What is the only umbilical artery?
During pregnancy, the umbilical cord connects the mother and child. The blood flows through the placenta cord, transmits nutrients and oxygen to the fetus and then back on the placenta with waste products from the fetus. Two arteries and one vein are usually present within the umbilical cord. In approximately 1% of pregnancy with one fruit and up to 5% pregnancy with twins or other multiples, the vein is present, but there is only one umbilical artery.
The umbilical cord is formed at the beginning of pregnancy. By the fifth week, the structure is completed and the umbilical vessels begin to work. The cord is attached to the placenta that transmits nutrients and oxygen from the mother's blood to the fetal blood without real blood mixing. The umbilical vein, the largest of the three vessels, supplies blood from placenta to fetus and arteries transmit blood back to the placenta. As the artery is smaller, the presence of one umbilical artery (SuA) can drastically reduce the amount of waste products removed from the fetus. The two bearers' cord indicates only problems in up to 25% of diagnosed cases. If there is a congenital forBlem, usually include abnormalities at chromosomal level or defects of the nervous system, urine or heart.
ultrasound testing during pregnancy can diagnose one umbilical artery. If the images reveal a single umbilical vein and only one artery, the mother may be offered further testing to determine whether any congenital abnormalities may be present. These tests may include sampling of fetal fluid, known as amniocentesis, fetal heart echocardiogram or repetition or extensive ultrasound. Although other testing does not reveal any defects, the mother may be recommended to undergo periodic ultrasound during the rest of its pregnancy to monitor the blood flow through the cord and the development and health of the fetus.
Since there is no known reason for the condition, it is considered little to do to prevent it. One study found a possible correlation between the development of one umbilicalpny and smoking the mother during pregnancy; However, this must still be confirmed by further studies. It is known that mothers' smoking causes further complications of pregnancy and birth, including low birth weight, placental and abortion problems.