What does it mean when a unborn baby's umbilical cord is trivascular?

A trivascular umbilical cord means that the cord contains three blood vessels: two arteries and one vein. This configuration is typical and is essential for proper fetal circulation; the two arteries carry deoxygenated blood from the fetus to the placenta, while the single vein returns oxygenated blood from the placenta to the fetus. A healthy trivascular cord is important for adequate nutrient and oxygen supply to the developing baby. In contrast, an abnormal cord with fewer than three vessels may be associated with certain health risks.