Depression during pregnancy tied to preemie births

(Reuters Health) – Women who have depression symptoms during pregnancy may be more likely to deliver early, a new study suggests. Researchers found that of more than 14,000 pregnant women, those who screened positive for possible clinical depression had an increased chance of preterm birth: 14 percent delivered before the 37th week of pregnancy, versus …

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Scientist Who Lost Daughter Champions Cord Blood

    Saving umbilical cord blood from childbirth is a growing practice, and those in the field credit a former NASA astronomer with raising national awareness about cord blood’s potential for providing life-saving stem cells. “There’s been a huge upswing in interest in cord blood banking,” said Danielle Winner Koontz, a childbirth educator and doula—or …

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Scientists Successfully Expand Bone Marrow-Derived Stem Cells in Culture

    What exactly do all those medical words mean??? Simply put, stem cells can be  multiplied in a culture  providing millions and even billions of new cells which might be used in the treatment of anemia, immune deficiencies and other diseases, including some cancers.  Since stem cells from bone marrow limit the matching capabilities of the cells, umbilical cord blood …

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Cord blood bill signed into Florida law

    According to the Orlando Sentinel, a new bill in Florida last month requires health care providers to educate their clients about cord blood banking options, including public and private banks. In addition, the Florida Department of Health website has now included a link to a non commercial site, www.parentguidecordblood.org which explains the process of collecting cord blood …

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Smoking in pregnancy tied to child’s cholesterol

    A new study reported by Reuters from the  European Heart Journal describes the effects on children whose mothers smoked while they are pregnant.  The study indicates that smoking in pregnancy can lead to lower levels of  HDL or ‘good’ cholesterol thus making them more prone to heart disease later in life. “Our results suggest that maternal smoking …

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Sleeping and pregnancy

    Two words which become elusive as the months go on. Sleep and Pregnancy.  For a safer pregnancy, make sure to sleep on your left side as it increases blood flow and nutrients to the baby.  For the first twenty weeks it is safe to sleep on your back but after that it isn’t advisable  because …

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CBS’ The Doctors on Stem Cells and Cord Blood

  On the most recent episode of The Doctors on CBS is an awesome segment about stem cells and cord blood. The Doctors answer a question from a women deciding whether she should store her third child’s cord blood. The collective answer was a resounding ‘yes’.  They speak about the overwhelming and positive potential of …

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