From immune system rebuilding and genetic matching to regenerative medicine efforts, cord blood banking can help offer your family additional peace of mind.
Pregnancy is life-changing. Along with a rush of emotions that can range from joy and relief, to disbelief and even worry, it feels like major decisions are begging to be made at every turn. Do you want a midwife? How will you agree on a name? Have you added all the essentials to your registry (and are those really even the essentials)?
Among these decisions, one in particular stands out, which can happen right after delivery and may potentially help benefit the future of your baby and your family: cord blood banking.
Cord blood banking is the process of collecting and preserving blood from the umbilical cord (a.k.a cord blood) at birth. The preservation of this blood sample can potentially change or even save a life, as it can be used to treat over 80 conditions,1 from blood disorders and certain cancers to immune disorders and metabolic disorders.
In honor of National Cord Blood Awareness Month this July, we’ve turned to the trusted experts at Cord Blood Registry® (CBR®), the largest private newborn stem cell preservation company in the world,2 to share details every parent-to-be should know about cord blood banking.
Read on to discover seven facts about cord blood banking with CBR and how it can help your family take the steps to plan for a potentially healthy future.
1. Cord Blood is a Wealth of Stem Cell Potential
After your baby is born, a small amount of blood remains in the umbilical cord. This valuable blood (commonly called cord blood) is a rich source of newborn stem cells that have the potential to help the body heal and repair itself.
The main type of stem cell found in cord blood is hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). These HSCs are blood-forming cells that can self-renew and help rebuild both blood and immune systems.
2. Cord Blood is Easy and Safe to Collect
Once your family enrolls with CBR, you’ll receive a collection kit that’s sent directly to your home with everything needed on your delivery date. As you begin to prepare your hospital bag, be sure to pack your CBR collection kit alongside your other must-need essentials.
After delivery, your healthcare provider will use this kit to collect your baby’s newborn stem cells after clamping and cutting your umbilical cord. This cord blood collection process is quick, safe and non-invasive.
Some parents choose to wait a little longer before clamping and cutting the umbilical cord, a process known as delayed cord clamping that allows more cord blood to flow back to the baby prior to collection. If your family chooses to clamp right at birth or delay clamping, the cord tissue itself is still rich in valuable newborn stem cells that may potentially be able to benefit your infant or family. So, you can collect both cord blood and cord tissue, or just collect the cord tissue.
3. Cord Blood Isn’t the Only Part of the Umbilical Cord You Can Save
The umbilical cord isn’t only made up of cord blood; it also contains a special tissue (called cord tissue) that can be collected at birth along with cord blood. Cord tissue includes mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that may potentially provide more treatment options in regenerative medicine in the future.
MSCs also have the potential to reduce inflammation3 and balance the immune system to help improve autoimmune disorders.4
4. Cord Blood Has a Successful History of Saving Lives
While the awareness about cord blood banking is growing—especially with experts and celebrities spreading word about their own experiences with CBR, like cookbook author Chrissy Teigen and board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Christine Sterling5—the lifesaving potential of newborn stem cells (or cord blood stem cells) has helped families all around the world for decades.
In the last 30-plus years, cord blood has been used for stem cell transplants, which have helped rebuild blood and immune systems to treat various blood disorders, cancers, immune disorders and metabolic disorders.6
To date, cord blood has been used in more than 45,000 transplants worldwide6 and can be used to treat over 80 conditions.1
5. Cord Blood Can Potentially Provide Your Family with a Healthier Future
When you preserve your cord blood with CBR, you’re helping to provide your baby and family with the potential gift of a healthy future. Your collected newborn stem cells are safely stored in CBR’s laboratory and storage facility located in Tucson, Arizona.
Your infant is a 100% genetic match to their own stem cells, and in some cases their cord blood can treat immediate family members who are genetically compatible. Samples have a 75% chance of being at least a partial match to full siblings, and are always a partial match to biological parents.
6. Cord Blood May Potentially Help With Future Medical Challenges
Life is unpredictable, and sometimes unforeseen medical challenges can arise. Fortunately, cord blood banking can help offer you peace of mind given cord blood’s potential to help rebuild the immune system in conditions like blood disorders, certain cancers such as leukemia, immune disorders and metabolic disorders.
With CBR, the #1 choice of parents2 and the most recommended newborn stem cell preservation company by OB/GYNs,7 over 700 cord blood samples have been released, intended for use by families in stem cell transplants and investigational therapies.
7. Cord Blood Banking May Also Give You Access to Medical Advancements
Cord blood stem cells have already played a pivotal role in the treatment of various diseases, but its capabilities in helping families and providing promising results don’t end there. As science continues to advance, cord blood is playing a role in ongoing research and advancements in regenerative medicine to help expand the possibilities of new treatments.4
In fact, over 80% of the CBR families whose cord blood units were released were intended for use in experimental regenerative medicine applications, such as cerebral palsy, acquired hearing loss, and more.2
For more information on cord blood banking, visit cordblood.com.
In honor of National Cord Blood Awareness Month, CBR is also providing families the chance to win their CBR® Bundle of Joy Prize Package.* This special giveaway includes free CBR newborn stem cell processing plus one year of storage, a SNOO® Smart Sleeper and SNOObear®, and $200 cash card (a $5,000 value).
Additionally, once you enroll, you’ll be automatically entered for one of two chances to win the CBR Baby & Me Must-Haves Giveaway.* This $15,000 selection of prizes includes free cord blood and cord tissue preservation, plus lifetime storage, a SNOO® Smart Sleeper and SNOObear®, a cuddle+kind bunny, a cozy CBR blanket, and more! Drawings are held 7/16 and 8/1.
1 Mayani, H., Wagner, J.E. & Broxmeyer, H.E. Cord blood research, banking, and transplantation: achievements, challenges, and perspectives. Bone Marrow Transplant 55, 48–61 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41409-019-0546-9 2 CBR’s internal data on file. 3 Fan, XL., Zhang, Y., Li, X. et al. Mechanisms underlying the protective effects of mesenchymal stem cell-based therapy. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 77, 2771–2794 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-020-03454-6. 4 Verter, F., Couto, P. S., & Bersenev, A. (2018). A dozen years of clinical trials performing advanced cell therapy with perinatal cells. Future Science OA, 4(10). doi: 10.4155/fsoa-2018-0085 5 Chrissy Teigen and Dr. Christine Sterling are paid CBR influencers. 6 Wagner JE. Cord blood 2.0: state of the art and future directions in transplant medicine. Blood Res. 2019 Mar;54(1):7-9. doi: 10.5045/br.2019.54.1.7. Epub 2019 Mar 21. PMID: 30956957; PMCID: PMC6439299. 7 Blind survey, Egg Strategy, 10/19, funded by CBR.
*No purchase necessary. The purchase of any good or service will not increase your chances of winning. Must be a US resident over 18. See official rules for further restrictions and an alternative method of entry.
The use of cord blood is determined by the treating physician and is influenced by many factors, including the patient’s medical condition, the characteristics of the sample, and whether the cord blood should come from the patient or an appropriately matched donor. Cord blood has established uses in transplant medicine; however, its use in regenerative medicine is still being researched. There is no guarantee that potential medical applications being studied in the laboratory or clinical trials will become available.
Cord tissue use is still in early research stages, and there is no guarantee that treatments using cord tissue will be available in the future. Cord tissue is stored whole. Additional processing prior to use will be required to extract and prepare any of the multiple cell types from cryopreserved cord tissue. Cbr Systems, Inc.’s activities for New York State residents are limited to collection of umbilical cord tissue and long-term storage of umbilical cord–derived stem cells. Cbr Systems, Inc.’s possession of a New York State license for such collection and long-term storage does not indicate approval or endorsement of possible future uses or future suitability of these cells.
A labor and delivery nurse saved a baby during a rare complication—and 22 years later that baby married her son
When you find the person you’re going to marry, meeting your future in-laws can be an exciting step in the relationship. For 22-year-old Kelsey West, that moment had already happened, long before she met her now-husband, Tyler West. In fact, she met her future mother-in-law 22 years ago, when she was the labor and delivery nurse who saved Kelsey’s life.
The unlikely, heartwarming story went viral after it appeared on a local news site in Salt Lake City, where the families live. Kelsey Poll worked at a bank, where Tyler West came in to deposit a check. The two hit it off, sparks flew, and they ended up getting married. But in the months leading up to the wedding, when they had their families meet for what they thought was the first time, they discovered the surprise.
First, Kelsey’s mom, Stacy, took note that Tyler’s mom, Mary Ann, worked at the hospital where Kelsey was born. Then, she realized that Mary Ann looked a little familiar. Finally, Tyler confirmed it—he was looking through old family photo albums and found one of minutes-old Kelsey getting her footprints stamped by a nurse. The nurse was Mary Ann, his mom.
But there’s actually more to this already incredible story.
“When I was in labor, I told her that something didn’t feel right, so she checked me,” Stacy told KSL. Mary Ann discovered that Stacy had a rare complication called velamentous cord insertion, where her umbilical cord vessels were inserted into her amniotic sac instead of her placenta. The condition can cause blood loss for both mom and baby—and is potentially fatal to both. But Mary Ann was able to help deliver Kelsey safely.
“I remembered Kelsey’s birth because I had never experienced labor like this, before or since,” Mary Ann said. “She really is a miracle, and it really does feel like it was meant to be.”
Stacy added, “It really has come full circle. When Kelsey was born, Mary Ann was the first one to say ‘welcome to the world.’ She touched Kelsey before I did.”
Famous figures like Chrissy Teigen are preserving their baby’s newborn stem cells as potential protection for their family’s future health.
Chrissy Teigen1 is an open book with her personal life. She’s shared her fertility challenges and IVF journey, she’s self-published a very raw essay about pregnancy loss, she’s given a behind-the-scenes look at mom life, and she’s even opened up about postpartum struggles.
Now, with the recent birth of her daughter Esti, the cookbook author and TV personality is once again providing the inside scoop on her family. This time on why she chose to collect and preserve both the cord blood and cord tissue from her umbilical cord at birth, a process known as newborn stem cell preservation.
As a big proponent of placing health and wellness at the center of her household, Teigen called this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity an “obvious choice” that could potentially help protect the future health of her three children.
Her belief in the potential long-term benefits of cord blood banking has since led to her partnership with Cord Blood Registry® (CBR®), the largest private newborn stem cell preservation company in the world.2
“Science is always advancing […] That whole world has always been so fascinating to me, and I’ve always wanted to be a part of it,” Teigen explained to POPSUGAR. “It’s really important for me to let other people know that this is an option and it’s something that they can do to keep their families safe and healthy for years to come.”
Keep reading to discover more about how newborn stem cell preservation with CBR may potentially help benefit your children and family’s health in the future.
Newborn Stem Cells A.K.A the Body’s Own Repair Kit
Every infant’s umbilical cord is made of tissue and contains blood. At birth, a small amount of each is still available from the umbilical cord—what’s commonly referred to as cord blood and cord tissue.
While cord blood and cord tissue are commonly collected right after a baby is born, some parents choose to leave the umbilical cord attached to their baby for a little longer, prior to clamping. This allows more time for the cord blood to flow back to their baby before collecting the newborn stem cells—a process known as delayed cord clamping.
No matter if parents decide to proceed with clamping at birth or prefer to wait until a later time, the cord blood and cord tissue are still rich in valuable newborn stem cells that have the potential to help the body heal and repair itself.
Two primary types of newborn stem cells can be obtained from cord blood and cord tissue: hematopoietic stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells. Hematopoietic stem cells, which are found in cord blood, act as blood-forming cells with the ability to self-renew. On the other hand, mesenchymal stem cells (contained in cord tissue) play a large role in experimental regenerative medicine applications, which may one day help heal and repair tissues due to its anti-inflammatory effects.2
By preserving newborn stem cells, families may have the opportunity to use them in the future. Infants are a 100% genetic match for their own stem cells and full siblings have a 75% chance of being at least a partial match.
Within the last three decades, cord blood stem cells have been used in over 45,000 stem cell transplants.3 Science continues to advance, and what we know now is that cord blood can be used to treat over 80 conditions, including blood disorders, certain cancers, immune disorders, and metabolic disorders.4
CBR: Leading the Cord Blood Industry
Before the birth of baby Esti, Teigen had her go-to hospital supplies prepped and ready to go. The then-mom of two, who was well-versed in packing a baby bag, made sure to not forget one important item, her CBR collection kit—which she added was “next to the swaddles and everything else.”
“We handed it over right in that [delivery] room,” CBR mom Teigen recalled in an interview with PEOPLE. “[The doctor] popped it open, opened a little cup, and then it was done. It couldn’t have been easier.”
Teigen, who’s preserved all three of her children’s cord blood, isn’t the only celebrity backing cord blood banking with CBR. Board-certified OB/GYN, CBR spokesperson and cord blood expert Dr. Christine Sterling has also publicly voiced the benefits of preserving newborn stem cells, while Something Navy founder Arielle Charnas and former American soccer star Kealia Watt have each shared their own stories of banking their children’s cord blood with CBR.5
Since storing over one million cord blood and cord tissue stem cell units, CBR has released over 700 cord blood units for families intended for use in life-saving transplants and other investigational therapies.6
“As a mom, I want to make sure our children have every possible option available to them,” Teigen said. “I was confident in partnering with CBR, as they are the #1 choice for parents6 and the most recommended cord blood preservation company by OB/GYNs.”7
CBR’s process of collecting newborn stem cells is simple and safe. Upon enrollment, a CBR kit is sent to your home with everything needed for collection. All you have to do is take the kit with you to the hospital (make sure to add it to your baby bag like Teigen!) where your OB/GYN or midwife handles the collection process.
After the collection, contact the provided 24/7 medical courier number to ship your kit to CBR’s lab in Arizona where it will be processed and stored.
This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity can give you peace of mind that you’ve potentially helped protect your family’s future.
For more information on cord blood banking and how it may be able to help you and your children, visit cordblood.com.
1Chrissy Teigen is a CBR paid ambassador. 2Fan, XL., Zhang, Y., Li, X. et al. Mechanisms underlying the protective effects of mesenchymal stem cell-based therapy. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 77, 2771–2794 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-020-03454-6.5Dr. Christine Sterling, Ariella Charnas and Kealia Watt are paid CBR influencers. 3Wagner JE. Cord blood 2.0: state of the art and future directions in transplant medicine. Blood Res. 2019 Mar;54(1):7-9. doi: 10.5045/br.2019.54.1.7. Epub 2019 Mar 21. PMID: 30956957; PMCID: PMC6439299. 4Mayani, H., Wagner, J.E. & Broxmeyer, H.E. Cord blood research, banking, and transplantation: achievements, challenges, and perspectives. Bone Marrow Transplant 55, 48–61 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41409-019-0546-9. 5Dr. Christine Sterling, Ariella Charnas and Kealia Watt are paid CBR influencers. 6CBR’s internal data on file. 7Blind survey, Egg Strategy, 10/19, funded by CBR.
The use of cord blood is determined by the treating physician and is influenced by many factors, including the patient’s medical condition, the characteristics of the sample, and whether the cord blood should come from the patient or an appropriately matched donor. Cord blood has established uses in transplant medicine; however, its use in regenerative medicine is still being researched. There is no guarantee that potential medical applications being studied in the laboratory or clinical trials will become available.
Cord tissue use is still in early research stages, and there is no guarantee that treatments using cord tissue will be available in the future. Cord tissue is stored whole. Additional processing prior to use will be required to extract and prepare any of the multiple cell types from cryopreserved cord tissue. Cbr Systems, Inc.’s activities for New York State residents are limited to collection of umbilical cord tissue and long-term storage of umbilical cord–derived stem cells. Cbr Systems, Inc.’s possession of a New York State license for such collection and long-term storage does not indicate approval or endorsement of possible future uses or future suitability of these cells.
There’s no need to panic about these common behaviors
You’ve read all the baby books (or at least that one pamphlet from your doctor), so you’re feeling fairly prepared for when your baby arrives. As a new parent, you know the big things, like your baby’s soft spot won’t always be soft and your newborn’s umbilical cord will take a few weeks to dry up and fall off. But then there are the weird, quirky things babies do that no one warns you about. Those are the ones that can cause confusion and send your parenting confidence straight into the diaper pail with those poopy diapers you didn’t even know could be that color.
Newborns can do some unusual things that are, in fact, totally normal. The fourth trimester is especially full of developmental shifts, and you might wonder if you should freak out when your baby looks at you crossed-eyed or just roll with it. As babies grow and change, so do their bodies, which is why we’ve listed the unexpected things babies do that you should know about. This way you can take these 10 things off your “worry to-do list” and relax a little more into the joy of parenting your little one.
1. Lose hair
If your newborn’s hairline is losing inches or you’ve noticed your baby has a bald spot, don’t worry—there’s no need to sign your little one up for the Baby Hair Loss Club. It’s actually perfectly normal for infants to lose some or even all of their hair in the first months of their life. According to HealthyChildren.org, your baby’s hair will fall out before the mature hair comes in, so hair loss occurring in the first 6 months generally isn’t a cause for concern.
2. Produce record-breaking hiccups
Watching your baby’s entire body jump when their hiccups start can be, well… startling. While these can look uncomfortable for your infant to endure, the Cleveland Clinic reassures that hiccups usually don’t bother babies and they’re especially common in newborns and infants. Hiccups are most likely caused by irritation to the diaphragm, and when this muscle spasms or cramps, we get the hiccups. The Cleveland Clinic suggests changing feeding positions, burping more frequently, or using a pacifier as the sucking motion to help calm the diaphragm.
3. Poop strange colors
Who knew observing our baby’s poop would occupy so much of our parental brains? (I sure didn’t.) When you first see your baby poop a fine shade of green, you might wonder if that’s totally normal. The Children’s Hospital of Colorado says common stool colors are any shade of brown, tan, yellow, or green. If you see poop that looks red, black, or white, talk to your pediatrician. It’s true, when your baby starts eating solid foods, their poop can change colors, but with any change, it’s good to check in with your doctor.
4. Break out like a teenager
We all hope our kids don’t grow up too fast, so what happens when your newborn’s face suddenly looks like a teenager’s? Around two weeks old, your baby can have a type of acne called “neonatal acne.” And according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, 20% of newborns have this type of breakout, and you’ll notice tiny red bumps on their cheeks and nose. FYI: it can appear on their forehead, chin, scalp, and neck, too. This is totally normal and should go away on its own in a few weeks to a few months.
5. Make strange noises
Snorty, sniffly, and coughy may sound like names of Snow White’s friends, but, in fact, they’re a few of the peculiar sounds your baby can make. Stanford Medicine Children’s Health explains one common noisemaker is caused by floppy tissue falling over the voice box and partially blocking the airway when a child breathes in. This is called “laryngomalacia” and is usually harmless. All the snorts and snarrfles your baby makes are common for their developing bodies, but if a strange snuffle gives you pause, remember you can always contact your pediatrician to explain your concern.
6. Rock and roll their head
If your child looks like they’re dreaming about heavy metal music with all their head-banging as they fall asleep, well… there’s a better explanation. Body rocking, head rolling, and head banging are ordinary ways for children to self-soothe. According to the Cleveland Clinic, these are common ways for kids to fall asleep and usually begin around the age of 6 months and can last into toddlerhood. The movement will appear repetitive, and babies do this because it feels rhythmic and comforting—like they felt in their mother’s womb.
If you feel your child’s head banging or head rolling is particularly intense or it’s causing injury, it’s a good idea to call your pediatrician. (You can even email them a short video.) And the Cleveland Clinic says, “Parents of certain children with other health issues—including developmental delay, neurological or psychological problems, autism spectrum disorder, or those who are blind—will need to be watchful of these behaviors, as they can (though rarely) lead to injury.”
7. Shed their skin
No, your baby is not part lizard, but it is weird to see small pieces of skin flake off their tiny bodies. Not to worry as The Mayo Clinic says it’s totally common for the top layer of a newborn’s skin to flake off shortly after birth. This is why you might notice dry peeling skin for the first few weeks of your little one’s life. This usually resolves on its own, and there are even home remedies to help like oatmeal baths and hypoallergenic lotions.
8. Experience sudden, jerky movements
Ever look at your baby only to think they suddenly seem like an outlandish symphony conductor from a Warner Bros. cartoon? If you’ve spotted your newborn’s arms flailing along with their head moving back suddenly and their legs extending out, this is standard for infants. According to the National Library of Medicine, the Moro (or startle) Reflex, is a normal involuntary protective motor response against abrupt disruption of body balance or extremely sudden stimulation. Basically, this occurs when your baby is surprised by a sound or movement. Swaddling your baby can help limit their response (should you need extra support), and by six months they should outgrow it.
9. Appear cross-eyed
While gazing lovingly into your newborn’s eyes, you might be surprised to find them staring back at you—cross-eyed. Take a breath and know that this is totally fine as it’s normal for an infant to appear cross-eyed for the first few months. The American Academy of Ophthalmology calls this “pseudostrabismus” and explains it’s common in babies from birth until about 18 months. Underdeveloped eye coordination and a baby’s growing facial features can contribute to your little one looking cross-eyed, but pseudostrabismus will improve over time. If you notice your little one’s eyes pointing in different directions (one eye looking straight ahead while the other turns in, out, up, or down) this is called “strabismus.” This condition can affect vision so an ophthalmologist should be consulted for treatment options.
10. Breathe weirdly
Babies breathe differently than adults. So, while you’re marveling at your sleeping newborn and you notice your little one’s breathing has increased or even stops breathing for several seconds, this is actually a thing. It’s called “periodic breathing,” and it means a baby’s breathing may not always be regular. Stanford Medicine Children’s Health says a newborn’s normal breathing rate is about 40 to 60 times per minute, and this may slow to 30 to 40 times per minute when the baby is sleeping. Periodic breathing will happen less as your baby grows and by the six-month mark, this phase should pass.
As you can see, babies do some weird stuff. But it’s good to know so much of the weirdness is a normal developmental progression for your little one. Always remember, you know your baby best, so, if at any time you want to clarify a concern about a new movement, grunt, or breathing habit, don’t hesitate to contact your doctor for help and support.
For husband and wife, Michael and Armené*, the decision to preserve their first son Vaughn’s newborn stem cells was a precautionary measure. Just as they would invest in other areas of life, like a 401(k) or real estate, it only made sense to do the same for their baby. They were new to parenting and wanted to be prepared for any possible what-ifs that could come their way.
Since newborn stem cells have the ability to treat a variety of cancers and disorders, they knew they had nothing to lose. Once their son Vaughn arrived into the world in 2015, the blood from his umbilical cord (also called cord blood) was collected and sent to Cord Blood Registry®(CBR®), a private newborn stem cell preservation company, to be stored in their lab.
The couple never imagined the day would come when they would need Vaughn’s newborn stem cells—until it did.
This Mother’s Day, Michael and Armené are sharing their story to shed light on how cord blood banking—the process of collecting and storing these life-saving stem cells—with CBR may potentially help benefit the future health of your children and family.
A Second Chance with Cord Blood Banking
In 2017, Michael and Armené welcomed the birth of their second son, Sasoun. Their minds flashed to all of the exciting moments they’d get to experience once more with having a newborn. Bathing him for the first time, rocking him to sleep every night, dressing him in teeny-tiny, adorable newborn clothes, watching him and his older brother, Vaughn, interact with each other, and, of course, snuggling him every single day.
But one week later, the family was given news that would completely change their new life with Sasoun—along with everything they’d once envisioned. Their pediatrician informed them that Sasoun was born with Severe Combined Immunodeficiency, a rare genetic disorder that causes infants to have an extremely impaired immune system.
The life-threatening disease, sometimes referred to as SCID, would make Sasoun susceptible to infections. Even the most benign illness, like a cold, would be fatal for him, and if left untreated, the disorder could lead to death within the first year, or two, of his life.
Sasoun and Armené were immediately transferred to the hospital and kept in a sterile environment to keep him safe from potential exposure to viruses and bacteria. To save his life, Sasoun would need a genetically matched donor to undergo a stem cell transplant.
“We had to go to the hospital and be in isolation, and I wasn’t allowed to leave the room, so I had to stay in the room with Sasoun for three months,” Armené recalls. “It was difficult.”
Before the what-ifs of Michael and Armené’s future could fully sink in, they remembered there was a silver lining: Vaughn’s preserved newborn stem cells they banked with CBR just two years prior. As if that wasn’t already the news that could turn their lives around, they quickly discovered Vaughn’s cord blood was a perfect match for Sasoun.
“At that point, we were kind of like, man, this is the magic bullet,” Michael remembers. “We can’t believe we have it, but we have it.”
With the exciting news that Vaughn’s cord blood was a match, CBR worked with Sasoun’s physician to send over the newborn stem cells. He was able to complete his transplant and, six weeks later, Sasoun was able to finally return home. While he had to remain quarantined for a year, Sasoun was able to fully recover and was given a second chance at life.
Today, Sasoun is living a healthy and normal life, which he credits to his “hero” Vaughn.
“The treatment Sasoun received gave him a future,” says Armené. “Without it, he may not have been here today. They are just the most incredible boys you could wish for and they love each other so much.”
CBR®: A Once-In-A-Lifetime Opportunity
Michael and Armené are a reminder of the importance of being prepared for life’s what-ifs. By banking your baby’s cord blood and cord tissue with CBR—the #1 choice of parents and #1 recommended family newborn stem cell preservation company by OB/GYNs**—you can have peace of mind for the unknowns and unexpected challenges of life.
Preserve your newborn stem cells at birth to have the opportunity to use them in the future by either your child or their full siblings who have a 75% chance of being at least a partial match. The collection process is simple and safe for both you and your baby.
Once your family enrolls, you’ll receive a kit sent to your home with everything needed for collection. Simply take the kit with you to the hospital, let your birth team know that you are planning to preserve with CBR, and your healthcare provider will use the kit to collect your baby’s newborn stem cells. Once the cord blood and cord tissue are collected, just call the medical courier number found on the box, and the kit will be shipped to their lab in Arizona. You’ll be notified when your newborn stem cells are processed and stored!
As Mother’s Day approaches, consider giving the gift of cord blood banking to your family and potentially protect your family’s future health. For more information, visit cordblood.com.
The use of cord blood is determined by the treating physician and is influenced by many factors, including the patient’s medical condition, the characteristics of the sample, and whether the cord blood should come from the patient or an appropriately matched donor. Cord blood has established uses in transplant medicine; however, its use in regenerative medicine is still being researched. There is no guarantee that potential medical applications being studied in the laboratory or clinical trials will become available.
Cord tissue use is still in early research stages, and there is no guarantee that treatments using cord tissue will be available in the future. Cord tissue is stored whole. Additional processing prior to use will be required to extract and prepare any of the multiple cell types from cryopreserved cord tissue. Cbr Systems, Inc.’s activities for New York State residents are limited to collection of umbilical cord tissue and long-term storage of umbilical cord–derived stem cells. Cbr Systems, Inc.’s possession of a New York State license for such collection and long-term storage does not indicate approval or endorsement of possible future uses or future suitability of these cells.
*This family’s story depicts the family’s personal experiences and is not necessarily representative of other’s experiences and cannot predict outcomes for others. CBR cannot and does not guarantee specific results. Your physician or other healthcare providers should be consulted about your particular situation.
**Blind survey, Egg Strategy, 10/19, funded by CBR.
You may have a laundry list of questions that have popped up in the hours and days since your little one entered the world, or you may not have any and might be unsure what questions to ask. Either way, we’ve got you covered with topics and questions to ask a pediatrician at your first visit to get the most out of your appointment.
Pro tip: Keep a list of questions on your phone for easy access at the pediatrician’s appointment. And no concerns are too small or unimportant to ask. These experts are there to partner with you in your baby’s health and development. So ask away!
Food
1. How much should my baby be feeding?
2. How long should each feeding take?
3. How often should my baby take a bottle or breastfeed?
4. If using formula: What’s the best formula for my child?
5. If breastfeeding: Do I need a lactation consultant? If so, any recommendations?
6. Any tips on nipple care for breastfeeding?
7. Is it okay to pump and breastfeed at the same time?
Digestion
1. After eating, the baby seems gassy or upset. What should we do?
2. Our baby seems to spit up a lot after eating. Could it be reflux?
3. Any techniques to burping our baby that would be helpful?
4. Where should my baby sleep, and how can we make sure it’s safe?
Diapers
1. How many wet diapers should my baby have each day?
2. How many dirty diapers should my baby have each day?
3. What color and consistency poop should we be looking for?
Weight
1. It looks like our baby has lost weight since birth; is this a concern? Why or why not?
2. If it is a concern, what should we be doing differently?
Vaccines
1. When are the baby’s first vaccines?
2. What side effects can we expect after vaccinations? How should we comfort our baby?
3. How often will baby be scheduled to receive vaccines?
4. Can we discuss specific vaccines and any risk factors to consider?
5. Can we request specific vaccine brands?
6. Is it possible to spread out the vaccines to different appointments? Is it advisable?
Umbilical Cord
1. How long will it take for the cord to fall off?
2. How should we be taking care of the area around the cord?
Circumcision
1. What are the risks and benefits of circumcision?
2. When do you typically do the circumcision?
3. What can we expect after the procedure?
Bath Time
1. How often should we bathe our baby?
2. Where is the safest place to bathe our baby?
3. Any tips on products to use to avoid rashes or irritation?
4. Is lotion recommended after bath time?
Development
1. When should we start tummy time?
2. Why is tummy time important?
3. What things should we be looking for developmentally right now?
Extra Help
1. If we have a concern after office hours, what number do we call?
2. Is a doctor or nurse available for tele-health consultations after hours? If so, how do we access that service?
A Note About New Moms & Mental Health
Women experience a dramatic drop in hormones after giving birth, so it is completely normal to feel out of whack in those first days, weeks and months after having a baby. Sometimes these are simply baby blues that pass as time goes by, but more intense feelings may be postpartum depression and could be dangerous for you and your baby. This happens to many women and is something you should discuss with your OBGYN. While this isn’t a pediatrician concern, it is very important to be in tune with your feelings and emotions during this newborn period and to ask for help when you need it.
It was a cool June morning on what would turn out to be a warm summer day. My wife, Katie, was four days away from her estimated delivery date, but the midwives had warned us it was just that: an estimate. “Babies come when they’re ready, not by the mark on the calendar,” they told us repeatedly.
I had woken up at about 5:30 that morning, ready to start my day. We took a walk around 6:00, as that was well before we had kids who made sleeping in until 7:00 a.m. mandatory due to their constant wakings. Katie had woken up shortly after me and remarked that she had noticed some increase in her contractions. On our walk that morning she half-joked that “Hey, maybe this evening we’ll be parents!” Being first-time parents, we knew it was going to be a long labor…
You don’t know what you don’t know.
An hour later she was howling on the toilet with intense contractions.
We called our doula, who was about 15 minutes away. Five minutes later the contractions were so bad we called our midwives at the birthing clinic we had chosen. Since it was about a 45-minute drive they said it was probably best to go to the clinic immediately. Still thinking we had all day for this kid to be born, I calmly but quickly grabbed our bags and took them to the car. By this point, it took all of Katie’s strength simply to crawl away from the toilet and make it to the door. I backed the car to the closest spot to our apartment and had to help carry her to the car in between contractions.
About five minutes after that I got as I was getting onto the on-ramp to the highway Katie anxiously said, “I don’t think we’re going to make it to the clinic.” Being the cool-headed rational person that I am, I reassured her that as a first-time mother she had nothing to worry about—we’d be seeing our baby in a couple of hours at the clinic.
Another five minutes had passed (or maybe it was 10, time flies when you have a screaming pregnant partner in the back of the car), I hear Katie shout “Oh my god you have to pull over, I feel the baby crowning!” At that point, already being in the fast lane, I pulled the car over as quickly and safely as I could onto the shoulder of a major four-lane highway just outside of Baltimore. During morning rush hour traffic.
As I hopped out of the driver’s seat and pulled open the back door I saw Katie with her legs up and holy crap there was a baby’s head popping out of her! I reached under the baby’s shoulders as Katie gave one big final push—man she made it look so easy—and I grabbed the baby and pulled it into my arms. I was still phased from the novelty of the situation when I realized I was holding a gooey baby still attached to the umbilical cord on the side of the highway. I handed the baby back to Katie and realized I needed to get some help, as I managed to lose my phone in the chaos of the delivery. I stood for what seemed like five minutes (in reality it was probably about one minute) trying to wave someone down to stop and call an ambulance for us.
Luckily a kind Samaritan pulled over as I word vomited, “Hi can you call 911 my wife just delivered our baby on the side of the road.” He was surprised but said, “Yes, of course!”
I ran back to check in on Katie and the baby, and when I peeked back out to talk with him he was already headed back my way. “An ambulance is on its way. Is everyone okay?” he asked. I told him yes, mother and baby are fine and he relayed that information back to the 911 dispatch. Once he got off the phone he came up to me with a big smile on his face and said, “I have to go, but congratulations. I have three kids myself and being a parent is one of the most wonderful things on this earth.” I thanked him—probably way more than was necessary—and I got back into the car to wait for the ambulance as our new friend drove off.
I hopped back in the car to check up on Katie as we waited for the ambulance to arrive. It was then that I realized we hadn’t checked the baby’s sex yet. “Wait a second,” I asked Katie, “is it a boy or a girl?” She held it up and exclaimed “It’s a girl! Welcome to the world, Eliza Rey!”
A few minutes later the ambulance and a fire engine arrived. They were happy to see us; I think it’s rare that they get to a healthy delivery after it has happened. I got many high-fives and “congratulations” from the EMTs and paramedics as they helped Katie and Eliza get ready to transfer to the ambulance.
Once they were loaded in the ambulance, I hopped back in the car and followed them to the hospital. As I was cleaning up the byproducts of automobile delivery—luckily we planned ahead, and all I really did was toss some towels and blankets into a garbage bag—I found my phone covered in newborn baby goo. After some quick wipes on the towel and an overnight stay on the hospital bedroom’s AC unit to dry out, you could barely tell it had been sitting in amniotic fluid for a half hour. Katie got stitched up and then we got to spend most of the day snuggling Eliza and calling all our family members.
Now every time I see my daughter smile at me it reminds me of that day—one of the best days of my life.
By day I'm a father of two wonderful young kids as well as a software developer with a regular mid-life crisis. By night I'm a volunteer firefighter and EMT-in-training. As a former philosopher I'm particularly passionate about helping others lead a happy and healthy life through self-reflection.
The bathroom was a bloodbath. It seriously looked like someone was murdered in there, nasty. My poor daughter walked into—not once, but twice—the horrid crime scene of an undisposed pad/sanitary napkin/towel on the floor of a public bathroom. The other time it was a used tampon, floating in the murky toilet waters. Just absolutely gut-wrenching to see my innocent munchkin’s face turned pale and frightened, as she muttered to me, “Mom, I think someone got really hurt.” So just like that, it all began.
Truthfully, this kind of blog would have likely been irrelevant in my pre-teen and teenage years because it doesn’t seem like it was discussed that openly at home. I never had a talk about menstruation, puberty, or sex with my mom—it was just embarrassing. I learned through a quick lesson at school about our changing bodies and then through my friends. Being a late bloomer myself, I was actually cheering when the “Flow Fairy” finally visited me. Finally, I felt like all of the other girls! Don’t even talk about bras. I think I was one of the last to sport a training bra and probably started wearing one way before I needed to. Forget the talk about sex. My mom may have nervously asked me about that once in college.
Let’s face it—we live in a much different world. Social media and reality television have dominated and shaped much of our youth’s culture now. If we don’t talk about it, someone else will.
I don’t think parents truly ready themselves for all of the cringe-worthy talks that we need to have. We ask each other if it comes up in conversation, brush off the idea, and kind of wing-it in the moment, mostly. I have always been staunch on my belief to be honest, but also age-appropriate with all of my answers to my kids about life. From the beginning, all talks should offer a semblance of honesty and easy-to-understand language. It’s all a big puzzle that you unveil, bit by bit, until the entire picture becomes clear in its own time.
Some, I admittedly figure out in the moment, while others I actually think about and speak to other moms for ideas. Thankfully, I live in a culturally diverse community, where global perspectives are so interesting and eye-opening for me.
So here goes—no matter how YOU choose to shape your answers, perhaps this Q & A scenario will help you prepare for when the time comes.
** Please note that this is just an early, basic introduction to some truly important topics, and all of the variables in parenthood should become unveiled with time. This may vary in discussion for parents in different life scenarios.
Baby Talk
After having four children about 2.5 years apart, my kids have seen my belly grow to ridiculous proportions, witness my slowing down, baby pop out, stay at the hospital, and constant breastfeeding for the first year. This cycle is as interesting as it is confusing for siblings.
Q-Where do babies come from?
A-Mom and dad have to make a decision together to have a child. When they agree, daddy gives mommy a special seed, and then mommy starts to grow a baby inside.
Q-How does the baby eat inside? Can it breathe?
A- Yes, on the inside of mommy’s tummy, there’s a long “straw” called an umbilical cord that connects from mommy’s belly button to the baby’s. This straw carries all of the oxygen to help baby breathe. Also, when mommy eats, all of the most important healthy parts of the food travel right into the baby’s tummy through this straw. Inside of mommy’s tummy is kind of like a balloon, called an amniotic sac. It’s filled with warm water and baby floats in it while growing. As baby grows, so does mommy’s tummy.
Q-How does a baby come out of your tummy?
A-Well, all females have 3 holes—a pee hole, a poo hole, and a baby hole right in the middle. You may not even know you have it because it’s so little. Well, when baby is all finished growing, mommy feels a strong knock on the inside of her tummy. Then mommy goes to the doctor to help baby come out. The doctor will help baby come out either through that middle hole, like a baby slide from mommy’s tummy and out, or through mommy’s baby door. The doctor has a special key to get baby out.
Q-What is baby doing to you (breastfeeding)?
A-Baby is drinking mommy’s milk. After mommy has a baby, her breasts become natural baby bottles. Baby is drinking special milk to get big and strong.
Periods, Aunt Flow and Menstruation
Whether a child is as young as 9-years old when she begins menstruating, or has a friend who does, this time can be as confusing as frightening for a child who is completely unaware of this process. In my case, it only took a sloppy stranger to leave the evidence behind in a public bathroom for my daughter to find, prompting this highly important talk.
Q-What is that stick that you’re holding (tampon)? What happened to that person in the bathroom? Is she hurt? What happened?
A-You know how a chicken lays an egg and a chick comes out? Well, moms have an egg too, but it stays on the inside. Remember how I explained to you how a baby is made when daddy gives mommy a special seed? And that the body has it’s own special way of healing and cleaning itself? Well, just like the egg of a chicken, not every egg has a chick inside. Some are empty. Every 30 days or so, a female’s body checks to see if her egg has that special seed. If it does, a baby starts to grow. If it doesn’t, the body cleans itself and prepares for a new one; and that’s what it looks like for a few days. It’s red and it doesn’t hurt. It’s just the body’s way of cleaning. During that time, we use a cotton pad (towel, sanitary napkin) or tampon (cotton stick) to keep ourselves clean.
The Big Talk: How Babies are Really Made
Television, magazines, social media, and even pop music are constantly promoting images and singing about “sex” and “sexy.” While children are young and naive, they repeat song lyrics and watch completely unaware. Yet there comes a time when curiosity and reasoning kick in, prompting many questions on this topic. Be prepared however YOU choose to enlighten your children.
Q-What’s the difference between sexy and sex? I hear those words a lot.
A-One is an adjective and the other a verb (ha!).
Q-What is sex? Tell me how babies are really made? How does dad give mom the seed?
A-Ok, so you know how I told you that every part of your body serves a special purpose? Like your eyelashes are there to keep dust out of your eyes. Nose hair keeps dirt and dust out of your nose. Breasts become baby bottles for babies. A belly button is how mommy gives baby nutrition through the umbilical cord. Well, if everything serves a special purpose, have you ever wondered why females and males have different private parts? Why do females have a vagina that go in and males have a penis that sticks out?
Well, women and men were made to fit like a puzzle. When a woman and a man decide to have a baby, they give each other a special cuddle, and the seed that holds all of the information about our family moves from the man to the woman. The seed then finds it’s way to mommy’s egg that holds all of her information. When both are combined, a baby that is the combination of both people starts to form.
So there you have it. I got through all of the most cringe-worthy conversations, seamlessly and painlessly, if you don’t count my original nervous cackling for a good 30 seconds before collecting myself again and answering that last question. Over time, you may need to fill in any gaps or add technical terms, but this is a preliminary example of how I managed to work through each of these important topics.
This may not be the way you choose to tell your children, and that’s wonderfully ok. But please make sure you do. No matter if you have a girl or boy, please do your best to keep the non-judgmental communication lines free and open with your children.
Let them feel comfortable in asking you everything from social situations, personal developments, curse words, drugs, sex, and anything else that life throws their way.
Ruthi Davis is a the Founder of Ruth Davis Consulting LLC with over two decades of success in advertising/marketing, media/publicity, business development, client relations, and organizational optimization for a variety of clients. Ruthi is a proud mom and influencer in the parenting and family market as founder of the Superfly Supermom brand.
In a fresh interview with PEOPLE,new dad Andy Cohen dished all about his beautiful baby boy and how his life has already changed for the better. The producer, Watch What Happens Live host and author welcomed his first child, Benjamin Allen Cohen, at the age of 50 on Feb. 4 via surrogate—and he’s nothing but glad he waited.
Cohen made sure he didn’t miss a thing, staking out a prime spot in the delivery room and even cutting the umbilical cord himself. After a quick clean up, he went skin-to-skin with his son and reveled in his new role as a papa.
Facing fatherhood at 50 doesn’t scare Cohen one bit. He tells PEOPLE that he has “a sense of calm that I didn’t have 10 [or] 20 years ago.” Perhaps fellow older dad George Clooney has some parenting wisdom he could throw his way?
Back in his home state of New York with baby in tow, Cohen is ready to get into the parenting game. With his network of support huddled around him, the Bravo TV host will surely wrangle midnight feedings and diaper changes like the pro he is.
Earlier this week, the Cedar Rapids Fire Department delivered a baby during the Polar Vortex. While you might expect baby delivering duties to fall into the hands of an OB/GYN or midwife, when duty calls, these first responders came through in an amazing way.
Sometimes the birth plan doesn’t work out as hoped. When mama-to-be Cassy Abram and husband Scotty were told that Scotty Jr. just wasn’t ready for his grand debut, the expectant couple left the hospital and returned to their Cedar Rapids, Iowa home. But apparently Scotty Jr. wasn’t in agreement with the hospital staff’s assessment. Minutes after arriving home, Cassy was in labor and the baby was coming.
Imminently soon-to-be dad Scotty called the Cedar Rapids Fire Department and got to work actually delivering his baby. In an interview with CNN, Cassy’s aunt, Larissa Ruffin, said, “EMTsarrived about 10 minutes later and they let dad cut the umbilical cord on the living room floor.”
But wait, the story gets better. Not only did the unplanned home birth go flawlessly, the firefighters didn’t stop at the delivery. In a now-viral Facebook post, a pic of two firefighters shoveling the new family of three’s driveway melted hearts across the internet.
One commenter wrote, “Your firefighters rock! That took one huge weight off of a new dad’s shoulders, and let him enjoy some special time with his wife and new son. Those firefighters deserve a huge pat on the back, a warm blanket and some hot cocoa.”
Summing it up, another FB commenter added, “Well done! This was such a beautiful gesture and a nice reminder of the goodness in the world. Thank you for your work.”
