Cord Blood

We have been debating whether or not to store our baby's cord blood. The doctor said the chance of needing the cord blood for the baby is very low, but we would hate to not save it and then realize that our baby could have used it. The doctor said it is a personal choice. She said that you can store cord blood stem cells privately or publicly. Private storage is very expensive (around $1200), but it guarantees the stem cells to be there for us if we need them. Public storage is free (you donate the cord blood to a public bank), but the stem cells are used for people on a waiting list who need it. You are not guaranteed stem cells if you donate publicly. With all this being said, here is a little info on cord blood:

* Cord blood is the blood which remains in the umbilical cord after your baby has been delivered. This blood is rich in stem cells. These cells are the building blocks of our blood and bone marrow. These cells are "master cells". They build our immune system and create components of our blood.
*Stem cells can be used to treat acute leukemia, chronic leukemias, myelodysplastic syndromes, stem cell disorders, myeloproliferative disorders, lymphoproliferative disorders, phagocyte disorders, liposomal storage diseases, histiocytic disorders, inherited erythrocyte abnormalities, congenital (inherited) immune system disorders, inherited platelet abnormalities, plasma cell disorders, and other inherited disorders and malignancies.

Family members can possibly benefit too:
*The baby is the only 100% match for the stem cells, so if the baby needs a transplant the preserved stem cells would provide an immediate and perfect match for her to use.
*Parents, siblings, and other family members may also be able to use these stem cells. Parents and siblings match 50% of the genetic markers of the donor's stem cell.

Anyways, we have looked at several different companies to bank our cord blood with. All the companies have similar procedures. They send you a collection kit that you bring to the hospital; the OBGYN fills the bags in the kit with the blood; a courier comes to the hospital and picks up the kit; you are notified when the bank receives the cord blood and stores it. We have decided that we would like to use AlphaCord. Their fees are not outrageous ($999 for the collection/storage and $99 per year), so it will be $1,098 for the first year and for the collection/storage.

Well we are finishing up with school! We have class tomorrow and Tuesday and then final exams on May 5th and 6th. We are looking forward to graduation :) On Friday (the 25th) Lindy got inducted into the Alpha Kappa Delta Sociological Honors Society. She gets to wear teal-colored cords to graduation for it. We are going to look quite odd in our caps and gowns, which are all black (even the tassel is black). Luckily Brian earned a white tassel that he gets to wear in addition to his black tassel and Lindy will have the teal cords. Strange considering the University's colors are green and gold.

The baby shower last Sunday was a lot of fun. Aunt Denise made an assortment of delicious food, including extra yummy strawberry and pineapple cake :) Addisyn is all set and her nursery is ready for her to come! We only have 9 weeks until she arrives!

We have another OB appointment on Wednesday, so we will post again that day (and hopefully post some baby shower pictures too).

Love,
Lindy, Brian, Addisyn, and Bear