Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

2 vessel umbilical cord

33 replies

fifitot · 06/02/2010 19:46

Anyone know anything about this?

At 18 wk scan this showed up but sonographer said it is an incidental finding as everything else OK. trouble is not seeing doc for 2 week so not sure if this raises concerns.

There are already issues with this pregnancy as am in my 40s and have declined amnio. Though the nuchal etc was fine and put my out of high risk - just.

I have googled and terrified myself of course. Some places it says it is of little consequence where there is no other soft marker but can't help being worried in the light of my other factors.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Phoenix · 06/02/2010 19:59

When my ds2 was born they said he had a 2 vessel cord. It was never picked up in any scans though so we had no clue about it. I can't say for sure if this is anything to do with it but he also had 1 finger on his left hand missing which was also never picked up in any scans. I'm not meaning to scare you further but i also googled it after his birth and read that it can cause birth defects.

LaDiDaDi · 06/02/2010 20:02

Two-vessel cord has been thought to be associated with renal (kidney) anomalies however this association is now thought to be much weaker than it was previously considered to be and that alone, without any other issues, would not warrant further investigations once your dc is born.

Phoenix · 06/02/2010 20:04

Oh yes forgot about the kidney thing. Ds2 had a kidney scan at 6wk old and it was all fine.

mololoko · 06/02/2010 20:07

My friend had this. It can be a symptom of birth defects - my friend was told it may be indicative edward's syndrome. However, they went for further scans (they had to push hard for them) which indicated no apparant problems and their dd is absolutely fine and healthy.

Sorry this has come along to worry you, but if you do want to inbestigate it further I would get a GPs appointment sooner, if only to put your mind at rest. Hope it all works out for you.

Original poster
fifitot · 06/02/2010 20:27

Thanks. I doubt will go to GP but may arrange to see the consultant at the hospital. The kidneys were fine on the scan.

OP posts:
bearcrumble · 06/02/2010 20:35

I know of two people who had a single vessel cord and their babies were fine.

trace2 · 06/02/2010 21:02

i had this with dd2 found out at 20 weeks scan, and tbh put the fear of god in me, i was told that could mean downs, edwards or kidneys or structural, or just a girl or even nothing or a small baby,and i too refused amino as i was 41 and i knew i wanted the baby so from 20 weeks we worried but had regular scans to check weight.

anyway dd was born a tiny 5lb 8oz but seamed healthy , at 2 weeks she got kidney infections after infections but on abbs till she was 1 half years old, and as other problems but i must had they are not because of the two cord vessel , we are under genetics and they said her problems are not because of that.

i dont want to worry you as i know loads with two cords but are fine

Original poster
fifitot · 06/02/2010 21:16

Just another thing to stress about isn't it?

Thanks for your replies. If anyone else has experience of this please post.

OP posts:
Phoenix · 06/02/2010 21:25

Absolutely. I'm so glad, in a way, that it was never picked up with ds2 because it didn't add to the worry i already had with pregnancy in general. He has had no other problem at all and even his missing finger shouldn't bother him (it's on my profile if you want to look. You wouldn't actually notice unless you knew about it or studied his hand)

Try not to worry (i know easier said than done)

bexxaa · 06/02/2010 23:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Neeko · 07/02/2010 09:24

Hi. My DD had this but it wasn't detected until the birth. She was born a sturdy 8lbs 4oz. They monitored her wee for the 1st day or so and scanned her kidneys at 10 days. All fine. Try not to worry. All could be fine and either way you WILL cope with it. (The one i'm carrying right now has renal pelvic dilation and I'm trying to take my own advice) Good luck.

bexxaa · 07/02/2010 09:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

4everhopeful · 08/02/2010 08:23

My dd just got diagnosed with 2 vessel cord at anomaly scan 2wks ago, im 24wks this fri & havin had 4 mc over last 2yrs its freaked me out (tho mc likely to be immune issue & at 9 & 13wk so def unrelated). However having an anxious pregnancy already, this is all i needed to hear! My consultant has tried to reassure me that as kidneys & heart look ok in scan, should be ok as no obvious soft markers, however they will monitor growth as this can apparently be affected in 3rd trimester. Dd also measuring big so 'should' be reassured by that too! Doesnt stop the worries tho, google is bad & freaked me out more, found a few forums tho with alot of positive stories, but the odd horror story too.. ... Basically they are gonna monitor me with regular scans, next one 2wks tomorrow, and also will prob scan kidneys after birth, tho will try & push for heart check too as have history on dads side.. I think in general I must try & be positive as consultant said, 'worrying wont make extra artery grow!' we have to hold onto the positives that all else looks ok thank god... Will just say tho that hosp prob better equipped to answer concerns, my gp is great but hadnt heard of it & also had to google it! (it is 1 in 100 to be fair)... Ill come back after next scan & keep you posted, really appreciate this thread bein here so please do the same and all keep posting?! Rl experiences are invaluable & much better than scary googling! Good luck everyone & thanks again x x x x x

Original poster
fifitot · 08/02/2010 08:41

Thanks for posting 4ever. I am due a scan next Tues and am pretty much expecting they will say much the same thing. An obstetrician I know said it is usual to just monitor growth. I am trying to be reassured by the positives too and ignoring the google hrror stories!

The obs I know said they wouldn't reaaly worry if there was no other issue and on it's own it's an isolated thing.

Keep posting and will let you know what they say at my scan next week!

OP posts:
4everhopeful · 08/02/2010 08:56

Ah thats really good to hear fifi.. It is the general consensus from the professionals that in our cases we shouldnt be too concerned so we should hold onto that i guess! Be great to keep each other updated with our progress & hold each others hands in wobbly moments tho, so thanks again for starting this! Good luck with next wks scan, ill keep everything crossed for you & will be lurking! PMA eh hon?! x x x x x

Neeko · 08/02/2010 11:56

Bexxaa I think if they'd been worried at all they'd have done one. Is your DS having plenty of wet nappies? Maybe speak to your HV if you're overly concerned, but it doesn;t sound like you should be.

Hi 4ever Keep listening to your golfer. He knows what he's doing!

4everhopeful · 08/02/2010 13:13

Hello Neeko my lovely! Thanks hon, i shall do! X

MummyTumble · 08/02/2010 14:36

My son had one - he's absolutely fine - (it scared me to death as we lost his sister the year before to edwards syndrome!) He had a kidney scan a few days after he was born and showed everything to be ok.

Original poster
fifitot · 08/02/2010 15:11

I contacted ARC (ante-natal resourcs and choices) who are a marvellous body if you have queries about tests etc. This is what they said regarding my query whether a 2 vessel cord was a 'soft marker' for Edwards or any other abnormality and this is what they said...

'Sorry if you have been made anxious by the scan finding. National guidance is very clear now that a two vessel cord is a ?normal variant? and is not significant. I know it is hard not to worry when things are picked up but with your screening result and everything else fine on scan, it is all looking good'

I still expect my consultant to want to scan me more, she thinks I am ancient (I am!) but this is quite reassuring to tbh pretty much what the sonographer said.

OP posts:
Original poster
fifitot · 08/02/2010 15:30

I mean Ante-Natal Results and Choices.

OP posts:
4everhopeful · 16/02/2010 07:30

Fifi, just wanna say good luck with ur scan today! Hope your not too nervous, im already a bit wobbly about my scan next tues... Will be sending positive vibes to u today & ill be back later to see how u got on.. x x x x x

Original poster
fifitot · 16/02/2010 08:06

Thankyou! When I have more info I will post.

OP posts:
butterscotch · 16/02/2010 08:39

Just wanted to let you know my DD had this she was born with no health problems and is a healthy lively 2.5yr old!

She was only 6lb 6oz but that was big enough for me quite frankly!

I scared myself into a right state when I found out but the sonographer told me then said speak to your midwife and I was shuffed out of the door! So not a great experience!

I had a growth scan at 34 weeks and saw my MW more frequently for growth measurements etc...

After I had her they did the normal newborn checks and said there was nothing wrong.

I'm pregnant again and at booking appointment this time I expressed concern (couldn't find out if there was anything hiedartary about it!) so she referred me to the consultant for my 16 week appointment! On seeing him he did a quick scan to check the cord confirmed this pregnancy seems okay!

At my 20 week scan this time I mentioned it to the sonographer who said to me in recent times with new technology that it is being picked up in scans previously it was only picked up at birth!

The sonographer went onto say they rarely bother with growth follow up scans now as it is so common.

My SIL also had a 2 Cord Vessel with no issues, and she smoked through her pregnancy and my DN is fine!

Some of the stories I read online were horrific please do not read any from the states they appear to be far worse!

Good luck

Original poster
fifitot · 16/02/2010 16:51

Thankyou butterscotch. Actually at scan today they didn't seem bothered at all.

Unfortunately they found an ecogenci foci in the stomach - again they don't really know the significance of this. It's not like some of the markers they find in the brain, or bowel. So I have to get scanned again at 28 wks!

I am avoiding googling but did try a bit today and found out very little. It doesn't seem to be a marker for anything in particular so will just have to get on with things.

Thanks everyone.

OP posts:
4everhopeful · 16/02/2010 18:51

Hiya Fifi, reassuring to hear they werent concerned about the 2 vessel cord, just a shame you werent given the opportunity to go away & quit worrying all together cos of the other finding..

If it was indicitive of any other markers then at least you would of been told so I guess its back to head in the sand & hope for the best approach! How many weeks are you now? Ill keep everything crossed that all will be just fine for you...

I shall let you know how my scan goes next Tues..

Thanks again & all the best... Make sure you keep us updated wont you?! x x x x x