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Antenatal tests

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Original poster

Single Umbilical Artety

25 replies

Bumpiemalumpie · 20/01/2014 12:42

hi, does anyone have an experience of this? I thought I had come to peace with being diagnosed with it but after my consultant has decided to sit on the fence re: mlu vs hospital birth I need advice!!

I feel very alone tbh with no one able to give me sound advice

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InPursuitOfOblivion · 20/01/2014 12:51

If I'm really honest and I don't want to sound too harsh, there is no way in hell I would consider a MLU for this!!!!

Original poster
Bumpiemalumpie · 20/01/2014 13:05

Can I ask why? no one will tell me

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Starballbunny · 20/01/2014 13:06

Assuming, you have had all the antenatal tests for any associated difficulties and the baby appears healthy what's the advantage of the consultant unit.

Chances are the baby will still get delivered by MWs.

The MLU ones are probably more likely to be experienced and call a doctor if they feel something is amiss than the hospital ones (who IME vanish for hourse and do more paperwork than looking at baby).

InPursuitOfOblivion · 20/01/2014 13:17

Ok, what every one is skirting round, because they don't want to frighten you is, there is a very small chance that the baby could be born with other abnormalities. Just to reiterate very small!
If the baby needs to see a paediatrician and receive help immediately after birth, it is safer to be in the hospital with all personnel and equipment ready to go.
As long as nothing is flagged up in the scans, this is highly unlikely and shouldn't affect yourself or the mode of delivery.
Hope this helps and I haven't scared you.

Starballbunny · 20/01/2014 13:23

Precisely and unless you are in a really big hospital it may take forever to find a paediatrician in the middle of the night even in the consultant unit.

docket · 20/01/2014 13:26

My dd had this. I had wanted a home birth but wasn't allowed one. I have no regrets about having a hospital birth, I'd had so many scans etc by then the whole pregnancy seemed so medicalised. She had heart scans in utero but I think there was some (small) concern re kidneys. Everything was fine in the event. Good luck with whatever you decide!

Original poster
Bumpiemalumpie · 20/01/2014 13:32

Thank you in, I would prefer to be scared but know the truth, if I don't know the risks I am more likely to rebel.

what I am confused about is that we have had extra scans with no concerns raised, bubba is growing/moving well, at the face to face the consultant was not concerned and only recommended hospital because I was a first timer and overweight(not true and later retracked) but he wrote on my notes he suggested the hospital because of the sua.

my midwife and supervisor are happy to have me at the mlu with a plan of action.

are the risks of abnormalities higher than other 'normal' pregnancies??

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Lancelottie · 20/01/2014 13:36

We were told that SUA is more often picked up in babies with other abnormalities than in babies without -- but that this might be because they have a much closer look at all the vessels if there is something clearly unusual going on.

Bear in mind I'm 12 years out of date here; DD had this, and is now a strapping and stroppy lass at secondary school.

docket · 20/01/2014 13:40

I was told that whilst I had had lots of scans that all indicated there were no eg chromosomal or heart abnormalities they could not rule out kidney problems until she was born. What that amounted to in the event was having to wait for her to wee before discharge. Which would be fine in a MLU, thinking about it.

InPursuitOfOblivion · 20/01/2014 13:41

There is a slightly higher risk of congenital abnormalities and/or growth retardation in uetero but the majority are picked up before birth. It really isn't something I'd fret over if I were you. (Ok I wouldn't be able to help myself, we are Mothers after all) but again, it's still very unlikely your DC will be anything but perfect and healthy.

docket · 20/01/2014 13:41

(I may also be out of date here, DD now a strapping (and increasingly stroppy 7yo!)

Original poster
Bumpiemalumpie · 20/01/2014 16:26

Ok, so there are some other cases out there!! Have never found one before!

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Original poster
Bumpiemalumpie · 20/01/2014 21:47

.

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Lagoonablue · 20/01/2014 21:55

I had this. Had extra growth scans and told possibly risk of kidney problem. Was told had to have consultant care and not MLU. I. The end made no difference to me. Baby was fine.

They are just being cautious.

Original poster
Bumpiemalumpie · 21/01/2014 19:08

.

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Plateofcrumbs · 21/01/2014 19:52

Just to say I have SUA too - just been picked up at 13 weeks. To be honest alongside various other risk indicators I'm expecting worst. But I've been told it's not (in and of itself) too much to worry about and I would just have additional growth scans.

EverthingcrossedforApril14 · 22/01/2014 10:23

I am 29 weeks pregnant and have SUA. I found out when I was 17 weeks pregnant. It is a very long story but hospital made an error with my Quad blood tests and told me I had a 1:5 chance of having a baby with DS. Paid to get the Harmony done and then discovered the error. I was never at risk (1:1400) and thankfully the Harmony came back clear. When I went for a scan after the raised risk, it was with a expert in foetal abnormalities and she diagnosed the SUA. She said very little about it other than I would require additionally scans from 28 weeks. She said there can be a concern that the baby may not get enough nutrition at the later stages and that can be why they need to monitor growth. My research has demonstrated that for the majority of babies with this there are no complications. I think there is more likely to be issues with it if there are other markers noted on scans in particular issues with the kidneys and heart. My scans so far have been fine. Some people are recommended to get a detailed heart scan but no one has mentioned this to me. I also have read that sometimes the babies in the post natal period can have issues with UTI. My friend think she had this with her first DD and it was not discovered until she gave birth, my friend thinks that her DD has a large belly button because of the SUA the body compensated for only one artery and the one artery
developed bigger. I had my first appointment yesterday, they transferred me fro MIL care to Consultant lead care following the discovery of the SUA but not sure if that was out of concern or because they are treating me with kid gloves due to the error they made, they did say it was standard practise so not sure. The Dr I saw yesterday was not very concerned but I find medical professional to be like this as it is not their baby. Baby is measuring fine for dates at the minute and they are not getting me back for 4 weeks for another scan. I went overdue with both DD and DS and said to the Dr yesterday that I would not be happy with a not fully functioning cord to go into the overdue period. I know two people who lost babies in the overdue period after straightforward pregnancies. Dr was having none of me yesterday and basically said they would not induce me at term just because I was anxious they would only do it for medical reasons, fair enough but I will be pushing for it as the idea of having a SUA and going overdue terrifies me.

Original poster
Bumpiemalumpie · 22/01/2014 15:11

Thank you, it reassures me to hear others stories and that their consultants are just as blasé!!

I hate that I may be being treated with kid gloves as no one will tell me why there are concerns but I have found the same research.

I am sure I will find out soon!!

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minipie · 22/01/2014 15:32

Hi, I had a SUA found with DD.

As well as the other things mentioned above, SUA is also linked to prematurity. DD was in fact born 6 weeks premature (which obviously meant hospital birth rather than MLU). I don't know whether that was because of the SUA or some other reason such as infection or stress. She was growing perfectly normally so it doesn't seem like a cord problem, but who knows.

Anyway risk of prematurity is not a reason for writing off the MLU in advance. I was told MLU would be fine despite SUA. However, in my case they knew there were no chromosomal problems as I'd had a CVS following high DS risk at 13 weeks. It may be that the doctor is saying hospital because of the risk of chromosomal problems (even though your scans all look fine, he's playing it safe).

Lagoonablue · 22/01/2014 18:43

I read some NICE guidance when I was pg saying that a SUA was not an issue, or not worth mentioning. Sure I did.

Plateofcrumbs · 22/01/2014 18:54

Really reassuring to hear of other people's experiences.

Original poster
Bumpiemalumpie · 23/01/2014 12:37

I know plates I have felt very alone! There isn't much info out there!

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Original poster
Bumpiemalumpie · 27/01/2014 09:27

Hey all, lo was born saturday am after a long birth but there have been no sua complications this far and very little acknowledgment yby drs etc!!

good luck all and thanks for the hand holding

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Lancelottie · 27/01/2014 12:35

Congratulations! Very impressed that you are already updating MN.

Original poster
Bumpiemalumpie · 28/01/2014 14:31

Well, when stuck post op ward with free WiFi, what's a gal to do!!!!

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