One of the leading experts on blood and marrow transplantation, Joanne Kurtzberg, MD, was the first physician to use umbilical cord blood from unrelated donors to cure cancers and life-threatening genetic disorders and Duke University. In this recent article she answers many questions about cord blood, its benefits and what the future holds for the science …
Continue ReadingDo you need a Doula?
The concept of a doula is not new. A woman supporting another woman through labor is a tradition that goes back many years in all cultures. Some women do not live in close-knit communities where their sisters, mothers, aunts, and friends are there to support them through pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood; these events can be …
Continue ReadingWhat do you think about twiblings???
In a recent New York Times article, an infertile couple decided to have IVF with an egg donor and then have a gestational carrier. There are many ethical and moral questions that arise from this type of pregnancy. And to add a curve to the story they wanted twins so they asked two separate gestational …
Continue ReadingPreterm Labor a Thing of the Past?
It’s a growing consensus in the medical and public health fields: babies need as much womb-time as they can get, and every day counts. In fact, even though 37 weeks is considered full term, groups like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend waiting until 39 weeks to induce labor, barring medical necessity. And …
Continue ReadingInsurance coverage during Pregnancy
Chances are most of us have sorted this out; but there are always potholes that pop up (down?) and throw us off, particularly in this economic environment. So, here’s a brief write up on health insurance companies and what they can and cannot do regarding the expected – or unexpected – pregnancy.
Continue ReadingBanking On The Benefits Of Cord Blood
During pregnancy, many women are asked whether they plan to bank their baby’s cord blood.This is a personal decision with many options available. This article explains what can be done with your baby’s umbilical cord and potential uses it has.
Continue ReadingKegels???
Those wonderful little exercises to help your body move through pregnancy and delivery are called kegels. Keeping fit while you’re pregnant is vital to a healthy pregnancy and happy mom-to-be. These two articles shows just how important it is to maintain good health all the way through your pregnancy. There is also a pretty cool …
Continue ReadingTreatment for Varicose Veins
Those lovely little veins seem to come out of nowhere. One day they suddenly appear! As if by magic! Well, not really magic, its just the extra blood pumping through your veins to supply oxygen and nutrients to your baby. Here are some common treatments to help keep them at bay.
Continue ReadingOne family’s remarkable Thanksgiving tale of gratitude
What a wonderful Thanksgiving story with an amazing outcome. A 7-year-old boy, Quentin Murray, survived leukemia because his 2-year-old sister Jory’s placenta and umbilical cord stem cells, taken at her birth, were later used as part of a bone marrow transplant for her brother. Umbilical cord preservation and banking is so important, in fact …
Continue ReadingPregnancy Eating: What’s Safe, What’s Not
The one time you’re actually supposed to eat more — and now it suddenly seems like every food is off limits. Read here for the final word on which foods to skip and which ones are A-OK during pregnancy.
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