Your baby’s umbilical cord is made of tissue that protects and insulates the veins responsible for carrying blood to and from mom and baby during pregnancy. In addition to playing the role of protector, your baby’s umbilical cord tissue is packed with several types of stem cells, including Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs), which are different than the Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs) found in abundance in cord blood. Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) can rapidly divide, regenerate, and differentiate into many cell types including neural cells, bone cells, and cartilage. They also have the ability to r ..read more

Having a newborn can be very exciting (albeit exhausting) time in your life, but it can also be scary to think about the potential dangers for your new baby. Especially if you are a first-time mom, you may have a lot of questions about the “right” way to do things, such as putting your baby down to sleep. Although there is no 100% way to prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, there is a lot you can do lower your baby’s risk. What is SIDS? SIDS, or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, is the sudden, unexplained death of an infant under 1 year of age. It is also known as “cot/crib death.” The infants af ..read more

First-time parents often struggle with the challenge of preparing for the responsibilities that come with parenthood. Talking with other parents can help. They can help you develop a baby checklist by recommending support services such as childcare, medical care, products to use and parenting strategies. They can also give you many useful tips that you might otherwise overlook. If your available resources are limited, you can check with your local pregnancy center, church, hospital or community organization to find out about parenting classes and other resources. Parent’s Baby Checklist Take P ..read more

So you’ve welcomed your bundle of joy home. Congratulations! But now maternity leave is over, and you’re diving back into the world of work — from home. Whether you traditionally worked from home or this is a new development due to the pandemic, it’s not easy to work at home with a new baby. Babies tend to shake up our routines and force us to be more flexible. Helen Brown from Money Crashers discusses tips to help you succeed in your work-from-home position while providing the best care for your infant. Tips for Working at Home with a New Baby Make the Most of Technology Working from hom ..read more

Birthing a baby is one of the most amazing, miraculous experiences you will ever have. While you’re focused on your new bundle of joy, don’t forget that your body has endured a very physical and emotional experience.  It took nine months to conceive, grow and birth your baby. So “bouncing back” doesn’t happen instantly. It’s called “postpartum recovery” and “postpartum healing” and it takes time. Postpartum Recovery and Healing Essential ingredients to postpartum healing and breastfeeding for every mom are sleep, nutrition and self-love. Once your baby arrives, most foods that were on the ..read more

The first six weeks after the delivery of your baby are considered your “recovery” period, eight weeks if you had a cesarean section. But some believe recovery lasts for six months up to one year postpartum. Even if you had the easiest delivery on record (and especially if you didn’t), your body has been stretched and stressed, so it needs time to recover and regroup. Postpartum Recovery: How to ease and speed your recovery Assemble Your Postpartum Care Team The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends assembling a postpartum care team to help support you. These ar ..read more

The Women, Infants and Children’s program, frequently referred to as WIC, is a supplemental food and nutrition program for pregnant women, new moms, and children under the age of 5 years old. Through the WIC program, women and children receive financial assistance in purchasing food, counseling, and information on healthy eating, breastfeeding support and information and referrals to health care and other community resources. Who is eligible for WIC? WIC assists pregnant women, women who have recently given birth, infants and children under the age of 5 years old. Participants are required to ..read more

If you are approaching your third trimester of pregnancy, be sure to talk to you doctor or midwife about the importance of perineal massage, the ancient practice of manual massage that aims to stretch and relax the tissues of the birth canal before delivery. More than half of all women who have vaginal deliveries experience perineal tearing or require an episiotomy. Performing perineal massage (link to perineal massage article) during pregnancy can help prevent this trauma, and reduce the chance that you will need stitches or experience perineal pain after your baby is born. BabyIt Perineal Ma ..read more

Having a newborn can be very exciting (albeit exhausting) time in your life, but it can also be scary to think about the potential dangers for your new baby. Especially if you are a first-time mom, you may have a lot of questions about the “right” way to do things, such as putting your baby down to sleep. Although there is no 100% way to prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, there is a lot you can do lower your baby’s risk. What is SIDS? SIDS, or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, is the sudden, unexplained death of an infant under 1 year of age. It is also known as “cot/crib death.” The infants af ..read more

What is Pregnancy Medicaid? Medicaid is a government-sponsored health insurance program for low-income families who have no medical insurance or inadequate insurance. All states offer Medicaid or a program similar to Medicaid to help pregnant women receive adequate prenatal and postpartum care. Medicaid also offers health insurance to seniors, children, and people with disabilities. Who is eligible for Medicaid? The general guidelines for eligibility for Medicaid are set by the Federal government; however, each state sets up their own specific requirements for eligibility and these can di ..read more