Exciting research news for CP families: A large study review found adding umbilical cord blood therapy to regular rehab significantly boosts motor skills. Improvements were most notable in younger kids (under 5) and those with milder CP. While not a cure, and access is still limited, it's a validated hope for improving movement.

A high white blood cell (WBC) count is typically normal during pregnancy as your immune system works harder to protect both you and your baby. Learn about causes, potential health impacts, and tips for maintaining a healthy pregnancy.

Linda Kosinski's life was changed by a shocking leukemia diagnosis in 2007. Her journey to recovery through a life-saving cord blood transplant highlights the critical importance of cord blood banking and donation. Discover how her resilience and family support transformed her story into one of hope and cord blood advocacy.

Discover how a cord blood stem cell transplant saved eight-year-old Ariauna from bone marrow failure associated with Fanconi Anemia. Her mother Natalie recounts the years of medical challenges that ultimately led to the diagnosis, their gratitude for cord blood, and a special message to expectant parents. 

 

Among the array of prenatal testing methods available, Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) stands out as a groundbreaking advancement, revolutionizing the landscape of prenatal care. We are here to help you understand NIPT, the results and how they can be used to make informed decisions.

Discover insights on placental insufficiency in our engaging blog post. Learn about management, support, and signs of placental insufficiency here.  

Explore the pivotal role of doulas in childbirth, offering crucial emotional, physical, and informational support. Learn about the myriad benefits they bring, from reduced stress to enhanced decision-making. Discover how to select the right doula for your needs and integrate preferences like delayed cord clamping into your birth plan seamlessly. Embrace the journey of parenthood with the unwavering guidance of doulas, ensuring a nurturing and empowered birthing experience for both expectant parents and newborns alike.

Ten years after Diane Paradise's cord blood stem cell transplant, she celebrated her 10-year re-birthday on December 3, 2023. In just 24 days, her 19-year battle with an incurable form of Hodgkin Lymphoma ended. 

Discover effective tips to reduce the risk of perineal tears during childbirth in this comprehensive guide. From prenatal practices like perineal massage and pelvic floor exercises to birthing strategies including warm compresses, water birth, controlled pushing techniques, and optimal delivery positions, empower yourself with proactive measures. Learn how these techniques enhance perineal health, foster elasticity, and contribute to a more resilient perineum. Consult with healthcare providers for personalized guidance, ensuring a tailored and safe approach to your childbirth journey. 

Discover the significance of the Golden Hour after birth, a magical 60-minute window that enhances bonding and well-being for both mothers and babies. Explore its benefits, its role in breastfeeding, and how to make the most of this precious time. Learn how the Golden Hour leaves a lasting impact on motherhood and baby development. Cherish the extraordinary journey of motherhood from the very beginning.

Discover what causes placenta previa, recognize its symptoms, understand the risks to both mother and baby, and learn how to manage it effectively. As an expectant mother, your well-being is our priority, and this post provides crucial insights to ensure a safer and healthier pregnancy experience.

The placenta's diverse stem cell origins make it a subject of interest for post-birth benefits. Some private cord blood banks propose storing placental tissue, but is it a valuable choice? Our research delves into placental tissue, stem cells, and their future efficacy. Discover why Cryo-Cell prioritizes cord tissue preservation for a healthier future.

Preparing for the birth of your baby? Learn how to craft a personalized birth plan that reflects your unique birthing choices and guides your medical team during your delivery.

Having spent nearly two decades fighting a rare and incurable form of Hodgkin Lymphoma, Diane Paradise shares how a cord blood stem cell transplant was her last hope for survival. Now almost 10-years post-transplant, she continues to inspire those closest to her to private bank their newborn's cord blood. 

Chances are, you’ve stumbled upon some conflicting information while researching cord blood banking. Don’t worry we’ve got your back! We have debunked the top five cord blood banking myths in our latest blog to help you out. Our aim is to educate our customers and help you protect what matters most. 

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.

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.

2020 has undoubtedly been a year of unpredictability. With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the medical community has shifted its sight on finding innovative treatment options for emerging conditions. Additionally, umbilical stem cells are being utilized in other clinical and therapeutic applications for conditions such as spinal cord injury, autism, multiple sclerosis, brain injury, and osteoarthritis. As medical science unveils the largely untapped potential of cord blood and cord tissue stem cells, we predict to see an increase in the need for expectant parents to store these valuable stem cells.

As we stand on the precipice of a more virtual and socially-distanced future, we want to ensure that expectant parents feel connected with cord blood banking. July marks Cord Blood Awareness Month, a month to recognize the significance of cord blood stem cells and the potential life-saving capability these cells possess. Our team at Cryo-Cell, and our partnering healthcare providers abroad, are committed to helping parents understand the possibilities that lie within umbilical stem cell preservation.

Since its establishment of the first private cord blood bank in the United States, Cryo-Cell has long been a leader in the industry of umbilical stem cell preservation. More than thirty years later, our mission remains the same: to provide our clients with the premier cord blood and cord tissue cryopreservation service and to aid in the advancement of regenerative medicine. As we celebrate this month, we wanted to share the exciting news of a partnership with Duke University Medical Center and its impact on our families.

Besides mesenchymal stem cells being explored in the fight against pneumonia induced by COVID-19, there are numerous other current applications of MSCs in clinical trials. Mesenchymal stem cells are a choice candidate in studies targeting degenerative conditions for their ability to restore skeletal tissue and to differentiate into other cell types. Let’s take a brief look at the most current applications of mesenchymal stem cells being used in clinical trials.

With the sudden outbreak of coronavirus, pregnant women have become concerned about how COVID-19 will affect them. As the race to find a fast and effective treatment option continues, many are seeking a solution in cellular therapy. Research in the clinical trial setting is pointing to the fact that the mesenchymal stem cells found in cord tissue may be used to treat patients infected with the virus. With this possibility, the decision to preserve umbilical stem cells becomes even more critical as cellular therapies begin to emerge for various conditions.
 

Among the different types of stem cells that cord blood contains, natural killer (NK) cells exhibit unique properties capable of targeting cancer cells and virus-infected cells. With the sudden outbreak of viruses such as COVID-19, otherwise known as coronavirus, there becomes an even greater need to seek “off-the-shelf” treatments that are quickly accessible to patients. Clinical studies are looking at umbilical cord stem cells as a possible method of treatment.

In the spirit of retrospection, as we have entered a new decade, we wanted to pay homage to the advancements this past decade has seen in regards to cord blood and cord tissue research. The past ten years have yielded a tremendous amount of research in what is possible in the way of regenerative treatments in several conditions that were otherwise thought of as untreatable through the use of umbilical cord blood and cord tissue stem cells.

Mary Webb was joined by her children, Quentin (16) and Jory (11), to speak at Cryo-Cell's Cord Blood Educator Conference this year. At the age of four, Quentin was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Quentin is one of the 3,000 children diagnosed with ALL each year in the United States. She shared her impactful story of dealing with her son’s cancer diagnosis and how, now, she is a strong proponent of umbilical cord stem cells. 

November 15^th was World Cord Blood Day (WCBD), a day organized and hosted by Save the Cord Foundation to promote awareness and education on the topic of cord blood. The day’s presentations centered around sharing new research advancements and the incredible life-saving potential of cord blood stem cells. Don’t fret if you missed the events of the day-- we’re here to provide you with the highlights from the keynote researchers!

This past October, Cryo-Cell’s passionate team of cord blood educators met with Dr. Joanne Kurtzberg, from Duke University Medical Center, to hear about the latest developments in clinical trials using cord blood and cord tissue. Her presentation was centered around recent advancements in stem cell expansion, her work in recent clinical trials, and she also shared successful umbilical cord transplant stories of former patients.

The Apgar test is used by obstetricians and midwives as a way to capture a brief glance into a newborn’s general health in intervals of one minute, five minutes, and ten minutes after birth to determine if immediate medical intervention is needed. We help you understand what the Apgar score means and how umbilical cord stem cells could play a role in the equation.
 

Recently, there has been a proliferation of start-up companies to cryogenically preserve the blood of adults for future use. These companies have come under recent scrutiny after the International Society of Cell & Gene Therapy (ISCT) issued a consumer alert. What did the ISCT determine? In a nutshell, storing adult stem cells for future use is unwise. We support the ruling of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and ISCT’s stance. Let’s address the what, how, and why.

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a type of congenital heart disease which affects 1 to 3 of every 10,000 children. Treatment for this condition consists of three rounds of surgery. However, clinical trials in regenerative medicine are being explored for alternative forms of treatment that are less invasive. The answer may lie in cord blood stem cells.

When it comes to parenthood, expecting parents have many questions and concerns as to what is best for their little one. Cord blood banking should be an aspect of consideration. Many understand the importance of umbilical cord stem cells and the potential these cells hold, but may still have some reservations about cord blood banking. We are here to answer the top five, lesser-known, questions about cord blood banking to help you make an informed decision.

Public cord blood banks are facing some unique challenges with sustainability, donor diversity, and financial woes, which are forcing many public cord blood banks to shut down their facilities. With looming problems ahead, some people question the long-term future of the public banking sector. Let’s take a look at some of the issues that plague the public banking system and outline the unique benefits of private cord blood banking.
 

The odds of needing one's own cord blood are likely to rise in the future as new discoveries are made for the treatment of certain diseases with cord blood.

A recent study demonstrates how moms and dads may be closer to using their baby’s stored cord blood as a standard treatment in blood cancers and other diseases.

There are a number of ways that your doctor or midwife may not be able to get a large volume of cord blood. Let's looks at the factors that have been shown to negatively and positively affect the volume of cord blood collected.

Cord blood banking is as much for the baby as it is for existing and future additions to the family. This is because there is not only an opportunity for the baby to use his or her own cord blood but also an increased chance it can be used by a brother, sister or other immediate family member as well.

Some parents may worry that having a C-section will inhibit their ability to collect cord blood. To be clear: Collecting cord blood following a Caesarean birth is essentially the same as collecting cord blood during a vaginal delivery. In fact, some aspects with collecting cord blood following a C-Section may surprise you.

The goal of cord blood banking is to capture as many stem cells as possible, but how do you know if your baby's cord blood collection is a good one? Determining the exact number of stem cells in any cord blood collection is not precise, but there are ways to determine if your cord blood collection will be effective in a transplantation.

As the 40th week draws near and the aches and pains become nearly too much to bear, many moms look for ways to help induce or bring about delivery. In a study of 201 women who delivered at a Midwestern hospital, half tried to induce labor naturally. If the time is right, and mommy wants the baby out, what can they do to help naturally induce and move along the birthing process? Let’s take a look.

It's been a short six months since the FDA granted Duke University Medical Center additional access in the treatment of brain injuries like autism and cerebral palsy using stored cord blood, but since then, we have been inundated with requests from moms and dads looking for more information on how to get his or her own son or daughter in the clinical trial. We've also heard stories of young parents traveling half way around the globe for their family's chance to take part in the clinical trial.

Caesar Sant is something of a childhood prodigy. He started playing the violin at two years old, and amazed his instructors with his prowess on the stringed instrument. At four, he could do third-grade math and speak six languages. By five, however, the sickle cell disease, which he had been diagnosed with at birth, was taking its toll. Caesar suffered three strokes, and the last had left him unable to play the violin or even walk.

Most researchers and moms would agree that there is no cure-all for stretch marks, but there is some clinical evidence available that shows the signs of stretch marks can be reduced. Let’s take a look at stretch marks, what causes them and how we could possibly minimize their effects.

Regular pre-natal examinations are a priority during any pregnancy. Here's the visit schedule you can most often expect for a low-risk, term pregnancy. If you have a pre-existing medical condition, develop complications, or are a teen, you may require more frequent visits.

The big day. It is a little scary. But, as they say, with little bit of work here and there, you should be well prepared. Let’s look at what you can do to get ready for labor and delivery and the birth of your baby:

Whether you are becoming a first-time parent or growing your family, now is the time to focus on yourself for the betterment of the little bundle growing within. Pregnancy is the first step toward a very different life and it begins with a whole host of restrictions and dos and don'ts. These includes what foods to eat and what foods to avoid, how to exercise properly, common bodily discomforts you may experience, what medications are safe to take and which ones are not, and other questions you may have about activities in which you can partake.

A stem cell transplant, or immune system reconstitution, is used to replace maligned cells or invigorate the system’s production of new healthy cells. This may be needed when someone undergoes radiotherapy or chemotherapy to treat a cancer of their blood or immune system or when the person has blood or immune system deficiency. In addition to renewing healthy cells into the body, in some cases, the transplanted cells can attack the cancer or malignancy itself.

Group B streptococcus (group B strep, or GBS) is a type of bacterium that a pregnant woman may be carrying and that could ultimately be transferred to the baby during delivery. Up to 40 percent of pregnant women carry Strep B bacteria, which can come and go without symptoms from a person’s body. Newborns are at an increased risk for group B strep disease when the mother is found to have GBS colonization.

There are a number of clinical trials and scientific studies underway testing the effectiveness of cord blood and cord tissue in the treatment of various conditions. The various kinds and phases of these studies can be a bit confusing but, basically, show progress toward full FDA approval. Here's your Cliff’s notes on clinical trials:

The glucose tolerance test takes approx. one hour and is performed between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. If you have risk factors for gestational diabetes, the test may be performed in the first trimester. The glucose tolerance test is done to evaluate your body's ability to process sugars during pregnancy. Listed below are the proper steps and precautions that need to be taken in order to ensure the test results are valid.

From Peyton Manning reportedly flying to Germany in 2011 for a bulging disk in his neck to Drew Pomeranz receiving an injection in his elbow earlier this year, many have been taking leaps of faith with stem cells treatments outside approved channels. And controversy has followed.

AABB, CLIA, etc. It can all be a bit much, but they are more than just a bunch of letters. Here is the rundown: All cord blood banks need to be FDA-registered, which means all cord blood banks need to have or use a lab that is cGTP-compliant. To get easier access to treatments for not only the baby but also other relatives, the lab must be CLIA-compliant as well. New York, California, New Jersey, Illinois, and Maryland also require licensure in in order to conduct business in and with residents of those states. If you want a cord blood bank that has gone the extra mile to ensure the highest standards and protocols look for accreditation by AABB and FACT and cGMP compliance.

Pregnancy is no easy task. There’s a lot to do, and a lot to deal with. One of the more time-consuming aspects is all the research that needs to be performed on everything from the best car seat to the right pediatrician. Cord blood banking is a hurdle upon itself. Often expectant parents need to learn what cord blood banking is and why cord blood banking is important, and then it’s time to determine which cord blood bank is best for them.

While we may focus on stem cells quite a lot, other parts of cord blood are showing promise for the treatment of disease. With the ease of collecting and cryo-preserving cord blood natural killer cells, they could be used in the future to greatly enhance the treatment of tumors and cancers.

The term stem cell may conjure up some rare type of cell that can only be found in very specific locations. The opposite is really true. Stem cells are pretty ubiquitous; however, this doesn't mean they can easily be harvested for transplantation and regenerative medicine. It’s the volume and the age of stem cells that are the main driving factors in if they can be collected for regenerative medicine.

Blood banks including cord blood banks use anti-coagulants in their collection bags to combat the coagulation of blood and supply the cells inside with nourishment. While there are a number of different anti-coagulants available, most cord blood banks use one of two: CPD or heparin. Let's look at how they compare.

You'll hear a lot about stem cells when learning about cord blood banking, but you may also come across the term Tregs, too. While a Treg may not be able to do all the things that a cord blood stem cell can do, it does offer distinct opportunities in regenerative medicine. Just like cord blood stem cells, Tregs are found in the umbilical cord after birth and are part of what is preserved when cord blood banking. Let's take a look at these cells.

You may have seen stories from the National Public Radio (NPR) and the L.A. Times being shared via social media on how umbilical cord blood reversed the symptoms of ageing in mice, but let us explain why this isn't, as of now, directly related to cord blood banking.

The cost of childbirth varies greatly depending on location, any complications that occur, and whether its a normal delivery or a cesarean section, but today, the average expectant couple can anticipate the doctor and hospital's charges on their insurance statements to be anywhere between $5,000 and $20,000. Comparing this to the cost of giving birth more than half of a century ago, and many may wish they were born in a different era:

It may sound like the plot of a campy zombie thriller, such as the 1985 cult-classic Re-Animator, but scientists say they are still looking to move ahead with a clinical trial to see if stem cells can awaken neural activity in people whose brains have stopped functioning. While the trial would not lead us to an apocalyptic, zombie-filled, Walking Dead–type world, it could help patients come out of and recover from vegetative comas.

You’re having twins! Whether you see it as double the fun or biting off more than you can chew, you definitely have your hands full. You know you have to double up on the diapers and double the food, but do you also have to double the cord blood and tissue that you bank, too?

You did everything right: You were thinking ahead and took the right steps to ensure you stored your baby’s cord blood. You got your kit early, took it to the hospital with the greatest of care and even told the doctor to fill the collection bag like a balloon. Then you’re struck with a double whammy of bad news. You could blame luck or even medical science, but it may actually come down to the type of collection kit your cord blood bank had provided.

As old as time itself, labor and delivery isn't oft the place for new developments, but here are six new ways people are doing things in the delivery room.

Many expectant parents wonder if cord blood banking is covered by their health insurance or can be deducted from their taxes as a medical expense. There are, in fact, times when cord blood banking is considered an eligible medical expense covered by a family's HSA, FSA, HRA or health insurance plan and can qualify as a tax deduction. Let’s explore.

You can imagine the elation Patricia and Lou felt when they learned they would be having a child. Unfortunately, that feeling of excitement turned into apprehension when a routine blood test at the five-month mark found Patricia had an aggressive form of leukemia. “I was so excited to be a mother, and at the same time, all I could think about was, Will she have a mother?” said Patricia.

It’s not the future. It’s now. So says Dr. James Baumgartner, pediatric neurosurgeon at Florida Children’s Hospital, with regard to the use of cord blood stem cells to treat a number of prevalent, devastating conditions in children. We look at the study by Dr. Baumgartner that shows cord blood can restore a significant level of hearing in children suffering from acquired hearing loss by increasing the number of functioning hair cells in the organ of corti.

How long can cord blood be stored is toward the top of our list of frequently asked cord blood questions. As parents want to make sure they are investing in a product with a long shelf life, it is an understandable question to have. As cord blood banking is 27 years young, data on the use of cord blood in transfusions are limited, but from what research has shown, the length of cryo-preservation has no affect on the quality and viability of cord blood collections.

Saneron CCEL Therapeutics, a Cryo-Cell International affiliated company, along with a group of researchers and colleagues of the University of South Florida has participated in a new research study of human umbilical cord blood stem cell’s treatment of stroke. In collaboration with the Henry Ford Hospital’s Neurology Department, Saneron concluded that human umbilical cord blood stem cells have a positive neuro-restorative effect on the post-stroke brain in diabetic rats.