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Federal Ban on Blood Donation Continues

This past Friday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) decided to uphold the federal ban against sexually active gay men donating blood. The ban has been in effect for 25 years, when the AIDS blood scare first began. You probably remember young hemophiliac Ryan White who was infected with HIV in 1984 after receiving a tainted blood treatment. White died at the age of 18 in 1990. Another early victim of tainted blood was actor Paul Michael Glaser’s wife Elizabeth. She contracted HIV after receiving a blood transfusion when giving birth to their first child Ariel. She … Continue reading →

When Should the Umbilical Cord Be Cut?

One procedure more parents are considering as part of the birth plan is when to cut the umbilical cord. Should the cord be cut just after the birth? Should you wait until it stops pulsating to cut it? There are two completely different opinions on when to cut the umbilical cord. Some doctors believe the cord should be cut immediately after birth and not later than 30 seconds after the baby is born. This is largely due to a belief that delayed cord cutting can cause breathing difficulties in the new baby. Other doctors and most midwives are advocates of … Continue reading →

Retired Greyhounds Serve as Blood Donors

More than fifty retired racing greyhounds have embarked on a new career at the Ohio State University veterinary school. The dogs donate blood four or five times per year. Why are greyhounds good blood donors? Many greyhounds have a universal blood type, making their blood suitable for any dog who needs a transfusion. Greyhounds have large veins in their necks that make it easy to draw blood. Greyhounds have very short hair that makes it easy to find neck veins and draw blood. These particular greyhounds are owned by professors, technicians, and students at the Ohio State University veterinary school. … Continue reading →

A New Source For Stem Cells

The debate over stem cells may be nearing an end. Scientists reported earlier in January that they found a new source for human stem cells — stem cells that are easier to collect AND come without the ethical issues we’ve seen concerning embryonic stem cells. So where do these new stem cells come from? They are found in amniotic fluid — the liquid that surrounds a baby in the womb. Stem cells found in amniotic fluid can be collected at the same time amniocentesis is done, with very little risk to mother or child. And the cells can theoretically be … Continue reading →

Caring for the Umbilical Stump

After your baby is born and while you are still in the delivery room, the doctor will cut the umbilical cord. Once the cord has been removed, the baby will still have a cord stump that needs to be cared for. Now, bear in mind that the cord stump will gradually turn black in just a few days following the birth and it will fall off sometime between the first and fourth weeks of life. You need to pay particular care of this area of the body to hasten the healing process. You can do this by keep the area … Continue reading →

The Baby Week in Review, October 15-21

Sunday, October 15 In Your Baby’s First Hours of Life Valorie discussed what will happen to your little one while you are recovering from the labor and delivery. In Baby, Baby – Look at Me, too! We talked about the fact that being a parent is one of the hardest jobs you’re ever going to do. In Sour Milk? Valorie discussed that breast milk can go sour too. In Why is My Toddler Afraid of Dogs?, we looked at the reasons why toddlers may be afraid of dogs and other pets and how you help them overcome the fear, but … Continue reading →

A New Reason to Bank Your Baby’s Cord Blood

Banking baby’s cord blood is a relatively new procedure (new as in the last 30 years or so) where blood from the umbilical cord is collected at the hospital and stored at a storage facility for future use. Cord blood contains the same life saving stem cells as bone marrow. However it has a distinct advantage in that umbilical cells are considered more adaptable and are less likely to be rejected by the recipient. Many parents consider banking the umbilical cord blood in the event that their child or another close relative may have a life threatening illness. However, the … Continue reading →