Any advice on SUA?

superMiller

I was seen for some pain and cramping this week (ended up being a UTI) and it was determined we have "SUA" - Single Umbilical Artery.  Apparently this condition is not serious - it just means our umbilical cord has one artery instead of two.  The arteries flush waste from the womb.  One can function as well as two without much issue.  The "problem" (from an OB's view) is that whatever caused you to devleop one artery may have caused other issues.  (I've read anything from one kidney, to a misplaced ureter, to more serious organ issues.)  At this point it seems LO and I are fine and baby is forming perfectly - all parts are present, heart rate and measurements are on track. 

The problem, you ask?  Simply because of the SUA the docs want to monitor me, y'know, "just in case."  This will mean multiple u/s, weekly NST's beginning at 32 weeks, and I betcha fetal monitoring and rushing LO away for testing upon birth.  Ugh!  I'm wondering if any of you repeat mama's have any experience with this condition.  I've read it's also common to discover at birth that there actually ARE 2 arteries.  My fear is going through all this mess for nothing.  OR refusing the additional tests and monitoring and something goes wrong and I am ultimately an irresponsible mother.  Any advice and/or reassurance would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks!  

lindsayll

That blows.  I have no experience, so no advice, other than if you think they'll require continuous monitoring because of it, see if the hospital you will be delivery at has the option of wireless telemetry fetal monitoring.  At least that way you'll be able to move around.

rachelann

I found out at 20 weeks that my baby has SUA.  I see a midwife and also am monitired by a MFS.  We get monthly u/s to check for growth (and SUA has been reconfirmed each time) and starting next week I have to do the NST weekly (was also supposed to start at 32 weeks but my MW wasn't that concerned).  My baby is perfect & in the 80th % and we still have to go.

Yes, it is a pain to have all the extra diagnotics (esp. since I have a toddler at home) but our babies do have a slighlty increased chance of fetal distress/stillbirth so I think it is worth it.  I also have confidence in my MW that she would only require me to do what was absoultely necessary for the health of my baby.

As for at delivery- even though we have SUA and I am going for a VBAC I still only need the intermittent monitoring and as long as he looks good at birth he won't need any additional tests (they said he may need an u/s on his kidneys but that won't have to be done immediately).  I have my midwife to thank for this- I know if I had stayed with my old OB he would have made me do a c-section.  

 I wouldn't stress too much over it- tell your OB your concerns and if nothing else- maybe compromise on the NST's- say you will go every few weeks untils the end and decline any continuous monitoring.

 

nosoup4u

Ugh, sorry you're going through this - hopefully it's nothing serious in the end. Can you request another u/s to double check that it is SUA? That would probably be my first step, and then I'd go from there...and you do have the right to decline the things that are more invasive, and ask "why?" for aaall the extras they'd like to do (I'd ask about the weekly NSTs starting so early, if you're already getting u/s, or vice versa, you know?).

Figure out what *you* are comfortable with in the realm of more testing - all the diagnostic tools in the world can't prevent all the complications that could possibly arise, and it's totally okay to make decisions based on what you know - it makes you informed, not irresponsible. 

Good luck!