Is the single-arterial umbilical cord dangerous?

The article was consulted with Specialist Doctor I Truong Thi Phuong - Doctor of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Obstetrics and Gynecology Department - Vinmec Ha Long International General Hospital.

The single-arterial umbilical cord is discovered through ultrasound during routine prenatal check-ups, which worries many pregnant mothers. So what is a single artery umbilical cord, is it an abnormality of the fetal umbilical cord, does it affect the development of the fetus?

The normal structure of the umbilical cord - the cord connecting the mother and the fetus, including 3 blood vessels and 2 arteries (transporting low-oxygen blood and waste products from the fetus out of the fetus, into the mother's circulation) ) and 1 vein (carrying oxygenated blood from mother to fetus).
Single artery umbilical cord is an abnormality in the structure of the umbilical cord, consisting of only 2 blood vessels, 1 artery and 1 vein. This abnormality accounts for 1% of pregnant women and is common in multiple pregnancies.

Until now, the cause leading to the umbilical cord one artery is still not clear. However, the following factors are considered to increase the risk of formation:
Mother carrying multiples The fetus is of female sex Older mother pregnant (>40 years old) Mother smokes and has some diseases such as increased blood pressure, diabetes. Chromosomal abnormalities Inherited Birth defects.

The majority (accounting for 3⁄4) cases of single artery umbilical cord does not affect the fetus, the baby is born completely normal and healthy if the blood flow to the fetus and cells is still ensured. There were no other associated abnormalities in the pregnancy.
In the remaining few cases, the single-arterial umbilical cord can affect the fetus with the following abnormalities:
Premature babies, fetal growth retardation. Abnormalities in the spine, bones, joints, cardiovascular, urogenital, neurological. Disorders of chromosomes 18 (causes Edwards syndrome) or 21 (causes Down syndrome).

After detecting a single artery umbilical cord through ultrasound, the obstetrician-gynecologist can order and assign the pregnant woman to perform tests to check for abnormalities (if any) in the fetus:
Ultrasound : During regular antenatal visits, the doctor will use ultrasound to assess the development and morphology of the fetus. In particular, it is necessary to conduct color Doppler ultrasound to check for any abnormalities on the fetal cardiovascular system. Non-Invasive Prenatal Test (NIPT): If the ultrasound shows abnormal fetal morphology (caused by a single artery umbilical cord), maternal blood can be drawn to do the NIPT test to check. Invasive tests: Amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling are invasive tests that can affect the fetus (damage, fetal infection, miscarriage). Therefore, consideration should be given to performing these tests.

Abnormal single artery umbilical cord can make many pregnant women worry, however, it is necessary to note the following points to ensure the health of mother and baby during pregnancy, at birth and after birth.
Pregnant mothers need to eat enough nutrients to ensure the development of the fetus. Pregnant women with a single artery umbilical cord abnormality can still give birth vaginally. During labor, fetal heart rate should be monitored. After birth, the child should be checked for length, weight, abnormality in external appearance and function of the urinary and cardiovascular system reflexes. In most cases, fetuses with a single-arterial umbilical cord are still developing and are born healthy and normal. However, to ensure a healthy pregnancy, women need to have regular antenatal check-ups to promptly detect abnormalities in the fetus and have appropriate treatment.
Vinmec International General Hospital offers a Package Maternity Care Program for pregnant women right from the first months of pregnancy with a full range of antenatal care visits, periodical 3D and 4D ultrasounds and routine tests to ensure that the mother is healthy and the fetus is developing comprehensively. Pregnant women will no longer be alone when entering labor because having a loved one to help them during childbirth always brings peace of mind and happiness.