Parkinson’s Disease (PD) – is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative movement disorder. It is characterized by tremors, rigidity, slow movement, poor balance, and difficult walking. The brain stops making dopamine which controls the neurotransmitters which regulate movement. Researches hope to have stem cells replicate and become dopamine producing neurons and therefore wiping PD out. It is thought that PD may be the first disease to be amenable to treatment using stem cell transplantation. Diabetes – is caused by the pancreas not producing any insulin or not enough insulin to regulate blood sugars. Researchers are trying to find a way to have stem cells rejuvenate the pancreas and enable it to start producing efficient amounts of natural insulin.- Type 1 (commonly known as juvenile diabetes) – is believed to be an autoimmune disease. The body’s immune system attacks the cells in the pancreas that produces insulin. Your body stops producing insulin, causing you to be manufactured insulin dependent in most cases. This type is usually diagnosed in childhood or early adolescence and usually coincides with an illness or injury of some kind.- Type 2 (commonly referred to as adult onset diabetes) – is thought to have a genetic link and tends to run in families. Some risk factors for developing this diabetes type are: high blood pressure, high blood fat levels, gestational diabetes (becoming a diabetic while pregnant), high-fat diet, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and aging.

Alzheimer’s Disease – is a progressive and fatal brain disease. Alzheimer’s destroys brain cells, causing severe problems with memory, thinking, and behavior. This disease severely affects a person’s work, hobbies, and social life. It gets worse over time and is fatal. Alzheimer’s is the seventh-leading cause of death in the United States. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if researchers could find away to make stem cells revitalize the brain making this deadly disease non existent? Researchers are still examining cord blood stem cells and perfecting on how to use these cells for treatments. It is hoped as well as expected that in the future cord blood will be used to treat the diseases listed as well as breast cancer, heart disease, liver disease, muscular dystrophy, spinal cord injuries, as well as stroke.

Definition of regenerative medicine: Cord blood stem cells are currently being evaluated and showing promise for use in regenerative medicine. Regenerative medicine is a rapidly developing field of medicine and research focused on developing treatments which can repair, replace or regenerative damaged or diseased cells, tissues and organs.

Current regenerative medicine studies: Human studies evaluating cord blood stem cell therapies for type 1 diabetes, cerebral palsy, and brain injury are underway. Additional conditions currently being studied in preclinical animal research include: heart disease, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and liver disease.

Likelihood of benefiting from regenerative medicine: Current estimates indicate that 1 in 3 Americans could benefit from regenerative medicine.

Types of cells used in regenerative medicine: For use in regenerative therapies, current science suggests that access to autologous (one’s own) stem cells offers better treatment options for patients. The only way to guarantee access to one’s own cord blood stem cells is to store them in a family (private) bank.

• Leukemia – is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. The bone marrow makes unformed cells called blasts and in AML the blasts are abnormal. They do not develop into healthy cells and cannot fight off infection. The amount of abnormal cells (leukemia cells) grows quickly and crowd out the normal blood cells that the body needs.The different kinds of leukemiaAcute myelogenous leukemia – makes all blood cells abnormal (fast-growing)
• Acute lymphoblastic leukemia - makes abnormal white blood cells (fast-growing)
• Chronic myelogenous leukemia – makes too many white blood cells (slow-growing)
• Chronic lymphoblastic leukemia – makes too many immature / abnormal white blood cells (slow-growing)
• Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia – is a very rare type that is only found in children and occurs most often in infants and children under four years old.
• Sickle cell disease: Sickle cell disease is an inherited, life-threatening blood disorder which causes red blood cells, normally round and soft, to form rigid crescent shapes, which clump together and block small blood vessels in the body. Sickle cell disease causes chronic pain, serious infection, and organ damage.1 Stem cell transplantation (including transplantation using cord blood stem cells) is the only curative treatment for sickle cell disease.
• Aplastic anemia: Aplastic anemia is a serious blood disorder that causes the bone marrow to produce insufficient quantities of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Stem cell transplantation, including transplantation using cord blood, is the best treatment option for many patients with aplastic anemia, because it usually cures the disease.
• Hodgkin’s lymphoma (also known as Hodgkin’s disease) – is a cancer of the lymphatic system, which is a part of your immune system. Cells in the lymphatic system grow abnormally and may spread to the rest of the body. As it progresses, it compromises the body’s ability to fight infection.Severe aplastic anemia – is a disease of the bone marrow. Basically the bone marrow stops making enough of the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets to support the body. Unlike leukemia, the blood cells the bone marrow makes are healthy and normal the bone marrow just doesn’t produce enough of them. People with this disease are at risk for life-threatening infections or bleeding.Fanconi anemia – is a genetically inherited type of severe aplastic anemia.Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) – is a rare potentially life-threatening disease of the blood characterized by anemia and red urine due to the breakdown of red blood cells.
• Pure red cell aplasia – is a type of anemia that affects the production of red blood cells and not the production of platelets or white blood cells. The bone marrow stops making red blood cells.Amegakaryocytosis / congenital thrombocytopenia – a platelet disorder with low platelet counts and large platelet size.Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) – is defined by a usually severe defect in the T- and B- lymphocyte systems. It is often called the “bubble boy disease” after the world learned of David Vetter, the boy who lived for twelve years in a plastic, germ-free bubble.Sickle cell disease – is an inherited blood disorder that affects red blood cells. The red blood cells contain mostly hemoglobin* S, an abnormal type of hemoglobin. Sometimes these cells become shaped like a sickle and have a hard time passing through small blood vessels. The sickle cells cause blockage in the blood vessels and less blood can reach that part of the body. If tissue does not receive the normal amount of blood becomes damaged and this causes the complications of sickle cell disease.

The treatments used for these illnesses use radiation and/or chemotherapy to kill the diseased cells in the body. A serious draw back of this treatment is that it kills off the healthy cells along with all the sick ones — including the healthy stem cells that live in bone marrow and which are responsible for creating all the new blood cells for our bodies — most importantly the white blood cells. White blood cells are important for fighting off disease. If a way to help patients recover from cancer treatments helped the patient regain a natural count of white blood cells, their recovery can be a less worrisome experience.

Umbilical cord blood is especially useful for patients who are in need of a quick blood transplant. Cord blood units are stored ready-to-use as soon as they are unfrozen. It can mean the difference between life and death for the hard to find a donor match patient. As mentioned earlier, cord blood does not require a close or “perfect” match like bone marrow stem cells do. This is important with the number of transplants needed today throughout the world. In addition to traditional transplant therapy, cord blood stem cells are also currently being evaluated in regenerative medicine to repair, regenerate or replace damaged cells and tissues. Regenerative medicine may have the potential to treat diseases that affect millions of Americans.

Out of the different transplants, cord blood transplants are used more widely in children than in adults. The main reason for this, is because the umbilical cord blood holds only so much blood and the amount of blood-forming cells needs to match the size of the patient they are being transplanted into. Some cord blood units might not have enough stem cells for some of the patients who are much larger than a child. Even some larger bodied children, like teens, have more mass than a small bodied child of less than 10 years of age.

Doctors are currently studying ways to enable them to transplant cord blood to larger patients, like being able to give two cord blood units instead of one or finding a way to grow the number of cells in the cord blood unit in the laboratory before transplanting it to the patient. Since cord blood cells constantly divide, this is a possibility that is hoped to become a reality in the future.

No parent wants to think their child might get sick someday but it is wise to consider the possibility. There is a decision available when your baby is born that could greatly influence his future health. It’s the decision to bank your infant’s cord blood. So much media attention has been brought to cord blood banking and it has become an issue for many parents.

What if your child needs transfusions? Bone marrow donations? Is there anyone in the family who can closely match your child in blood type? These are all questions that come to mind when a child falls ill, seriously ill. Each one can possibly be answered by researching cord blood banking. Research and education is key to understanding how this medical advance works.

Taking the time to educate yourself on this topic, whether you are a parent, expecting to be a parent, or in the stages of trying to conceive has become a new necessity. Unfortunately, many hospitals do not participate in cord blood donation due to funding constraints. Where cord blood donation is available, not all moms or cord blood units meet criteria for collection and storage in a public bank. However, private cord blood banking is available at any hospital to any person. Private banks provide expectant parents with a cord blood collection kit that contains everything their healthcare provider will need for the collection. Expectant parents should inform their healthcare provider that they are enrolled in private banking and should bring the kit with them to the delivery. Ask your Ob/Gyn if they participate in public cord banking through the hospital you will be giving birth at. If you plan on giving birth at home or in a center, there are still options available for you.

Your OB/Gyn may have materials available to you discussing cord blood banking. Often, the main materials offered are brochures which do not cover all of the information that is available to those who are researching this option. Most brochures only give basic information on cord blood banking, a company name, and phone number. While some of the information provided in these brochures is accurate, it is imperative to do your own research and when making a decision to use a certain company, make sure the company provides the most information with the most up to date science.

When in doubt it is never wrong to call up your baby’s pediatrician to ask for advice. Sometimes a simple call may help you feel more relaxed, or the nurse may have a hint to help relieve your baby’s discomfort. In the end it is important to remember that your doctor is not only there for well-checks, but also for sick baby calls.

Colds
Little coughs, a hardly heard sneeze, watery eyes and a runny nose can hit your baby as hard as it hits you. There are several different things you can try to do to help relieve your baby’s discomfort. First, ask your doctors what medicines you can give your baby. There are several items on the market made specifically for babies. Make sure you ask your pediatrician first however, and follow dosing instructions precisely. Second, invest in a humidifier. Often changing the air around your baby can help clear his head and chest. Third, make use of the “bulb” you are given in the hospital that they use to suction out your baby’s nose. They are too young at this point to understand how to blow their nose, so the only way to help them clear their sinuses is the bulb. As much as your baby may hate it and cry, it is a great tool for you.

Fever
When is your baby’s fever too high? There is no “right” answer to this question. A lot of it depends on your baby’s health since birth. Was he full term or premature? Has he been sick a lot or healthy for the most part? At your baby’s next well-check be sure to ask your pediatrician what degree of temperature he would suggest you call his office about. Some doctors will say 100 degrees, others may say to wait till it is a minimum of 102 degrees or slightly above. It is best to find out the answer to this question before you need it. Also, be sure to ask your pediatrician what medications he thinks is ok for you to give your baby when he spikes a fever.

Hospitalization
Occasionally your baby will get an illness that will cause him to be hospitalized for anywhere from a few hours to possibly several days. This is hardest on parents especially if there are IVs and tubes involved. It is best to remember during this time to ask a lot of questions and not to be afraid to ask for a second opinion. In most cases a hospital will allow at least one parent to spend the night at the hospital with your baby. If your baby is breastfed or you co-sleep with him, don’t be afraid to ask the hospital to get you a real hospital bed so that you can curl up next to your baby and help him get the most rest possible. Babies are very intuitive and yours will know when you are upset, scared, sad or happy. Try not to panic in front of your baby. Keeping a calm hospital room will help your baby stay calm and relaxed as well.

Remember, your baby getting sick is a part of life. He will have many more healthy days than he does sick days, but the sick days will come. Try to keep your wits about you, don’t be afraid to call the doctors, and give your baby some extra cuddles while they get better. Luckily, your baby is too young to remember being sick and will forget about it much sooner than you will.

Hep B
The Hep B vaccine, given at birth and intermittently throughout the first year of life is a vaccine used to fight the Hepatitis B virus. The virus affects the live and travels through blood and other bodily fluids. Since a baby is fed through the umbilical cord and is in contact with his mother’s blood during birth, this vaccine is generally given as early as possible.

DTaP
The DTaP vaccine stands for Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis. Diphtheria is a serious disease which can cause death by blocking a person’s airway, pneumonia, heart failure, and the paralysis of muscles in the throat. Tetanus is caused by toxin-producing spores that live in soil and feces of animals and humans. It is not contagious, but is often transmitted by a person stepping on a sharp object, animal bites and abrasions. Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a contagious bacterial infection that causes a person to cough. It can make it hard to eat, talk and even breathe. It gets its’ name from a “whooping” sound that a child might make when trying to breathe in after several coughs.

Hib
The Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine is a bacterium virus that can affect the outer layers of the brain and lead to meningitis. In some cases, meningitis can be fatal. It is spread from coughing and sneezing and is normally seen during the first year of life, however it can be found up till age five. It is uncommon for doctors to see cases of Hib after the age of five.

Influenza
The influenza vaccine is put out every year to help protect millions of infants, children, elderly and those at high risk of getting the flu and getting sick avoid the dreaded virus. It is normally released during the fall or early winter and is available, although sometimes in limited quantities through the spring. It is suggested that all children ages 6-23 months receive the vaccine.

MMR
The vaccine for measles, mumps, and rubella is a common vaccine for an infant to receive to help protect them against these three viruses. Measles is a serious disease that is contagious and can cause a brain infection in one out of every 1000 cases, leading to brain damage. The mumps is passed through coughing and sneezing and leads to the swelling of the salivary glands. This can lead to temporary and in some cases permanent deafness. Rubella is also transmitted through coughing and sneezing but it is usually a mild illness. In the worst form it can cause temporary arthritis and pain.

IVP
The long name for it is the Polio Vaccine Inactivated and it is a very important vaccine for your infant to get. Getting the polio vaccine helps prevent the occurrence of polio in your child. Polio can lead too sore throat, fever, nausea and vomiting. In severe cases it can lead to permanent paralysis. It is spread through stool and saliva which makes it very contagious, hence the reason it is so important to get the vaccine.

Varicella
Also known as the chicken pox vaccine the Varicella vaccine is another vaccine that is relatively new, but has cut down on many missed school days for children. A very contagious virus, chicken pox, used to affect thousands of children a year. When an adult contracted chicken pox, it proved to be even more dangerous. Rarely chicken pox could cause pneumonia or become fatal. The new vaccine, given at the age of one is meant to help cut down and hopefully, eventually get rid of the chicken pox vaccine in much of the world within the next couple of decades, much like the IVP vaccine did for polio.

These are the most common vaccines that your infant will be receiving at their well-checks. For the full list of recommended vaccines and ages they should be given see this Infant Immunization Schedule.

Fussiness can come at anytime of the day. It can be intermittent or at times last all day. With fussiness guessing what is wrong with your baby and helping them feel better can take hours to accomplish. It isn’t always an easy answer. A fussy baby will generally not cry, but make little and constant growling/groaning type noises. Enough to catch your attention and let you know something is wrong, but not enough to pinpoint the problem after you have learned to understand your baby’s different types of crying.

Reasons Fussiness May Occur
There are many reasons that your baby might be fussy. These include, but are not limited too: