Two Vessel Cord

I have an odd situation going on with Baby A. I had my "Big" ultrasound just over 19 weeks, I was told everything looked fine. Then I went back at 24 weeks and the technician made a comment something like, "has anyone talked to you about a two vessel cord"? This was right after she looked over my records, before she even started the scan. While she was doing the scan I saw when she used the doppler for the umbilical cords on both babies. I noticed Baby A's cord didn't seem as large as Baby B's cord. At the time I didn't really know what I was looking at or for. When I went to my OB appointment a week later, I asked him about the two vessel cord and he said in all the ultrasound records that he has seen, all said both babies have three vessel cords. Then when I went to my 26 week OB appointment, he took me in his office and said that he read there was something mentioned about a two vessel cord. Well, what's that suppose to mean? I researched it the first time and it scared me, and after he told me there are three cords I stopped worrying about it. Now, he says there was mention of a two vessel cord. What am I suppose to think about that? He didn't really explain much, he said all my other tests were good and that their anatomy scans were great. They are both growing at the same rate, so that is good. He did say that the baby may be smaller than the other one, and he didn't think there were any birth defects. What? This is something I should have been told at 19 weeks with my first scan!

I'm not sure what to do with the following information. When I went to my 19 weeks scan, the technician said she was waiting for her son and daughter to show up because another technician was going to do a scan on her daughter-in-law. I felt like she was hurrying the scan on me and this was suppose to be the "Big" one with all the anatomy measurements, etc. Anyway as soon as she finished with me I went to the rest room and when I came out she was walking in with her son and daughter-in-law. So, I'm assuming they were already waiting for her to finish with me. Later that afternoon I get a phone call from her saying that she was so rushed that she forgot to take some measurements and she wanted me to come back in the next day to finish. I went in the next day and another technician finished the measurements. I'm thinking that just because she was in a hurry to sit with her son and daughter-in-law for their scan, she rushed mine, therefore not doing her job thoroughly. This bothers me that this happened and then not being told that one of my babies may have a two vessel cord until 7 weeks after discovering it! What am I suppose to think about that? Better yet, what do I do about it?

I'm not stupid, I've read up on the subject and I know that it can be a sign of fetal abnormalities, such as down syndrome. Also, heart, kidney and bladder defects etc. I've also read that it may have started off as three vessels and one got crimped off or whatever the case may be. I have an ultrasound this week and I'm going to asked the technician about the two vessel cord and if he/she doesn't tell me, then I'll be watching when it comes time to look at the cords and all the other organs that will be measured etc. I've also read that there could be complications such as stillbirth, or other complications during delivery.

More than likely, Baby A is okay. But what I want to know and I'll ask my OB, is this...does an abnormality cause the two vessel cord, or does the two vessel cord cause abnormalities? I know for sure, I'll have more questions when I have my next OB visit in 2 weeks.

Any thoughts or opinions would be appreciated. Thanks in advance. ardon:

 

How frustrating...... :angry:

I'm sorry as I do not know about the vessel's but I would demand that your doctor go over all of this with you ASAP....

Big hugs....

 

I would just call the doc and make an appointment just to go over these things with him/her. ASAP

 

Our Baby A has a Single Umbilical Artery (2 vessel cord) as well. Like you, I did a lot of reading on my own about it. Some of the things out there can scare you but you have to remember that a lot of what you read about is a worse case scenerio. My doctor explained it to me that 90% of the cases she has seen (and she said she has seen several) are normal pregnancies and births with ZERO complications. She said the biggest thing to look for is slow growth in that baby. Due to this they send me in for and ultrasound every couple of weeks. She also said I would start doing NSTs at 32 weeks as well (but due to the fact that I am in the hospital now because of a SHORT cervix I get the NST twice a day). So far baby A is holding her own. She is a little bit smaller than her sister but her sister is measuring a week and a half ahead so things are just fine. They have also done several scans just to check her anatomy and everything looks great!

I don't think I really answered any of your questions but I wanted to share our experience so you would know you are not along and that things are really looking good for our little girls!

Keep us posted as to what your doctor tells you!

 

QUOTE(Joanna416 @ Nov 17 2008, 09:34 AM) [snapback]1073820[/snapback]
How frustrating...... :angry:

I'm sorry as I do not know about the vessel's but I would demand that your doctor go over all of this with you ASAP....

Big hugs....


Thank you....and big :hug: to you and your babies. I read your latest update on Parker, it's encouraging news. You're all in my thoughts and prayers.

 

There are lots of babies with 2-vessel cords. Since your anatomy scans have looked fine, I wouldn't worry too much about it. There really isn't anything you can do except make sure to keep your nutrition optimal (especially protein) and drink lots of fluids. This helps your Baby A get the nutrients he needs. It is likely that he will be smaller than the other twin due to the constraints of having only 1 artery through which to get food but your doctor should be keeping a good eye on him to watch his growth. Definitely get confirmation of the 2v cord so you and you doctor can determine a course of action. There is the chance that you may have to induce at some point if his growth slows to the point where he'd be better outside than in.

Our smaller girl had a 2-vessel cord but her size constraints weren't entirely due to that. She also was the donor twin for TTTS. Still, even though she was small, she was perfectly healthy at birth and only had to stay 7 days in the Special Care Nursery to prove she could eat and grow. Her "big" sister was in the NICU for 9 days for breathing problems.

There are some abnormalities that are found in a small percentage of babies with a 2v cord but it sounds like your u/s have pretty much crossed most of those out.

 

QUOTE(Ali M @ Nov 18 2008, 05:45 PM) [snapback]1076256[/snapback]
There are lots of babies with 2-vessel cords. Since your anatomy scans have looked fine, I wouldn't worry too much about it. There really isn't anything you can do except make sure to keep your nutrition optimal (especially protein) and drink lots of fluids. This helps your Baby A get the nutrients he needs. It is likely that he will be smaller than the other twin due to the constraints of having only 1 artery through which to get food but your doctor should be keeping a good eye on him to watch his growth. Definitely get confirmation of the 2v cord so you and you doctor can determine a course of action. There is the chance that you may have to induce at some point if his growth slows to the point where he'd be better outside than in.

Our smaller girl had a 2-vessel cord but her size constraints weren't entirely due to that. She also was the donor twin for TTTS. Still, even though she was small, she was perfectly healthy at birth and only had to stay 7 days in the Special Care Nursery to prove she could eat and grow. Her "big" sister was in the NICU for 9 days for breathing problems.

There are some abnormalities that are found in a small percentage of babies with a 2v cord but it sounds like your u/s have pretty much crossed most of those out.


Thank you for the words of encouragement and the great advice. My OB did say the baby with the 2 vessel cord will probably be smaller, so far she is measuring the same as her sister. I have an ultrasound every two weeks during my OB visits and one every four weeks with a technician for now. I see a technician this week for my monthly ultrasound. After my next OB visit in two weeks, I will start seeing him every week. He told me our goal is 36 weeks, but that if I start labor at 34 weeks, they may not stop it, depending on the babies situations.

I'm glad to hear your babies are healthy after their health issues. I'm not real sure if my babies are identical, but I suspect that they are (the membrane between them is very thin and wispy). No matter, they are being watched closely for growth differences, etc. So far, so good. I can't wait to see their measurements this week. I'm thinking that my baby is okay because all the other tests and ultrasounds have been fine, with no abnormalities.

Thanks again.

 

Hi there. I'm so glad I happened upon your post because I think I can make you feel better. My Evan also had a missing umbilical artery. That means that while most babies have three vessels/arteries in their umbilical cord, he only had two. If this abnormality is coupled with additional abnormalities (i.e. a cyst on the brain - which my other son happened to have!) then there is cause to do further testing to make sure that no genetic conditions exist. But on it's own, a missing umbilical artery is not problematic. In fact, it's no big deal at all! This was explained to me by the head of ultrasound at the best maternity hospital in Toronto and sure enough Evan is healthy as a horse! He was born at 37.5 weeks and was over 6 lbs. Now at 21 month he's walking, talking, jumping, tantruming, 33 lbs, very tall and handsome, and we couldn't be happier! His brother is equally healthy and wonderful (the cyst disappeared before he was born as is almost always the case). Please don't worry!

 

QUOTE(CHJH @ Nov 18 2008, 07:56 PM) [snapback]1076501[/snapback]
Hi there. I'm so glad I happened upon your post because I think I can make you feel better. My Evan also had a missing umbilical artery. That means that while most babies have three vessels/arteries in their umbilical cord, he only had two. If this abnormality is coupled with additional abnormalities (i.e. a cyst on the brain - which my other son happened to have!) then there is cause to do further testing to make sure that no genetic conditions exist. But on it's own, a missing umbilical artery is not problematic. In fact, it's no big deal at all! This was explained to me by the head of ultrasound at the best maternity hospital in Toronto and sure enough Evan is healthy as a horse! He was born at 37.5 weeks and was over 6 lbs. Now at 21 month he's walking, talking, jumping, tantruming, 33 lbs, very tall and handsome, and we couldn't be happier! His brother is equally healthy and wonderful (the cyst disappeared before he was born as is almost always the case). Please don't worry!


Thank you, I'm trying not to worry since everything else seems to be okay so far. I have an ultrasound scheduled in a few days, so I'll see how they are developing. I'm praying this scan will show that all is well with both babies. Isn't it something how we fall in love with these little beings as soon as we know they exist and how or motherly instincts kick in. Not to mention how we would do anything to make sure they are healthy and well taken care of.

I'm glad your babies are doing great. This surely gives me hope that all will be okay. Thank you for telling me your story it's very encouraging.