If you’ve just been told during your scan that your baby has a “single umbilical artery or SUA, it’s completely natural to feel a mix of emotions. That is why we want to walk you through what this means for you and your growing family. For more info on SUA in pregnancy in Pune, connect with Dr Tejas Tamhane at Precious Clinic for Advanced Fetal Medicine.
SUA In Pregnancy In Pune: An Overview
The umbilical cord typically has three blood vessels during pregnancy: one vein and two arteries. The two arteries transport waste from the baby back to your circulation, while the vein helps provide nutrients and oxygen from you to your unborn child. An infant with SUA only has one artery and one vein since one of the arteries is absent. This is one of the commonest findings seen in the fetus on ultrasound.
We know that this might sound alarming at first, but here’s what you should know: In most cases, SUA is an isolated finding and usually babies go on to do absolutely fine.
How Do We Find Out About SUA?
This condition can be diagnosed as early as during first trimester NT scan if done carefully. Sometimes this can be diagnosed during your mid-pregnancy anomaly scan (done between 18-22 weeks). During this, your fetal medicine specialist will use detailed ultrasound imaging to look closely at the umbilical cord and its blood vessels. If SUA is noted, they will further check to see if everything else looks normal because the main question here remains – is the SUA isolated or is it part of something else?
After the SUA Diagnosis
If SUA is the only finding, meaning everything else in the scan looks good, your doctor will generally continue with regular monitoring. A few extra scans may be suggested in the third trimester to ensure that the baby is growing well. This is because in a small number of cases, babies with SUA might be at a slightly higher risk of growth restriction.
However, if the sonography shows other anomalies in the heart, kidneys or other organs, additional tests like fetal echo or non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) or amniocentesis, depending on the case. This helps rule out any genetic conditions that could be associated.
Again, it’s important to emphasise that if SUA is an isolated finding, your baby’s outlook is overwhelmingly positive.
But Why Does SUA Happen?
That’s a common query we get and the honest answer is we don’t always know the reason. It’s believed to be a result of a developmental change early in pregnancy. However, in most cases, there’s no specific cause or anything you can do to prevent it.
What About the Delivery?
The good news here is that SUA doesn’t usually affect how you deliver. As with all pregnancies, the final mode of delivery depends on multiple factors, but SUA alone isn’t a reason for concern.
SUA In Pregnancy In Pune – Consult Dr Tejas
Seeing something unexpected in a scan is never easy. But please remember, you’re not alone in this journey. As the leading fetal medicine expert in Pune, Dr Tejas Tamhane, is here is help you understand what’s happening and guide you through decisions.
So, if you’ve been diagnosed with SUA in pregnancy in Pune and are looking for the right guidance, get in touch with Dr Tamhane at Precious Clinic for Advanced Fetal Medicine.
