Umbilical Cord Blood Banking

[believe]

My Ob asked me if I was planning to bank the baby's umbilical cord. I asked him how the lupus autoantibodies would affect the stem cells and what he knew about how the stem cells from the umbilical cord has been beneficial in lupus patients. He didn't really know.

I haven't done much research yet, but I thought some of the brilliant lupies here had some insight on this topic.

As we lupies know, the potential for a lupus flare is significant post partum due to the drop in cortisol from delivery of the placenta. Wouldn't it just be ironic if it was nature's way of "curing" the lupus from the stem cells from the umbilical cord? I dunno, just curious.

Thanks! :flowers:
Believe

[believe]

Oh well.... :sorry:

I guess there may not be that much info out there on this issue? I really haven't found too much yet, but I'll keep researching.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
:flowers: Believe

[here]

Believe,

I just happen to see this topic, and thought I would respond. I most always pass over the pregnancy cat. because I no longer am planning to have children. However, this grabbed my attention because I read a little bit on it nine years ago when I was pregnant with my child. It wasn't so much stem cell research, but the fact that if you have the cord frozen and stored in the right facilities, researchers believe that the fluid of the cord may actually be useful for the baby connected to the cord later on in life to cure what is now some uncureable diseases such as cancer. It has been so long ago that I don't remember all the details on the article.

My doctor at the time was very old (he died just after my daughter was born from cancer) and resented or scoffed at the very idea saying that such things were not possible unless you lived near New York. And, then even he said they were basically untouchable because of cost.

However, you can't get back that fluid or cord, and if I had had the resources or money I would have done anything to help my daughter later on in her life.

I don't know what strides they have made in the recent years in their research, but you might try different searches at different medical sites include large research facilities such as the Cleveland Clinic or John Hopkins. You could also try general searches on Google or Yahoo. And you might try search http://www.webmd.com and see if they have anything there.

Hope this helps,

Jamie