Cord Blood Banking


I made it to week 30 with – thankfully – no complications! As each week passes, we grow closer and closer to the day we get to meet our baby boy.  I’m learning so much each day and I feel like there’s so much more to learn. I had my bi-weekly doctor’s appointment this morning and I – and Colton – got a great report. His heartbeat is strong and healthy and he’s actually measuring a little bigger than what my “due date” says. We might be looking at a Christmas baby instead of a New Year baby!
At 30 weeks, Colton is packing on his weight and starting to control his own body temperature (and mine). I’m so thankful he’s a winter baby because I have my own, personal, internal heater! I’m starting to experience – the most common and annoying pregnancy ailment – heartburn. Luckily, it comes rarely and leaves quickly, but I’m sure it will get worse in the next few weeks. I feel like our little guy is going to be a boxer – he punches and kicks me most of the day and – quite honestly – I love it. I can see him moving as I type these very words. He’s VERY active today. I hope he knows how much I love him (already)!
I had never heard of “Cord Blood Banking” until today. My question was “what is that?”. Cord blood is what remains in the umbilical cord and placenta following birth. Cord blood contains stem cells that can be used to treat certain diseases (such as cancers) and it’s a safe, painless procedure that is performed just after the baby is born. More and more parents are saving their baby’s cord blood, either for donation to a public facility to be used by others in need, or for private storage so it’s available should the need arise within their own family.
Generally, an expectant mother – if interested in Cord Blood Banking – should contact the bank before the 34th week of pregnancy. The National Marrow Donor Program has a list of public cord blood banks on their website. Cord blood banking is a personal choice, made by both parents. There is a lot of information out there on the benefits of and the controversy among medical societies.
A few informational sites on Cord Blood Banking
www.parentsguidecordblood.org
www.cordblood.com
www.viacord.com

At this point, cord blood banking is not something that Matt and I will choose for Colton. However, it’s a new (to us) idea to research and educate ourselves on, for future pregnancies.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

We Made It

Image
Full term - I never thought I would be so happy to hear those words! Even though we have about 3 more weeks to go, as of Friday, December 7 th , I reached week 37 and Colton reached full term. Most babies at this point weigh about 7 pounds and are measuring around 20 inches long (of course this varies between babies, some weighing more or less).   He is most likely between the size of a wintermelon and a miniature watermelon and either way, I’m just happy that we reached this point with no complications. This week, I’m finding it harder to sleep due to the fact I can’t get comfortable for long periods of time. Leg cramps are an almost nightly routine now and my lower back has starting letting me know it’s tired of the extra weight. I read that the quality of sleep in the third trimester is worse than any time before, but I’m probably going to be thankful for the little sleep I am getting, once Colton is born. Today is my weekly doctor’s appointment and I’m excited to see if the
Read more

A Sawmill - Good for the Soul

Image
Forklift Operator I don't know if there's anything more awesome than watching my child experience things that I got to experience in my childhood. For those of you who know my family and my background, you know that I was raised in the mountains of Western North Carolina (and when I mean in the mountains - I mean literally, IN the mountains)! We lived on a dirt road near my Grandparents and my Uncle Pat and Aunt Teri. My family ran a sawmill and raised a small patch of tobacco, so my sister and I made lots of toys out of sawdust (makes great toppings for dirt pizza), mud (cupcakes), sticks, slabs, horse buggies and everything else we could get our hands on. We spent lots of time outside. Not only were we just outside playing, but we were learning to work and to be involved and interacting with our family. It was our life.  We don't live in the mountains of North Carolina anymore, but we live right over the hill, in Tennessee. My family still runs a sawmill and I
Read more

Brining

I could say I have never heard of the word "brining" before, but that wouldn't be 100% accurate. I think I've "heard" the word but I haven't ever paid attention to what it was...until now! I got a few chicken breasts at the grocery store the other day and I was looking for new ways to bake them. I always bake them because it's supposed to be "healthier" (even though I usually have a bowl of ice cream for dessert)! So I was looking on the handy-dandy Internet for baked chicken recipes when information "popped up" about brining chicken. Curios, I clicked on the link and began reading. For those of you who have been doing this already, you're probably thinking "welcome to the club" but for those of you (like me) who haven't - here's the deal. Brining makes cooked meat moister by hydrating the cells of its muscle tissue before cooking, via the process of osmosis. The salt and sugar in brine make changes to pr
Read more