This post is sponsored by Cord Blood Registry ® (CBR ®), but the opinions expressed here are my own.

One Thing I Wished I Had Done Differently With Open Adoption

Adoption can be a scary thing for a lot of reasons. Although the benefits are GREAT, there are fears. Fears of the birth parents changing their mind are the initial fear most adoptive parents have. During the preliminary process, the birth, and the days after, adoptive parents minds are on all the fears of the unknown of the right then and now. Often, looking down the road at the possible obstacles that adoption can have is not on the brain until after the relinquishments are signed and the waiting period is over. I have ONE thing that I would have done differently with my boy’s adoptions.

Most birth fathers are either not involved in the pregnancy, birth, let alone the life of the child after the adoption is finalized. It is sad but true. Neither of my boys has birth fathers who stayed in the picture once they left the hospital. One of them, we wouldn’t even know how to get in touch with and we certainly do not have access to any of his (or his family’s) recent medical conditions. That in itself causes fears that there may be preventable medical conditions we need to be aware of for my boys but will not know until it may be too late to prevent. So, what is the one thing I would do differently? I would have worked with the birth mother to plan for cord blood preservation in order to provide my little one with potential treatment options should they ever need it. But what is cord blood banking all about?

Facts About Newborn Stem Cells

Your baby’s umbilical cord is made of tissue and contains blood, both of which are rich sources of powerful stem cells that are unique and powerful.
Cord blood stem cells have been used for 30 years in the treatment of over 80 serious diseases, such as certain blood cancers, immune and metabolic disorders, and hematologic conditions. Research is underway for the use of cord blood in conditions that have no cure today, like autism, hearing loss, and cerebral palsy. While transplant options may not be applicable for adoptive children, preserving your newborn’s stem cells may give them the option of taking part in some of these innovative treatments should the need arise.

I probably knew about the option of banking cord blood and tissue but if I did, it sure wasn’t something I had on my brain at the time. Now, I’ve learned about the research taking place that is studying cord blood and cord tissue in regenerative medicine, and am glad I can share this knowledge with all of you so you can make an educated decision for your family.

About Cord Blood Registry (CBR)

CBR believes every family should have the opportunity to preserve their newborn’s stem cells. That’s why they offer affordable payment options to fit almost every family budget and also offer a Gift Registry, where friends and family can contribute towards the cost of banking.
CBR believes in the power of all families and has a Newborn Possibilities Program® which assists families with a qualifying medical need by covering all costs for preserving their child’s newborn stem cells and storing them for 5 years.
Every family has access to CBR’s team of Certified Genetic Counselors, who can discuss your family’s medical history as it relates to newborn stem cells, and educate you on your options to preserve them for your family’s future.
CBR is helping advance stem cell research by partnering with reputable research institutions on FDA-regulated clinical trials. They’re helping to fund clinical trials to investigate the potential for newborn stem cells to treat conditions that currently have no cure.

You can get set up with CBR by following these simple steps:

Enroll with CBR online at cordblood.com or call 1-888-240-1996
CBR ships you a collection kit
Bring your kit to the hospital on your big day
Call the medical courier after your baby is born and the cord blood has been collected by your healthcare professional
Relax. CBR handles the rest and will notify you when the kit has been received.

Please encourage all moms giving birth and even adoptive parents awaiting their child’s birth to consider banking their newborn’s cord blood and tissue!