Ever since Cliff Lee’s son, Jaxon, was diagnosed with leukemia ten years ago, the major league pitcher never takes one day for granted. Through several rounds of chemotherapy and ultimately an umbilical cord transplant, Jaxon has made a full recovery and is now considered to be in remission. Because his doctors were able use stem cells to …
Continue ReadingScientists Successfully Expand Bone Marrow-Derived Stem Cells in Culture
What exactly do all those medical words mean??? Simply put, stem cells can be multiplied in a culture providing millions and even billions of new cells which might be used in the treatment of anemia, immune deficiencies and other diseases, including some cancers. Since stem cells from bone marrow limit the matching capabilities of the cells, umbilical cord blood …
Continue ReadingMigraines During Pregnancy
Some women who have a history of migraines have them more often when they’re pregnant; others (luckily) experience fewer of them. Many women also have migraines for the first time during pregnancy. Because some research shows that women who suffer from pregnancy migraines may also be at increased risk for hypertension, preeclampsia, and …
Continue ReadingCord blood bill signed into Florida law
According to the Orlando Sentinel, a new bill in Florida last month requires health care providers to educate their clients about cord blood banking options, including public and private banks. In addition, the Florida Department of Health website has now included a link to a non commercial site, www.parentguidecordblood.org which explains the process of collecting cord blood …
Continue ReadingHarlem Hospital Promotes Collection of Life-Saving Umbilical Blood
Since its inception in December, the Harlem Hospital has collected 20 units of cord blood, well above their expectations and a desperately needed boost in the African-American and Latino communities where donations of bone marrow and cord blood lag severely behind that of whites. Umbilical cord blood has unique characteristics that make …
Continue ReadingCord Blood Banking – a decision for Mom and Dad
Examiner.com/Grand Rapids MI has just posted a comprehensive article explaining cord blood banking, its uses and what to look for if you are choosing to bank your baby’s cord blood privately as well as publicly. The author, Nancy Zielinski, is an expert in the fields of public and sexual health. You can read more …
Continue ReadingParents Make Facebook Page for Unborn Child; Becomes Online Journal
We all know about Facebook. We all know that we can re connect with old friends and make new one via this site. However, the parents of this yet unborn baby have already made a page for her and while doing so created an online journal of their nine months of pregnancy. …
Continue ReadingCord Blood Banking Across the Country
The state of Oklahoma is looking at developing a public cord blood bank. Unfortunately for residents of the state, there are not enough births in Oklahoma to justify a state public bank. Right now, for Oklahoma and other smaller states, the only option for cord blood banking is going through a private bank. While public …
Continue ReadingWho Owns Your Baby’s Cord Blood?
Banking your baby’s cord blood is a way to save it for your baby’s future. Some people wonder if the cord blood will be available if it is needed. If you bank it with a private cord blood bank, it will definitely be available. A private cord blood bank stores the cord blood for you, …
Continue ReadingChicago Tribune Offers Cord Blood Banking and Donating Tips
The Chicago Tribune published a short and helpful summary of the dos and don’ts of banking and donating cord blood, including some cautious advice on donating to public banks. The article references three private cord blood banks – because they’re big, no other reason – which reveals the limited scope of the press when considering …
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