Cord Blood Developments

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.