Sua (single umbilical artery)

kittymae13 · September 2014

My 21 wk old baby girl only has 1 artery in our umbilical cord where there is normally 2. It's apparently really rare. Anyone else out there going thru this ??

Josie400 · September 2014

I know of someone who is going through that same thing, but I'm not super close with her, so I only know of what she posts on fb. It sounds like she is getting the extra monitoring.

Jellybean707 · September 2014

Yes, I have a cousin that had this. She had extra ultrasounds during her pregnancy to check baby's growth. Her baby was born healthy and full term. She is 2 years old now.

Aillise · September 2014

My scan on 8/29 revealed the same on my baby girl. I was 18 weeks at the time. I have another scan tomorrow to check her heart. Doctors told me not to worry. Yesterday I had the free cell DNA testing which was recommended by the genetic counselor. The said on the U/S baby looks good , they are mostly worried about it's association with IUGR.

My advice to you is to stay away from looking it up as websites post every possible association and a lot of babies born with this are born completely healthy. It is still very worrisome for us parents. Just listen to your dr. And get all your scans and testings done. And talk to them about your conscerns and if they are optimistic you should be as well.

aprilrose83 · September 2014

We had the same thing discovered at our 20 week A/S. All of the A/S looked good except the SUA and marginal cord insertion. They sent us for a quad screen and a second level ultrasound. The quad screen came back negative (good). The second level ultrasound looked just as good as the first. No abnormalities and all of the downs syndrome markers that they look for were within normal range. They have assured us that our only concern at this point would be intrauterine growth restriction later on. But, even the risk for that is very low (like 1%). The perinatologist is comfortable with letting my regular OB doc monitor for the growth restriction with monthly scans.

I'm still a little nervous, but know that the chances of a positive outcome are really high.

kittymae13 · September 2014

I would like to thank everyone for their stories and positive words, it is so comforting as a pregnant woman to know she's not alone ❤️

SandraRDH · September 2014

Just found out today that my a/s last week revealed SUA. They said it could have possibly been the angle and are sending me for a high-resolution u/s later this week to confirm either way.

Aillise · September 2014

Good luck ^ fingers crossed that's the case. Any abnormality is scary, and worrisome and all though I'm doing my best to relax, (rescheduled scan is tomorrow to check her heart) it is hard to not feel at fault and not be worried about baby.

Good luck!

shelmabelle · September 2014

@kittymae13 Yes, we found out our little girl also has SUA at 19wks. My doctor said that we shouldn't be worried because they didnt see anything else abnormal in her anatomy during the scan. They scheduled us an appointment with a high risk doctor (tomorrow at 8am) so they can get a second/better look at it. If you'd like, I will let you know what they say at the appt tomorrow? T&P for you and your little girl.

Aillise · September 2014

I just had my ultrasound today to check her heart and organs again. Doctor said she looks amazing. Still waiting for the cell free DNA test results but they think she looks good. Brought my son (9 years old) and my husband. Husband almost had a heart attack when u/s tech started giggling my stomach with the wand and trying to roll baby over by pressing super hard. I included a picture we asked for of her whole body below.

Good luck to all you mom's hope babies are doing good!

SandraRDH · September 2014

@Aillise, I hate when they press so hard during the ultrasounds, it hurts!! Glad everything was looking okay at your scan today

Stay strong and stay positive mama.

SandraRDH · September 2014

@Shelmabelle, how did your appointment go this morning?? Thinking of you.

kittymae13 · September 2014

@shelmabelle‌ I would like very much to hear how your appt with the high risk doc went?

shelmabelle · September 2014

@kittymae13‌ @SandraRDH‌ Sorry y'all I haven't been back on here! But the ultrasound was perfect. Nothing wrong so they scheduled one more in 7wks to check on baby girls growth! Very thankful for a healthy baby:)

kittymae13 · September 2014

@shelmabelle‌ that's great news !!

Aillise · September 2014

That's wonderful news @shelmabelle! Hope your next scan is just as good.

@TRexsMum, @SandraRDH, @kittymae13, and @aprilrose83 good luck at your scans as well.

Hope all the babies are doing good, and keep growing healthily!

I find out on October 8th when my next scan to monitor her growth will be. I will keep checking how all you and your LO's are doing, and keep you all updated on my LO. We're such a small group, and we all know what one another is experiencing and going through. I think that support is great, especially with something that is so rare, and it's reassuring that I'm not going it alone. Thank you all for sharing!

Aillise · September 2014

@TRexsMum I think 4 out of 6 of us are having girls. I'm not sure about the other 2 since in their posts they didn't mention the sex of their LO's. But that would be pretty coincidental

shelmabelle · September 2014

I noticed that too!! Strange

SandraRDH · September 2014

Girl here. I've read that that's one of the few things they say can increase the likelihood of SUA - more common in female babies and advanced maternal age was another one. They seem to not really know much about why it occurs..

Aillise · September 2014

Are we all around 23 weeks? I'm 23 weeks and 2 days and having a baby girl.

aprilrose83 · September 2014

We told them we didn't want to know what we're having. But, we caught a shot or two during our ultrasounds that make us think it's a boy. And, 22 weeks 3 days for me.

Also, as an update: I have had heart palpitations since the beginning of this pregnancy. They were happening so frequently earlier this week that my OB and cardiologist decided to put me on a medication (beta-blocker) to help control them. The meds can also increase the risk of IUGR. They were already planning to monitor me closely for IUGR. They will just continue monitoring like they had planned. Just thought I'd share this in case any of you are in a similar situation where the doc wants to put you on a beta blocker and you already have SUA to contend with.

SandraRDH · September 2014

23 weeks and some change.

shelmabelle · September 2014

yep im 23 weeks as well

Aillise · September 2014

UPDATE: My free cell fetal DNA results came back today and they were all negative, for the 3 gene mutations. The test was recommended because of the risks associated with SUA. That along with the last scan I had to view her heart and organs, everything looks good. I will just be monitored for IUGR with additional scans through out the pregnancy.

Feeling more positive and relieved now that all of the tests came back good.

SandraRDH · September 2014

Had my level II ultrasound today and they confirmed that baby does indeed have only one umbilical artery but everything else looked great! The perinatologist that interpreted the scan said there were no signs of any abnormalities or defects and that at this point baby measures right on track if not a bit ahead and he is not concerned of IUGR at this time. There was increased amniotic fluid so he wants me back to re-check with another ultrasound in 4 weeks (when I'm 28 weeks)and then one final check of everything at 32 weeks. All good news I suppose..

Hope you ladies are all hanging in there and remaining positive!

Aillise · September 2014

That is great news @SandraRDH !

Aillise · October 2014

Good luck at the scan to check her heart. My LO'S scan went well. And all my tests came back good so far. So I am trying to look at it as a normal pregnancy occurrence since that is what they told me at the Dr office. I made the mistake of googling SUA, because I was scared and worried. At first scan they said baby looks amazing, but there is one thing..... her unbilical cord. In my head im thinking its wrapped around her or something to that effect. Then they told me and told me what SUA is sometimes associated with. So I was in tears and looked it up in the dr. Office while waiting ro speak with a genetics counselor. Since then I have stayed away, and just listen to my DR and the outcome of my scans and tests. Because everything listed on Google is an "association" to SUA. Does not necessarily mean they are connected always. I am also measuring 2 weeks ahead (at my last appt anyway).

Best of luck to you, and your LO. Hope everything turns out good.

SandraRDH · October 2014

@nursesouder, sorry to hear of your diagnosis. I think we have all gone through the initial stages of shock and disappointment, it's disheartening to learn that you have a 'complication' that occurs in only 1% of pregnancies. It's no fun to feel singled out like that. No matter how much we've been reassured by our providers that all other indicators look fine, we still worry. It has taken me time to finally get to place mentally that I feel at peace with the diagnosis and am feeling more reassured that everything is going to turn out fine. It sounds like you are handling it well. Wishing you continued positivity.. because that's where it all has to start, with you. SUA is not something we can control and worrying won't change the outcome either.

KerBear8 · October 2014

I have no idea where I was for this original thread post but I have SUA too. My baby is a boy.

So far, all my tests and extra scans have come back picture perfect. Seems like most of you are also in the same boat.

Have any of your Drs spoken to you about inducing early? Mine said (non-chalantly, mind you) that he may want to induce me at 38-39 weeks.

SandraRDH · October 2014

There was initially mention of likely inducing early. My OB said they typically don't let SUA babies get to the 40 week mark because the incidence of stillbirth can be statistically more common in late pregnancy with SUA. Since then, however, I've had 2 more great scans and reports from the perinatologist and he just told me yesterday that as long as our final scan (at 35 weeks) and our non-stress tests (NSTs) all look just as good, he sees no problem with me carrying to term and delivering naturally. I will be getting the NSTs once a week starting at 34 weeks.

shelmabelle · November 2014

So I had my second growth scan today at 29wks. She is healthy but measuring in the 10th percentile with her growth. Apparently they start to monitor more closely if she goes below this percentile. I can't remember her exact weight but I think it was a little over 2lbs. I'll have another scan in 3 wks. Hopefully she will be in a higher percentile by then. T&P please!! Hope everyone is doing well!

shelmabelle · November 2014

@nursesouder‌ let me know how it goes and what they tell u about labor. I need to find these out too!

Aillise · November 2014

I am sorry to hear that she is measuring small. Hopefully at your next scan she is above the 10th percentile mark, and there are no other complications/issues. I have my next growth scan on Monday, and I am worried she will be small, even though I have been measuring ( fundal height) almost 2 weeks ahead.

I switched OB's last month, first ob had my first growth scan scheduled for after 34 weeks. The OB I just switched to met with me once ( so far this pregnancy, she delivered my son 9 years ago) and she wanted me in for a growth scan the following week from my first apt with her. I am taking it as her wanting to get a good look at LO and cord for her self.

ETA; Typo

shelmabelle · November 2014

We had a 3 wk growth scan yesterday. Because 3 wks ago she was measuring in the 10th percentile. Well now she's measuring in 12th and weighs 3lbs12oz at 32wks. I'm happy she's making good progress. I won't have another one until dec 23!

shelmabelle · November 2014

@nursesouder Thats great to hear!!

I love having the extra ultrasounds and getting to see her. She always has at least one hand on her face making it difficult to see. I guess shes being shy until her grand appearance lol

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