Gifts of Life and Love
February is the month of hearts and flowers. Along with the romance, there are gifts of love that can change lives. We have some ideas for the newest members of your family, before they’re even born.
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Cord Blood Collection: A Guide for Midwives and Parents
When parents-to-be choose a midwife or home birth but also want to store their child’s umbilical cord blood stem cells for the future, they might wonder if it’s possible to collect umbilical cord blood when their baby is born outside of a hospital. The answer is yes, it is possible, and your midwife can follow the instructions provided by the… Read More »Cord Blood Collection: A Guide for Midwives and Parents
Is Cord Blood Banking Worth the Cost?
For many parents, making the decision to privately bank umbilical cord stem cells for their baby is a choice similar to deciding whether to purchase life or disability insurance: they’re paying for something that they hope they’ll never need to use. If you store your baby’s cord blood, you’ll rest assured that your family is covered in the event of… Read More »Is Cord Blood Banking Worth the Cost?
Delayed Cord Clamping: Debunking the Myths
Delayed cord clamping is the subject of much debate. As with any hot topic, there is a lot of information out there to digest, and some of it is not entirely true, or outright false. Parents who want to store their child’s umbilical cord blood often have questions about when to clamp the umbilical cord, and how that timing affects… Read More »Delayed Cord Clamping: Debunking the Myths
Umbilical Cord vs Embryonic Stem Cells
Stem cell research has been in many debates in recent years. What might not be understood is that the controversy centers on the source of the stem cells. There has been an extraordinary amount of research and developments made in both umbilical cord stem cell and embryonic stem cell research. What’s the difference? Collecting stem cells from the leftover blood… Read More »Umbilical Cord vs Embryonic Stem Cells
Umbilical Stem Cells: Pros & Cons of Treatment
Doctors and researchers are always studying and learning more about how to treat various diseases. Stem cell transplants are one of the most promising treatments for certain conditions and illnesses. There are three types of stem cells – those from bone marrow, blood and an umbilical cord. The goal for all three kinds of transplants is to give patients stem… Read More »Umbilical Stem Cells: Pros & Cons of Treatment
Planning for the Future and Cord Blood Banking Go Hand-in-Hand
Parents worry a lot about their child’s future. Understandably, they want their kids to be healthy, happy and cared for. When couples are expecting their first baby, they often take time to prepare for scenarios which they hope they never have to face, but they know they should have a plan for, just in case. Parents draw up their wills… Read More »Planning for the Future and Cord Blood Banking Go Hand-in-Hand
What You Need To Know About Cord Blood If You Have a Family History of Disease
In the first twenty years of umbilical cord blood stem cell transplants, doctors and researchers have already discovered more than 80 diseases that can be treated with these stem cells. Even if a disease in your family isn’t currently on the list of those treatable diseases, research is ongoing and new treatments are found all the time. Treatment of genetic… Read More »What You Need To Know About Cord Blood If You Have a Family History of Disease
The Decision to Bank Cord Blood
Among the many topics about your pregnancy and the conversations you’ll have with your doctor or midwife, one might be about the decision to bank your baby’s umbilical cord blood. The best time to talk about cord blood banking is during your second trimester. That’s sometime between your 13th and 26th week. Whether or not you choose to bank cord blood, you’ll want to do some research.
Pregnancy and Breast Cancer Risk
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is the annual campaign to encourage support for research of the disease, as well as early detection. A lot of progress has been made in understanding breast cancer risk factors. Do you know yours? Studies have shown that a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer is related to her exposure to hormones — estrogen and progesterone… Read More »Pregnancy and Breast Cancer Risk