Two-Vessel Cord: Its Causes, Risk Factors And Effects On Baby

There are several theories related to why this condition arises in infants.

Medically reviewed by Subhashis Samajder, MS, DNB Subhashis Samajder Subhashis SamajderMS, DNB Follow MomJunction on LinkedinFollow MomJunction on YouTube Specialty: Obstetrics & GynaecologyExperience: 9 years
Written by , MSc shreeja pillai MSc Follow MomJunction on Linkedin Specialty: Pharma and HealthExperience: 2.5 years
Edited by , BSc Rebecca Malachi BSc Follow MomJunction on Linkedin Specialty: Pregnancy, Health and WellnessExperience: 12 years
Fact-checked by , M.Pharm, PhD Dr. Joyani Das M.Pharm, PhD Follow MomJunction on Linkedin Specialty: Pharma, Health and WellnessExperience: 3.5 years
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Two-vessel Cord

Image: Shutterstock

The umbilical cord is a three-vessel cord (having two arteries and one vein) that connects the fetus to the placenta. However, the umbilical cord undergoes irregularity in some women and becomes a two-vessel cord (having one artery and one vein). The exact cause of the formation of a two-vessel cord is unknown, but a few theories try to explain the condition. The presence of this umbilical cord may lead to certain complications, so doctors monitor such pregnancies closely to ensure the baby grows properly. Read the post to get more information on a two-vessel cord, its causes, associated pregnancy risk factors, and effects on the baby.

In This Article

Key Pointers

  • The umbilical cord happens to be formed during the fifth week of pregnancy and provides critical nutrients and oxygen to the fetus.
  • A two-vessel cord is an abnormal condition in which the umbilical cord has one vein and one artery, instead of two.
  • Risk factors for a two-vessel cord include maternal age (above 40), smoking, diabetes, or high blood sugar.
  • The condition may sometimes increase the risk of preterm birth or fetal abnormalities.
  • To avoid any complications associated with the two-vessel cord, timely medical checkup is recommended to see the baby’s growth.

What Is A Normal Umbilical Cord?

The formation of an umbilical cord begins during the fifth week

. It connects the fetus to the placenta during pregnancy. It measures around 20in (50cm) in length.

Normally, an umbilical cord has two arteries and one vein. It is also known as a three-vessel cord, which is covered by a thick gelatinous substance called Wharton’s jelly.

Here’s what the blood vessels in the umbilical cord do:

  • The vein carries nutrients and oxygen from the mother to the fetus.
  • The arteries carry the waste products like carbon dioxide and deoxygenated blood away from the fetus to the mother’s bloodstream, to eliminate them through the mother’s kidneys.

In some cases, obstetric complications arise due to a change in the number of blood vessels in the cord. One such abnormality is a two-vessel cord.

What Is A Two-Vessel Cord?

The incidence of two-vessel cord is higher in twin pregnancies

Image: Shutterstock

In a two-vessel cord, there is one vein and just one artery instead of two. It is also called single umbilical artery or SUA. It may affect 0.5–6% of all pregnancies worldwide with a higher incidence in twin pregnancies (1).

protip_icon Quick fact
For reasons not known yet, it has been found that in around 70% of cases, it is the left umbilical artery that is absent in a two-vessel cord (7).

What Causes This Umbilical Cord Abnormality?

Though the exact cause of two-vessel cord is not known, there are two theories around it.

As per one theory, this condition arises because one of the two arteries stops to grow inside the womb, while another theory suggests improper splitting of the artery into two (2).

As mentioned earlier, this condition occurs in less than 1% of singleton pregnancies but some women are at a higher risk than others.

What Are The Risk Factors For A Two-Vessel Cord?

Diabetes or episodes of high blood sugar may increase the risk

Image: Shutterstock

Here are the factors that could make a woman susceptible:

  • Pregnancy after 40 years of age
  • Pregnant with a girl
  • History of diabetes or episodes of high blood sugar
  • Caucasian women
  • Multiple pregnancies
  • Smoking

However, this condition can arise without any risk factors threatening neonatal health. In most cases, the baby is normal, but in a few cases, there could be problems associated with fetal development and SUA.

How Is A Two-Vessel Cord Diagnosed?

The SUA can be detected during a prenatal ultrasound scan. Usually, the doctors check for the umbilical arteries during the 18th week of gestation. A color-flow Doppler ultrasound can help detect this abnormality earlier. It is usually done in the 14th week.

The doctors also assess the problem by checking:

  • Your family and personal medical history
Doctor may asses your medical history to diagnose the condition

Image: Shutterstock

  • Fetal echocardiogram to check the functioning of the fetal heart
  • Genetic abnormality screening such as an aneuploidy screening

One or more of these tests will help with a prenatal diagnosis and help you know if it is going to affect the baby. Also, your doctor will suggest regular monitoring of your baby through ultrasounds to ensure proper fetal growth and detect any abnormalities as soon as possible.

protip_icon Did you know?
In a two-vessel cord, the single umbilical artery becomes large and is almost equal to the size of the umbilical vein (which, in normal cases, is larger than the artery) (7).

Does Single Umbilical Artery Pose A Risk To The Baby?

SUA need not necessarily harm your baby. Sometimes, it doesn’t result in pregnancy complications (3). However, in some cases, there is an increased risk of birth defects, which include (4):

  • Intrauterine growth restriction leading to fetal malformations (requires serial follow-up)
  • Congenital heart problems
  • Kidney problems (postnatal urinary infection)
  • Restricted growth of the central nervous system
  • Preterm labor and premature birth
  • Gastrointestinal problems
  • Edwards syndrome (Trisomy 18)

If the doctor finds no adverse effects of the two-vessel cord on the baby, then it is called an isolated single umbilical artery. In such a case, another ultrasound screening is recommended in the later weeks for fetal monitoring to see if the baby is growing in proportion to their gestational age.

If the obstetric ultrasound findings indicate any probable abnormalities regarding the pregnancy outcome, the doctor suggests an amniocentesis (a sample of amniotic fluid is tested after ten weeks for congenital abnormalities in the fetus). If the baby is born with organ dysfunction, then extra care is provided in the NICU.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does a two-vessel cord signify Down’s syndrome?

No, your uterus having a two-vessel cord does not necessarily mean your baby has Down’s syndrome. However, note that a two-vessel cord increases the risk of the baby experiencing fetal distress or developing Down’s syndrome. Therefore, adequate monitoring and tests are needed to determine the neonatal outcome and its management (5).

2. What does an infected umbilical cord look like?

An umbilical cord infection may adversely affect maternal health and will have the following symptoms (6):

  • Red and inflamed cord
  • Cloudy and foul-smelling discharge
  • Minor bleeding
  • Swelling in the area around the cord.

3. Can a two-vessel cord be treated or corrected during pregnancy?

There is no recorded evidence denoting a treatment or correction procedure for a single umbilical artery or a two-vessel cord.

4. Can a two-vessel cord affect future pregnancies for the mother?

There is no evidence to suggest that a two-vessel cord can affect future pregnancies in the mother. However, it’s best to consult your doctor before planning for the next pregnancy.

Some women may have a missing artery in the umbilical cord. If you have two blood vessels instead of three blood vessels in your umbilical cord during pregnancy, your doctor may keep you under observation. The doctor may diagnose the condition in the 18th week of pregnancy during routine scans. The condition may be more common in women carrying multiple babies or above 40 years of age. While most women with a two-vessel cord go on to have normal pregnancies, some might experience complications.

Infographic: Factors That Increase The Risk Of A Two-Vessel Cord

A two-vessel cord pregnancy may cause complications for the baby; hence an expecting mother with this condition needs constant monitoring and regular prenatal care. Nonetheless, some factors can make a pregnant woman more susceptible to developing a two-vessel cord, as highlighted in the infographic below.

factors that increase the risk of a two vessel cord (infographic)

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team


Worried about your baby’s umbilical cord having only one artery? Find out if it’s of clinical importance in this video.

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.
  1. Homeira Vafaei et al.; (2021); Prevalence of single umbilical artery clinical outcomes and its risk factors: A cross-sectional study.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8261099/
  2. Yajuan Xu et al.; (2016); Association Between Isolated Single Umbilical Artery and Perinatal Outcomes: A Meta-Analysis.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4913809/
  3. Shilpa Chetty-John et al.; (2010); Long-term physical and neurologic development in newborn infants with isolated single umbilical artery.
    ttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3454509/
  4. Cristina Martínez-Payo et al.; (2014); Detection of Single Umbilical Artery in the First Trimester Ultrasound: Its Value as a Marker of Fetal Malformation.
    https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2014/548729/
  5. Helping you understand scary (but often harmless) pregnancy ultrasound findings.
    https://utswmed.org/medblog/pregnancy-ultrasound-scary/
  6. Umbilical Cord Infection (Newborn).
    https://www.fairview.org/
  7. Single umbilical artery.
    https://radiopaedia.org/articles/single-umbilical-artery

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Subhashis Samajder
Subhashis Samajder MS, DNB
Dr. Subhashis Samajder, a consultant gynecologist-obstetrician with nine years of experience, is currently practicing at Narayana Multispeciality Hospital, Howrah. His area of expertise includes abortion, colposcopy surgery, hysterectomy, hysteroscopy, infertility treatment, and menopausal problems.

Read full bio of Subhashis Samajder
shreeja pillai
shreeja pillaiMSc
Shreeja holds a postgraduate degree in Chemistry and diploma in Drug Regulatory Affairs from the University of Mumbai. Before joining MomJunction, she worked as a research analyst with a leading multinational pharmaceutical company.

Read full bio of shreeja pillai
Rebecca Malachi
Rebecca MalachiBSc
Rebecca is a pregnancy writer and editor with a passion for delivering research-based and engaging content in areas of fertility, pregnancy, birth, and post-pregnancy. She did her graduation in Biotechnology and Genetics from Loyola Academy, Osmania University and obtained a certification in ‘Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy’ from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU).

Read full bio of Rebecca Malachi
Dr. Joyani Das
Dr. Joyani DasM.Pharm, PhD
Dr. Joyani Das did her post-graduation from Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra and PhD in Pharmacology. Previously, she worked as an associate professor, faculty of Pharmacology, for two years. With her research background in preclinical studies and a zeal for scientific writing, she joined MomJunction as a health writer.

Read full bio of Dr. Joyani Das
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