am in england and apparently their guidelines at the moment reguarding 2 cord vessels …is to do nothing(as my midwife has informed me),does anyone know what the guidelines are for elsewhere?any advise would be greatly appreiciated
Dear Sam,
Thanks for your comment.
I’m no expert. I can only speak from my own experience, and that shared by the women on this blog post. One of the comments above has a link to a midwifery site that may offer some advice.
At 20 weeks, there is not much to be done. The main things doctors monitor in the U.S. are growth — by doing another ultrasound, probably at your 28 week appointment (I had mine at 26 weeks, and again at 34 weeks), and more if they feel the growth is not progressing as desired; and movements — by your daily kick counts when you start feeling them, and by what’s called Non-stress Tests which involve putting monitor pads on your belly to check the baby’s heart rate for 20 minutes to make sure it goes up when you have a contraction (the little contractions we have throughout late pregnancy but often don’t feel). The NSTs usually start around 28 to 32 weeks and can be once or twice weekly.
Please be reassured that the majority of babies develop just fine with 2-vessel cords. Mine did.
Many times, 2-vessel cords are not even diagnosed/caught during pregnancies.
My advice, for what it’s worth, is to try to have a phone conversation at least with your OB or someone from the lab that did the scan sooner rather than waiting 8 weeks. Pregnancy is scary enough as it is. Get the information you need to feel calmer.
I am 20 weeks along and just recently had my big ultrasound and found out that I also have a 2-vessel cord. There are no other abnormalities that the ultrasound tech found, and my doctor doesn’t seem to be at all worried. She just said that we’ll have to do the non-stress tests after awhile at my appointments.
However that doesn’t mean I’m not a little bit scared! This is Baby #1 for my husband and I and we were a little alarmed after finding out out the 2-vessel cord.
Thanks to this blog/website though, I feel so much better. My doctor made me feel a little bit at ease; but it is definitely nice to hear some stories from you ladies who have been thru this! Thanks so much! You have put my mind a little bit at ease!!
God Bless!
Baby boy Alek was born on March 11th, weighing in at 8lbs 1 oz. Thank God, he was born completely healthy and normal. He is now 2 weeks old and thriving. I had monthly ultrasounds starting at 20 weeks and weekly NSTs starting at 28 weeks. To all of you women with 2 vessel cord babies, keep the faith, trust in God and do all the needed testing. Count your kicks daily. Thank you for this blog, it helped tremendously during my pregnancy. I am grateful daily that my story ended positive and I pray and wish the same for all of you out there with 2 vessel cords. God Bless.
i am approximatley 32 weeks and i have been given bad news after bad news during this pregnancy i am really worried recently i found out that on top of haveing a 2 vessel cord that my abbay boy is in the 8th precential for size only wieghing 2lbs so far (not good) i have reduced amniotic fluid, and an ageing placenta. i have to go twice a week to my doctor for NST non strees test and once weekly to a specialist for an ultra sound. they are telling me that they may have to induce me and take him early…i am extremly worried and dont know what to do. CAN ANYONE PLEASE CALM ME DOWN I DONT WANT TO LOOSE MY BABY. i am really scared but on the flip side he is very active and always moving and kicking constantly… that’s a good sign right taht he is strong enough to cause me discomfort.. please pray for my little one..thanks im really freakin out
Dear Tanya,
Hang on! Yes, I also think your baby moving is a good sign. All the tests your doctors are doing are important. If you are induced, it will be to protect the baby’s health.
If you are freaking out, call your doctor. Usually the best way to calm down is by getting more information. Be careful with Dr. Google as there can be more scary stuff on the internet!
I will pray for you and your baby, and I’m sure all of my site’s visitors will too.
Yours,
Julie / calm mama
thanks im just really scared and i worry way too much its just alot to take in. thank you
i got my 2nd dose of steroid shots today. i feel a little better knowing he is getting some help in there
I, too, just found out at my 20 week u/s that our baby has a 2 vessel cord. The doctor does not seem to be worried at all, which is mildly reassuring. Can someone tell me how exactly to do the “kick counts”. I didn’t do this with my last 2 pregnancies…at least not formally. My baby girl seems to be more active during the night. Maybe I just don’t notice the movement between work & chasing the other 2 around. I’m going to keep the faith and ask that she be monitored regularly. Any suggestions are helpful.
Hi Betsy,
I think this article provides a good explanation of how to do kick counts:
http://www.americanpregnancy.org/duringpregnancy/kickcounts.htm
Do stop back by the blog if you get a chance and keep us posted on your pregnancy!
Thanks for your help! This was a very good read, and helped me a lot. Seems I might be a bit too early to start “kick-counting”, but I will be certain to do so once I notice more activity. I can’t say I’ll use the charts, as I think they’ll make me a “Nervous Nelly”, but I will definitely take mental notes. We’ll see how the next appointment goes. I’ll keep you all up to date
Just a follow up for all of you on my progress. I went in today for my follow-up sonogram at 23 1/2 weeks. They had me come in early, because the original 20 week sonogram did not give a good view of the heart. The view of the heart came back normal, and the doctor confirmed that there are indeed three vessels in the cord, not two as previously thought. All I can say is that I believe in the power of prayer. Baby girl’s size looks good, too. I hope this gives hope to those of you that get the news of an SUA at your 18-20 week sonogram. I’ll keep up to date with all of your stories. Keep praying!
Hey ladies!
Just wanted to update you all…back in March my little one was identified as having a 2-vessel cord. I was very concerned at the time – but my doctor reassured me that he would take every precaution necessary and also that a great number of babies with 2-vessel cords are born completely healthy!
So around 34 weeks I started having weekly non-stress tests to make sure the baby was still doing okay. Everything continued to look fine and on August 11th I gave birth to a beautiful healthy 8 lbs 11 oz (not a small baby!) baby girl named Lucy! She is the light of our lives and we feel SO blessed to have her in our lives!
I just wanted to let you all know that even though being diagnosed w/ a 2-vessel cord may seem scary (& the internet will make your mind run WILD as to all the bad things that can happen w/ this diagnosis) – that your baby can still be born 100% healthy!! Keep the faith and I hope you all have healthy pregnancies! This board has been a great source of information to me while I was pregnant!
Thanks to you all & God bless!!
Ashley
My daughter is having her first baby, a boy and he was diagnosed with a SUA.
she is now at 36 weeks and the baby only weights 4lbs 12oz. he is at the bottom of the chart in weight and height and all.
He is very active, however since he stopped growing, they are going to induce on Sunday oct 5th of 2009.
I did read about the trouble with induction and i’m glad. i will keep that in mind. I have included my website that i just started on for him.
Will let you know what happens after next week.
Jeanette’s last blog post..Baby’s due date is set
I too have been diagnosed with a 2 vessel cord baby. It was 19 week ultrasound. I cried for a bit. My husband gave me upsetting news (read from the internet) regarding things that could happen with SUA. I stayed away from the internet for a long time, but then I thought I would find my own answers. I came across so many don’t worry messages.
I had another ultrasound 3 weeks after this finding and everything else is good. The baby boy is a little bigger then what it says is normal, so I am relieved. My baby boy is very active.
I am currently 28 weeks pregnant now and I have another appointment on Wednesday with no ultrasound. I am not freaking out, I eat plenty of good food and if there is something to worry about, the doctors will tell me. My due date is in the middle of January.
I just found out yesterday that I am having a little girl and then sadly I found out that I also have a 2-vessel cord. I had my ultrasound just shy of 18 weeks. Anyway, I am very scared but I am trying not to worry too much. It definitely helps to read the positive posts on this site. My doctor said that the baby looked great and he mentioned that the heart and kidneys looked perfect (good flow in and out) as well as good flow in and out of my umbilical cord. He said the only thing I should expect is potentially a smaller baby although he has delivered 9+lb babies with SAU. While my doctor was very reassuring, the internet definitely freaked me out (just as my dr. said it would).
If the heart, kidneys, and such looked normal, does anyone know if there is still a good chance of having other abnormalities? What about downs? I go back in 4 weeks for my next appointment which will now have an additional ultrasound. He did not mention things to come in the future but he is a great dr. so hopefully he will take great care of us. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thank you for such a helpful site!
On a side note, I just wanted to ask for prayers. All I know to do at this point is pray to God that he will take care of my little girl and bless us with a happy healthy little one. Also, have any of your doctors mentioned that we should pay closer attention to our diets, fluids, or exercise? Just wondering if there is anything I could do to help increase the chances of a healthy baby? Thanks again!
Dear Mary,
It sounds like everything is going very well, and that your doctor is really keeping an eye on all the important factors to watch (baby weight, organ development). I was told during my pregnancy that the studies that link SUA to downs or other chromosomal issues were found more recently to be incorrect.
I don’t know of any diet actions you can do to help other than eating healthy and drinking lots of fluids. I’m glad that this site has helped you and others. It’s impossible not to worry. But many SUA pregnancies come out fine.
Good luck and keep us posted!
I thought that I was 20 weeks yesterday when we went for our u/s to find out how things are going (and hoping to find out if it was a boy or girl.) When the tech said that it was a girl I was a little more excited than I let on because we have a soon to be 3 yr. old boy and had lost a little girl in 2006 when she was stillborn. When I went to discuss results with the doctor, he mentioned the 2-vessel cord, which I had never heard of. After reading about it, I am mortified. All that I can think about is our daughter that passed away and the guilt that I have carried not knowing what happened to her. Now I wonder if that is the reason she didn’t make it and whether or not this baby girl will pull through. We will be having another ultrasound next week to finalize results. My doctor did not go into detail, but her kidneys may be affected. I don’t even know how to process this information. I’m scared to death!
Dear Dawn, Good luck with your next ultrasound. It is a very scary time, yes! I hope that things go well for you and your baby. Please feel free to keep me/us posted on progress. While there is a lot of frightening information about 2-vessel cord pregnancies on the Internet, there are also many healthy births with this condition. Sending love!
hi almal ekt n vraag. ek is nou al 38 weke swanger en voel my kind minder skop en beweeg. is dit normaal of moet ek eder my dok bel en haar se?
Hey ladies,
I too am one of the unfortunate ones whose pregnancy resulted in a stillborn baby. I don’t want to scare those who are expecting with 2 cord vessels, but do think you are fine providing bub is measuring within the recommended weight percentiles and there are no other abnormalities.
The reason I say this, is because I was one of the rare cases where at 20 weeks I had a 2 cord vessel, bub was measuring in the 5th percentile (smallest weight range), and I had stage 4 (complete) placenta previa. Generally for something to go really wrong (this is my finding based on reading HEAPS of forums, info sites, books, etc.), you don’t just have a two cord vessel but multiple things which are wrong. Unfortunately from what I have found, if they pick it up fairly quickly (dependent on how far along you are) they are able to administer steriods in injection form, which can help boost bub’s lung ability to help baby survive should the need to birth a lot earlier than usual arise. The downside, is that in my case (& quite often) it is not picked up and monitored over a period of time before things turn south, and unfortunately they can’t really do anything to save baby prior to 24 weeks gestation.
I wish all you pregnant ladies all the best in your pregnancies! I’m sure the majority of you will be fine and will not have any further complications. For those of you who have shared similar experiences, my deepest condolences go out to you as well. It is not a pleasant experience in the least, and my heart goes out to you at this time and as you journey on… xox
I have been diagnosed with SAU at 20 weeks (last week). I am having a little girl and it is my first pregnancy. I received a call the morning after my u/s from the genetics dept. at Kaiser. The staff made an appointment for me to go in that same day to prevent me from reading up on the internet and driving myself crazy with worry. I had a level 2 u/s with a sonographer, a genetics counselor and an actual MD. They allowed me to look at the u/s screen and explained to me everything they were looking at and looking for. The doctor then further explained in more detail what he was seeing and why he was not concerned at this time.
The baby’s spine, heart, kidneys, brain tissue, skull, fluids, and bones were photographed and checked for anomalies. The doctor assured me that everything looked fine. I am still very worried because it is my nature…
I was asked to come again for another level 2 u/s at 32 weeks and at that time it will be determined what else needs to be done based on the baby’s progress.
I was drawn blood to check for chromosomal abnormalities that would show in my protein levels but was explained that the blood test itself is not diagnostic and merely indicative that there might be further issues. I was advised against an amnio, since I am only 25 and have no genetic hx of chromosomal abnormalities.
I will probably feel better on Wed when my blood test results come back. I see my NP again at 26 weeks for my regular appt. I am very thankful of this blog and truly wish some of the people who posted back in 2008/2009 would update us on how their, now toddlers, are doing…
I guess I keep finding people who talk about what happened when they found out their babies had SAU until birth, but nothing further. I am concerned about the implications of SAU later in a toddler’s development. Speech delays, developmental milestones, in general, more than the physical aspect of development…
Anyway, I will keep you guys posted as my pregnancy progresses. I am due October 6th, and before last week, I had never heard of SAU before…scary stuff…like someone already said, just another thing to worry about while we are pregnant…
Hi Monica! Thank you so much for your story. Every comment here helps another person who finds this post. I hope you get a chance to come back and tell us how everything goes for you and your baby.
I am so glad I found this blog. My husband and I had our first ultrasound almost two weeks ago (18 weeks). When we met with our midwife a few days ago she told us about the SUA. She said everything else looked fine in the ultrasound and gave us a bit of other info. I went on the internet tonight and got myself so worried (crying and all) reading some of the information available. I feel much better after reading other people’s stories here. Thanks everyone for sharing. This is our first pregnancy and I don’t want to worry unnecessarily and take away all the joy we should be feeling.