Cord Blood Banking - Learn More About this Medical Procedure

What is cord-blood banking?

Cord blood banking refers to the collection and storage of the umbilical cord blood of your child. This blood, from the placenta and umbilical cord, is rich in hematopoietic stem cells. Stem cells from this cord blood play an important role in the treatment of certain serious blood and immune system related genetic diseases such as cancers that are treated with bone marrow transplants.

Benefits

• Cord blood stem cells have a higher success rate than stem cells from the bone marrow.


• They are valuable in treating conditions such as leukemia or lymphoma, aplastic anemia, severe sickle cell anemia, severe combined immune deficiency, and other diseases that require bone marrow transplants.


• They may prove useful for a family that has a medical history of diseases that are usually treated using bone marrow transplants.

Disadvantages

• The odds that the baby’s cord blood will ever be used to treat a family member are very low; odds that it will ever be used to treat the same child are even lower.


• It is expensive. Storing a sample of cord blood may cost approximately $1, 500, along with an annual maintenance of $ 150.


• It has limited use. Cord blood stem cells are mostly used in the treatment of children and young adults. The quantity of stem cells provided by cord blood is not enough for transplant into adults.


• It is not yet certain whether stem cells from close relatives actually offer a higher rate of success than those from strangers.


• The process of collecting the blood holds some risk, though very low, to the baby.

Help Your Child Cope with Colic

Colic is a health condition characterized by long and repeated bouts of crying seen in otherwise healthy infants. The causes of colic are not known, and though some believe that there is no such thing as colic, acute abdominal pain is believed to cause the symptoms.

While all infants cry, babies are said to be colicky if they cry for more than three hours a day for at least three days in a week in the first three to four months.

Symptoms


Colicky babies may display the following symptoms:

• High pitched crying for long periods in spite of constant comfort


• Irritability and fussiness


• Clenched fists


• Passing gas


• Arched back


• Sleeplessness and exhaustion

Treatment

• Diagnosis – Typically, infant colic subsides after a few months. A thorough medical examination is necessary to eliminate all possible causes. Take your child to a health professional immediately if you suspect that the child is suffering from colic.


• Dietary changes – Colic is sometimes attributed to certain foods or ingredients. Cow's milk is not suitable for some children who are lactose intolerant.


• Use of soothing techniques – Try different methods such as pacifier, baby swings, back massage, etc. to soothe the infant.


• Medications – Some parents believe gripe water and colic drops may help to reduce the child's symptoms.


• Use of Sedatives – Tranquilizers, alcohol, or any drug can adversely affect the child's development and need to be avoided.


• Alternative therapies – Several herbal and alternative remedies are available but the FDA does not regulate most of them. Hence, parents need to exercise caution.


• Parent Care – Parents of colicky babies require some care and attention themselves. To reduce the stress and frustration, parents may take turns to handle the child. Support by family members and friends may be a good alternative.

Accurate Acetaminophen Dosage

Acetaminophen is one of the most common drugs administered to children. The drug is commonly given as a cure for fever and pain. Yet, for dads, it can be one of the most challenging drugs to give a dosage correctly. This is because Acetaminophen is easily available in many forms. It has become a staple resident of home medicine cabinets in one form or the other since the 1970’s. Due to its easy availability, Acetaminophen is considered to be the drug that causes most deaths by overdose. Overdoses occur because parents are unaware of Acetaminophen’s toxicity. Symptoms of acetaminophen intoxication include nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, and liver failure.


There are few things that every dad should remember before administering Acetaminophen to their children.

• Never give Acetaminophen to a baby under the age of 3 months without consulting with your doctor first.


• The amount of Acetaminophen given to a baby depends on his weight and not on his age.


• Read the medications label carefully as it is easy to be confused by the different forms and concentration of acetaminophen that is available at the medical store


• Remember to use the measuring device that came with the medication to ensure correct amount of dosage.


• Check whether you are giving an adult dosage or a child’s dosage before administering the drug. Even within the children’s version there are many variations depending on age group. For example, an infant drop formulation is three times as concentrated as the syrup given to toddlers.


• Overdose of acetaminophen can cause liver damage.

Age:	0 to 3 months	4 to 11 months	12 to 23 months	2 to 3 years
Weight:	6 to 11 lbs./ (2.7 to 5 kg)	12 to 17 lbs./ (5.5 to 7.7 kg)	18 to 23 lbs./ (8.2 - 10.5 kg)	24 to 35 lbs./ (10.9 to 15.9 kg)
Drops:	0.4 ml (1/2 dropper)	0.8 ml (1 dropper)	1.2 ml (1 1/2 dropper)	1.6 ml (2 droppers)
Syrup:	--	1/2 tsp.	3/4 tsp. (3.75 ml)	1 tsp. (5 ml)
Chewable Tablets 80mg tablets:	--	--	--	2 tablets

Useful Article: New Born Baby Care