SIngle Umbilical Artery in both identical twins.... ANYONE ??

Question

So... my wife is 22 weeks preg. w/ Identical boys, and we found out that both of them have SUA or SIngle umbilical artery. Anyone ever heard f it ?

Answer 1

Heres a website all about it:

http://www.womens-health.co.uk/sua.asp

Answer 2

Normally the umbilical cord has 2 arteries and a vein, called a 3 vessel cord. Sometimes only 2 vessles (1 artery or 1 vein) are seen. This is called a single umbilical artery or SUA.

While this finding can be associated with some abnormalities it is also seen in normal healthy babies. If this is the only "finding" then there is probably nothing to worry about. Your doctor may do addtitional testing and/or follow you more closely.

Here are the stats:
0.85% of all babies have a 2 vessel cord. Of these 34% will have growth retardation, and 17% will deliver preterm. Also, 30% will have congenital malformations (about half with major defect, about half with minor defect) and many of these will have a genetic defect. So the chance of something wrong is less than 1%!

Try not to worry too much. Talk to your doctor about your concerns.

Answer 3

Umbilical Cord Abnormalities


The umbilical cord is a narrow, tube-like structure that connects the developing baby (also referred to, in medical terms, as the fetus) to the placenta. The cord is sometimes called the baby’s “supply line” because it delivers the nutrients and oxygen the baby needs for normal growth and development and removes waste products.

The umbilical cord begins to form about five weeks after conception. It becomes progressively longer until about 28 weeks of pregnancy, reaching an average length of 22 inches. As it gets longer, the cord generally twists around itself and becomes coiled.

There are three blood vessels inside the umbilical cord—two arteries and one vein. The vein carries oxygen-rich blood and nutrients from the placenta to the baby, while the two arteries transport waste from the baby back to the placenta (where waste is transferred to the mother’s blood and disposed of by her kidneys). A gelatin-like tissue called Wharton’s jelly cushions and protects these blood vessels.

A number of abnormalities can affect the umbilical cord. Sometimes the cord is too long, too short, connects improperly to the placenta or becomes knotted or compressed. Cord abnormalities can lead to problems during pregnancy or during labor and delivery. In some cases, cord abnormalities are discovered after delivery when a doctor examines the cord and the placenta. Here are some of the most frequent cord problems and how they can affect mother and baby.

What is single umbilical artery?
About 1 percent of singleton and about 5 percent of multiple pregnancies have an umbilical cord that contains only two blood vessels, instead of the normal three, as one artery is missing. 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.

Please see the links below for more info-also please note that some suspected SUA's are actually misdiagnosed due to difficulty with accurately imaging them on ultrasounds.

When managing a pregnancy complicated by SUA, it is essential to obtain a thorough ultrasound examination to look for any associated anomalies or evidence of aneuploidy. If none is found, then the fetus is presumed to have isolated SUA. Most authors do not recommend amniocentesis in this situation, although there is still an increased risk of congenital malformations and chromosomal abnormalities. Patient counseling is important here -- it is impossible to be completely certain that the fetus has no malformations even if none is seen on ultrasound. Fetal echocardiography does not seem to contribute significantly to the evaluation of these fetuses, assuming that they have normal 4-chamber views and outflow tracts. A third-trimester assessment of fetal growth is warranted and a careful evaluation of the newborn is necessary. Routine renal imaging is not justified by the current data; however, follow-up of any abnormal findings is appropriate.


Wishing you the best with your babies,
aunt cryllie

Answer 4

I've actually never heard of children sharing an umbilical cord. You may want to see a specialist to be sure that both babies can get enough nutrition from a single cord.

Answer 5

I dont comprehend the way it would paintings because of the fact the two twins might attempt useful for being the father. same twins proportion the comparable DNA so there is not any thank you to tell between the two who's the father and who isnt.

Answer 6

EVEN THOUGH IT USUALLY ONLY HAPPENS IN 1% OF ALL PREGNANCIES i HAVE HAD IT IN THE LAST 3.