lalalalexxi713 answered: what exactly are the health benefits? i’ve heard of not cutting the cord right away, but never knew why. they didn’t cut gavin’s right away.

Benefits:

• Increased levels of iron
• Lower risk of anaemia
• Fewer transfusions
• Fewer incidences of intraventricular haemorrhage.
• Allows newborn to adjust to its new life while still having the support of the mother
• If problems arise during delivery, the umbilical cord and placenta can help keep the newborn stable

(I’m sure there are more, but this is what I found.)

Risks:

• an increased amount of blood increases the risk of jaundice
• isn’t compatible with cord blood banking/donating.

Cord blood is the blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta following birth. It is blood that is usually discarded. Cord blood banking utilizes external facilities as a place to store and preserve a baby’s cord blood. When considering storing your baby’s cord blood, it is important to use a cord blood bank accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), like Viacord. For information about cord blood banking you may call Viacord toll-free at            1-866-384-0476      .

The cord blood of your baby is an abundant source of stem cells which are genetically related to your baby and your family. The stem cells are dominant cells in the way that they contribute to the development of all tissues, organs, and systems in the body.

Stem cells are able to transform into other types of cells in the body to create new growth and development. They are the building block of the immune system. The transformation of these cells provides physicians with a way to treat leukemia and some inherited health disorders (More diseases and conditions treated by stem cells). Cord blood stem cells have similar ability to treat disease as bone marrow but with significantly less rejection.

Banking a baby’s blood and stem cells in a cord blood bank is a type of insurance. Ideally, you will not need to access your baby’s stem cells in order to address a medical problem. But using a cord blood bank can provide peace of mind knowing that you have a valuable resource if you need it. The stem cells from your baby’s cord blood may be effective in treating certain diseases or conditions of a parent or sibling.

The cord blood collection process is simple, safe, and painless. The process usually takes no longer than five minutes. Cord blood collection does not interfere with delivery and is possible with both vaginal and cesarean deliveries. Your health care provider will use either the syringe method or bag method for collecting the blood:

• Syringe method: a syringe is used to draw blood from the umbilical cord shortly after the umbilical cord has been cut. The process is similar to drawing blood for a regular blood test.
• Bag method: the umbilical cord is elevated to drain the blood into a bag.

The syringe or bag should be pre-labeled with a unique number that identifies your baby. Cord blood may only be collected during the first 15 minutes following the birth, and should be processed by the laboratory within 48 hours of collection.

The baby’s cord blood will be processed and stored in a laboratory facility, often referred to as a blood bank. The cord blood should be processed and stored in a facility that is accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) for the purpose of handling stem cells.

There are no health risks related to cord blood collection. Cord blood is retrieved from the umbilical cord after it has been cut thus preventing any pain, discomfort, or harm. Cord blood collection is totally safe.

There are usually two fees involved in cord blood banking. The first is the initial fee which covers enrollment, collection and storage for at least the first year. The second is an annual storage fee. Some facilities vary the initial fee based upon the length of a predetermined period of storage.

Depending on the predetermined period of storage, the initial fee can range from $900 to $2100. Annual storage fees after the initial storage fee are approximately $100.

It is common for storage facilities to offer prepaid plans at a discount and payment plans to help make the initial storage a more attractive option for you and your family.

Your baby’s cord blood could be a valuable resource for another family. From foundations to non-profit blood banks and medical facilities, there are numerous locations that will collect, process, and use the stem cells from your baby’s cord blood to treat other people. Just like other blood donations, there is no cost to the donor of cord blood.

If you do not choose to store your baby’s blood, please consider donating it. Your donation could make a difference in someone else’s life.

Click here to find a public cord blood donation site in your area.

There are several cord blood banks that are accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks. Most offer information on cord blood banking and provide private cord blood banking services. With a little research, you should be able to locate a credible cord blood bank online.

Viacord is accredited by the AABB and they are available to give you immediate answers to your questions. They can be reached toll-free at            1-866-384-0476      .

(source)

Cord blood banking group discounts are being offered by MAZE Cord Blood Laboratories, a private cord blood bank which offers the lowest cost in cord blood banking. The group discount is intended for parents who attend a labor and delivery classes, prenatal yoga or other childbirth classes, and know of other parents who are considering banking their baby’s cord blood.

http://www.mazecordblood.com/cordblood-discount.php

The umbilical cord blood contains immature stem cells that can cure a number of harmful diseases. Today, growing number of people are showing tremendous interest in storing the cord blood of their newborn at a blood bank in order to ensure a secure future. However, while choosing the blood bank make sure to delve into their services before going ahead with them. Also make sure that you go with a reliable bank as they would be storing the precious cord blood of your newborn for quite a long duration. Any damage to the blood can pose a great threat to your future health.

Many people don’t know that taking and preserving your child’s umbilical cord blood is an important step in ensuring your child’s health. In the past, cord blood is usually discarded after the cord is cut. However, modern researchers have found out that cord blood is rich in stem cells, which have the ability to produce other types of blood cells.

It is for this reason that the Institute of Cell Therapy has established a Cryobank of stem cells obtained from umbilical cord blood. With your child’s stem cells stored in the institute’s Cryobank, you can be confident that your child will always have a better treatment option when the time comes that he needs it. Through this method, your child’s long term health is secured, with the stem cells serving as the child’s “biological insurance.”

Because there are thousands of diseases your child may be exposed to, it is always a wise idea to give him as much protection as you can. Secure your child’s health by keeping his umbilical cord blood in a Cryobank.

Umbilical cord transplant or perhaps cord blood transplant can be a new alternative being a hospital treatment for serious blood vessels illnesses, most cancers and also metabolic disorder. Cord blood transplant is actually popular to treate leukemia, lymphoma and also RBC diseases along with fantastic succesfull recovery price.
If you know which connective tissue transplant is really a achievable strategy to this sort of diseases, as compared to cord blood transplant could be a choice for you personally.
Cord blood is abundant associated with haematopoietic or perhaps blood-forming tissues with all the particular persona which make this kind of fresh way to obtain stem cells involve some resemblance of marrow but also involve some different character to marrow or even side-line blood vessels transplants.
This cord blood cells have a special attribute;
cord blood may be used for wider selection of patient. Cord blood possess lower or much less disease fighting capability that make this kind of cord blood have got much less graft-versus-host diseases.
Cord blood tend to be kept in premade condition. For affected person who require immediately vegetative cell treatment, cord blood can be utilized within just Fourteen days.

Beside the Three good thing about using cord blood over, cord blood transplant in addition have a limitation;
First is because the actual select few of tissue in a cord blood device. Cord blood only collected as soon as period Fifteen minutes after the birth. The volume associated with collected cord blood additionally low, lower than 80 ml. With only one time period selection, there’s no back up cells from your identical contributor. This condition result in the cord blood transplant only really suitable for youngster only. For mature affected person who require much more originate cells, they are able to utilize several unit cord blood.
Cord blood cells is sluggish to be able to engraft, so that it requires extended period with regard to cord blood tissue to develop since blood vessels forming cells inside the individual body to produce fresh blood tissue and in addition an immune system. Prior to the cord blood cells are usually fully grow and develop immune system, the sufferer person is with high-risk of infection.
Umbilical cord transplant possess a gain and limitation, a doctor will discover the best choice for affected person because each affected person have different scenario and also situation. Cord blood transplant or bone marrow transplant possess it really is very own persona and will be used as an option to remedy the particular diseases.

Dr. Sarah Lantz PhD, a Research Fellow at the University of Queensland, recently did a talk on chemicals and how they accumulate in the body.  Some of the research studies have produced scary results, and it irritates me that we, as a human race, don’t seem to learn from our mistakes.

A study was done where the umbilical cord blood of 10 newborn babies were tested to determine what babies are exposed to while in the uterus of the mother.  They found 287 chemicals in these babies, with an average of 200 chemicals per baby! 

1. 28 of them occur in waste products - PCB’s, methylmercury, petroleum, lead, cadmium, copper, formaldehyde, dioxin 1,4, perfluorinated compounds
2. 47 are found in consumer products - bisphenol A, BPA, dioxins, teflon scotch guard, vinyl, fragrances, pthalates, brominated flame retardants, triclosan, parabens
3. 212 were industrial chemicals and pesticides that have been banned more than 30 years ago

Of these 287 chemicals:

• 134 causes cancer in humans or animals
• 151 are associated with causing birth defects
• 154 causes hormone disruption
• 186 - infertility
• 130 - immune system toxicity
• 150 - neurotoxins (like lead, mercury)

Why would these chemicals be found in babies who have never been directly exposed to the outside environment? 

Well, chemicals that are not excreted by our bodies accumulate in body tissues such as bone, fat and organs, and can stay there for your entire life.  An expectant mother will undergo some bone resorption where calcium is extracted from her skeleton to support bone formation in her baby.  Travelling with the calcium will be any other elements stored in her bones.  Once baby is born, her body will break down some of her fat stores to produce breastmilk, and any chemicals stored in her fat will flow through as well.  This is not even including everything she gets exposed to during her pregnancy.  The placenta is very porous and does NOT act as a barrier to these chemicals.

So think twice about what you put INTO or ON your body when you’re pregnant or trying to fall pregnant.