umbilical cords

[Valerie]

OK, this really isn't going anywhere, I'm just having a CC wondering moment!

When Nicholas was born, I was told he only had 2 vessels in his umbilical cord instead of 3. So now I got to wondering if this was associated with DS.

So...I was looking it up on the net this morning, and found a site that said it was associated with different medical problems, like heart defects (which he had), and also with some congenital anomalies, like Trisomy 8, 13, but is UNCOMMON with Trisomy 21.

So, just wondered if any of the rest of you had been told that about the cord?

[meghans_mom]

Valerie - the 2 vessel cord is a "soft marker" of DS. Meaning it is more common in kids w/ DS, but it happens w/ other conditions and in typical children as well. I don't think that website is correct in saying it is uncommon, from what I have learned, but then maybe my info is incorrect....it does happen every so often, LOL!
MM had a 2 vessel cord, it was one of the markers on the u/s.
laurie

[ALLISA]

Interesting Valerie....I honestly don't know about Erin's cord....but when she was born.....EVRYTHING came out at once. The docs said she was "basically holding the placenta in her lap".....there was no afterbirth to do !

I always thought that perhaps my amniotic fluid had dried up before she was born. I don't quite recall there being a big gush when they broke my water, either.

[myangelsaliandsadi]

Only thing I know about the cord was that it was around her neck, and if she hadn't come out in 6 pushes I woudl have had to have a C-section...and it's a good thing I didn't because I BLEED.
I do plan to get my complete medical records and look into things like this however. Both of my girls were early and I'm wondering if there is a reason for that in there. I didn't find out until Ali was over a year old that there was even markers in my ultrasound...if I had been armed with my AFP results AND markers on the ultrasound instead of just my gut feeling I definitely would have told the family that she had DS and they could have prepared.

I'm definitely interested in this stuff....just in case I decide to have future kids...with all the genetic health issues they have I don't feel like adding prematurity to the mix again. Chances are slim we will have more biologically...but just in case I'd like to know what really happened.

[momofrussell]

I know they said something about Russell's cord too.. I think it was 2 corded instead of 3.. it was taken to pathology and I don't know what ever came of any of it.

A.

[shellk]

I do know that Kourney's cord was a 3 vessel, and her cord was long. I had also heard something about sometimes kids with DS have short cords?? Not sure but I think there was a thread on here about it..Buta loooooong time ago.


Michele

[Valerie]

I didn't know it was common with DS, but Nicholas had a short cord, too. Short, 2 vessels, and wrapped around his neck....ended up having an emergency C-section because of that cord!!

[mom2nicole]

Nicole's cord was so short that with every contraction her heart rate would go down and until I delivered her they didn't know why so I was being turned every which way to see if she was laying on it and they even put water back up in me to see if that would help but it didn't, But it made for a beautiful baby because she was clean when she came out! hehe

[Kristen]

Carter's had 3 as far as I knew, but he has no heart defect, so maybe that's part of it? His cord was around his neck twice, but with no fluid and his compromised condition, any number of factors could have caused the problems the two of us had.

[momofrussell]

you know.. now that you mention the SHORT part.. I think that was it.. I really don't remember if it was a 2 or 3 vessel.. I think it was short though... it was something though!

How's that for VAGUE! LMAO

A.

[myangelsaliandsadi]

Ali's cord was also short, which is why it being wrapped around her neck was so bad in the first place.

I plan to talk to this Dr tomorrow anyway so I'll see if I can't get a copy of the records. My medical records are not nearly as long as the kid's so it shouldn't be too big of a deal.

[CC]

Hmmmmmmm NO one ever mentioned anything bout the cord in any way shape or form when Chris was born I just might ask my Ped next time I am there, just for the heck of it

CC ~

[marisa]

Laura's cord was very short too. Mark could not even cut it because it was so short, it would have never been able to wrap around her neck. I know there wasn't enough blood to dothe cord blood donation we had planned. Not sure if they would have taken it anyway with the DS and all.

[wrblack]

Charlie had a two-vessel cord, single umbilical artery (SUA). He was also IUGR. From www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/681_4546.asp
"What is single umbilical artery?
About 1 percent of singleton and about 5 percent of multiple pregnancies have an umbilical cord that contains only two blood vessels, instead of the normal three, as one artery is missing. The cause of this abnormality is unknown. If an ultrasound examination shows that the baby appears to have no other abnormalities, the baby is likely to be born healthy.

However, studies suggest that about 25 percent of babies with single umbilical artery have birth defects, including chromosomal and/or other abnormalities. A woman whose baby is diagnosed with single umbilical artery during an ultrasound examination may be offered prenatal testing using ultrasound evaluation of the fetal heart and amniocentesis to diagnose or rule out chromosomal abnormalities. Even if the baby does not appear to have birth defects, the pregnant woman will probably be monitored carefully for the remainder of the pregnancy because of a somewhat increased risk of poor fetal growth, preterm delivery and stillbirth."

So, his SUA correlates well with being a preemie with IUGR. But he did not have any real heart defects. And, yes, looks like SUA correlates more strongly with T13, T18, and triploidy, than with T21.
Go figure.
Bob