Single Umbilical Artery (SUA)
“During a second trimester ultrasound, the umbilical cord is routinely examined. The umbilical cord connects the developing baby to the placenta. Usually there are three blood vessels in the umbilical cord: one vein (which carries oxygen and nutrients from mom to baby) and two arteries (which move fetal waste from the baby to mom). Sometimes there are only two blood vessels, one vein and one artery, instead of the usual three. This ultrasound finding is called a two-vessel cord but may also be called a single umbilical artery (SUA) because one of the two arteries is absent. This common ultrasound finding is seen in about 1 out of every 100 pregnancies (~1%). Usually, the SUA has no effect on the health of the baby, especially when there are no other findings on the ultrasound.” Read More
