Tips and Advice

If you have recently had a baby or are expecting then you will have probably already heard of cord blood banking. Umbilical cord blood is human blood from the placenta and umbilical cord which is rich in hematopoietic stem cells. Cord blood is collected after the umbilical cord has been detached from the newborn and utilised as a source of stem cells for transplantation.

This cord blood is stored in cord blood banks. Private cord blood banks are for profit organisations that store cord blood for the exclusive use of the donor or donor’s relatives. Public cord blood banking is strongly supported by the medical community. However, private cord blood banking is generally not recommended unless there is a family history of specific genetic diseases. Private banking is unlawful in some countries and opposed by numerous ethical science groups.

Those expecting a baby are likely to be contacted about cord blood banking. Cord blood contains very important cells which are necessary to develop a healthy immune system. Cord blood can not only be used for your baby but for others that have the same type of blood and tissue. It is therefore very valuable.

You can bank your baby’s blood in a public cord blood bank or a private cord blood bank. If you deposit the cord blood in a public bank, it can be used by anyone who needs it. If you choose to store it in a private bank, it can only be used at your discretion for your child or compatible family members.

Cord blood can be used to help treat or cure many illnesses including some cancers. No one loses out in this process. The umbilical cord would otherwise be thrown out and wasted so collecting it to possibly help someone else in the future is a great idea.

The decision to donate your baby’s cord blood is completely up to the baby’s parents. It can be costly if you deposit it in a private bank but it could be worth while to possibly help your family in the future if they suffer from certain serious illnesses. Donating to a public bank could help many people who otherwise might succumb to a fatal illness. Either way, it’s something to seriously consider.

Morning sickness occurs in more than 50% of pregnant women although it can also occur in women who are not pregnant. The symptoms are similar to that of a cold or the flu. Sometimes it may be like a very bad case of the flu while other times the mother might only feel run down and tired. It often involves vomiting, especially in the morning, hence the name, but this is not always the case.

It is a common occurrence in expectant mothers but whether or not you will suffer from morning sickness depends on your body as well as the baby. You may find that you suffer from morning sickness during one pregnancy but not another.

Morning sickness can occur at any time during a pregnancy but often starts in the first couple of weeks and usually ends in the second trimester. The nausea generally comes on gradually. You will most likely experience it infrequently at first and then more and more often as your pregnancy progresses. As you are coming towards the end of your morning sickness your nausea and vomiting will be reduced and it will eventually stop.

Pregnancy is not the only cause of morning sickness. Other causes are the birth control pill and hormone replacement therapy.

Even though morning sickness is very common you should still visit your doctor to ensure your health and that of your baby is not affected. Frequent vomiting can result in dehydration and a lack of nutrition which should be monitored.