Parents anticipating a premature baby have much to think about.  Knowing what to expect with a premature baby and a preterm delivery can help parents prepare for their upcoming  NICU experience.  In a preterm delivery, NICU staff will be present with the Labor and Delivery staff.  This higher amount of hospital staff is crucial to attending to the critical needs of the baby.
For parents expecting a preterm delivery, in the delivery room you will likely see the OB, Labor and Delivery Nurse, a scrub tech, a NICU Neonatologist or Practitioner, a NICU nurse, …

What do Preemies Need?
Premature babies, or ‘preemies’ in the NICU are defined by being born under 37 weeks gestational age.  The severity of the conditions associated with prematurity vary from infant to infant, but the risk for comlpications increases with lower gesational ages, and lower birth weights.
Preemie babies have different needs than those of a normal newborn infant.  Because of the special care they require, premature babies often are admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where their unique needs can be met.
The NICU will provide the preemie the …

Cost of Cord Blood Banking
Cord blood banking cost usually has two distinct fees.  The first fee is for the intial deposit, which includes enrollment, collection of the umbillical cord blood, and storage.  This initial cost usually ranges anywhere from $900 to $2100 and up.
The second cost for cord blood banking is an annual fee, usually in the $100 range.
While the cost for cord blood banking may seem expensive, many cord blood storage banks will offer initial discounts, prepaid plans, or even payment plans in order to accomodate parents. This allows …

Stem Cells from Umbilical Cord Blood Treatable Diseases

Did you know umbilical cord blood stem cells can be used in the treatment of over 80 life-threatening diseases and conditions?  These include leukemia, cancer, blood disorders, genetic diseases and deficiencies of the immune system.
Parents that opt to bank their baby’s umbilical cord blood are taking an extra step to protect their infant should they ever need to use the unique stem cells cord blood provides.  Here are some of the treatable diseases and conditions by cord blood stem cells:
Cancers

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia …

Cord Blood Banking – Cord Blood Collection
Cord blood can be collected for a cord blood bank usually by two methods: syringe or bag.  Cord blood is collected immediately after birth and after the umbilical cord has been clamped and cut.  The physician or caretaker is usually the person that will be  collecting the specimen.
Cord blood collection usually takes no longer than five minutes, and is completely safe to mother and baby.  Since the cord is clamped and cut, neither mother nor baby will feel any pain.
Under normal circumstances, the umbilical …

Decision to Save a Baby’s Cord Blood

Why should I save my baby’s cord blood? That is a question many new parents ask.  In all truth, there are many reasons to bank your baby’s cord blood, including parental security and peace of mind, future protection for you newborn baby against a number of cord blood stem cell treateable diseases, as well as a once in a lifetime opportunity to obtain a genetically perfect stem cell match for your infant.
Parental Security and Piece of Mind
Parents that decide to bank their baby’s cord …

Neonatal Cord Blood Banking – What is Cord Blood?

Cord blood refers to the blood remaining in the umbilical cord after it has been cut after birth.  Cord blood is extremely rich in highly unique stem cells, which can be used in many different medical treatments.  Stem cells found in cord blood, as well as bone marrow, are cells that can become any type of cell in the body.
Stem cells found in cord blood are particularly unique because, when compared to adult stem cells, they are less likely to be affected by exposure …

NICU
Scrapbooking Your Baby’s Milestones
Scrapbooking about your baby’s milestones in the NICU can be a great way to record your baby’s experience as a Neonatal ICU infant.  Not only does scrapbooking help record memories and milestones, but it can also be therapeutic as well.
Having an infant in the NICU can be hard at times, and it can be difficult to focus on other life tasks.  Scrapbooking about your baby can help take the edge off the NICU experience, yet still focus on your baby. 
Here are some milestone ideas to scrapbook about, …

NICU
Definition of Neonatology
Neonatology is a subspecialty of pediatrics that revolves around the care of sick and premature infants.  Neonatology is often practiced in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit by Neonatologists, Neonatal Nurse Practitioners, and Neonatal Nurses.  Infants who are patients of neonatal staff are often sick, premature, or have another critical condition, such as congenital birth defects, sepsis, low birth weight, respiratory distress, or other life threatening anomalies.
A Neonatalogist will focus on the care of an NICU infant in all aspects, rather than specialize in one area of the body.  …

Neonatal – NICU
Subglottic Stenosis in Neonates, Infants, Children
Subglottic stenosis refers to a narrowing of the airway in an infant just below the vocal cords, which is called the subglottis.  There are two causes of subglottic stenosis, the first being congenital, meaning the defect happened in utero, or while the infant was still developing inside the mother.  This is called congenital subglottic stenosis.  Congenital subglottic stenosis happens when the airway cartilege develops abnormally before birth.
The second cause can be related to scarring from intubation.
Signs of Subglottic Stenosis

Loud breathing, also known as …