Cord Blood Developments

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, nearly four million babies are born in the United States each year. It is reported that 98% of these children born are tested within the first few days of life for more than 30 types of medical conditions. Newborn genetic screening (NBS) is mandated by state, and therefore each state’s screening requirements are different. Along with the existence of newborn genetic testing has come ethical and legal concerns raised regarding the logistics and rationale for testing.

We feel it’s important for all parents-to-be to know their options regarding their babies’ umbilical cord stem cells and hear from other parents about their banking journeys. That’s why, in honor of Cord Blood Awareness Month, we have launched our weekly Instagram Live series to answer the questions expectant are asking! During our recent Cryo-Cell Chats series, we were able to sit down with Michael and Samantha Welch to discuss their reasons for storing their baby, Vanessa’s umbilical cord blood stem cells with us.

The accessibility, affordability, post-transplant care, quality of match and likelihood of grafting for each HCST source is carefully considered to determine the best transplant outcome for an individual patient. Given rising healthcare costs, it’s important for families to consider the financial impact of a transplant procedure. So, how does cord blood compare to other transplant sources in terms of cost? A study revealed lower long-term healthcare costs associated with umbilical cord blood transplants than bone marrow and peripheral blood.

Mesenchymal stromal cells found within umbilical cord tissue (UC-MSC) have distinctive characteristics that make them a desirable subject of study. These cells are readily available, lack exposure to environmental toxins (due to their naivety), and multiply at a higher capacity than MSCs from other sources. These cells’ combined abilities create an ideal scenario for yielding beneficial treatment effects in patients suffering from COVID‐19 induced acute respiratory distress (ARDS) and similar respiratory conditions.

National Pediatric Transplant Week is part of Donate Life America’s National Donate Life Month, which spreads awareness about organ, eye, and tissue donation. This year, April 18^th-24^th marks the week dedicated to championing the message of ending the pediatric transplant waiting list. In light of this week’s significance, we are taking a closer look at the status of transplants in the U.S. and how donating or preserving your baby’s umbilical stem cells has the potential to save a life.
 

You may have heard that too much of a good thing can be bad; we’re sad to say this even applies to all of those sweets you have been craving lately. At some point in your pregnancy, your OBGYN will discuss the various routine screenings you must undergo on your road to delivery, one of which is the glucose screening test. This test measures your body’s response to sugar (glucose). Learn what the glucose screening test is, how you can take measures to prevent gestational diabetes and how umbilical cord stem cells can play a role in treating diabetes.
 

In an effort to halt the spread of COVID-19 and mitigate the devastating economic and psychological toll of the pandemic, the FDA has issued Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for two vaccines. Amongst the population at risk are pregnant women; unfortunately, at this time, many questions remain unanswered in regards to the benefits outweighing the risk of vaccination. Medical authorities and governmental agencies have issued their recommendations for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

January marks National Birth Defects Prevention Month, and this year’s theme is “Best For You. Best For Baby.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1 in 33 babies born in the United States are born with a birth defect. The CDC also reports that birth defects are the leading cause of infant deaths, accounting for 20% of all infant deaths. The causes of most birth defects are unknown. However, there are some things you can do to increase your health during pregnancy.

World Cord Blood Day (WCBD )is a day organized and hosted by Save the Cord Foundation to promote awareness and education on the topic of cord blood. This year’s event featured many keynote speakers who spoke about the value of stem cells found within cord blood and the importance of donating or banking these cells for future use. Another topic at the forefront was the unique challenges and opportunities this year has revealed in terms of COVID-19 and cord blood transportation and transplant logistics.

Since the placenta is comprised of stem cells from varying origins, some view the placenta as valuable to mother and baby after birth. Some private cord blood banks offer parents the option to store placenta tissue for future use. However, the question remains- is it worth it? To answer this question, we have compiled research on what placenta stem cells can and cannot do and take a deeper look into comparing placental vs. umbilical cord tissue stem cells.