A great contribution

Today I had another doctor appointment.  The doctor did all the normal things like blood pressure, fundal height check, and fetal heart rate.  They also did a strep test.  Nothing too dangerous, but then again nothing good for the baby to get.  So if I run positive for the test they will give me medications during labor to help prevent passing it to the baby.  And the last test they did was check my cervix.  I am already 1cm dilated!!! 

The doctor said that it's good I'm already dilating.  Most first time mom, he said, don't start this early and it's harder for them when it comes to labor.  But he told me that since I am dilating already I need to be more prepared for signs of labor. 

The other day Matt's mom sent us a box of mail, and in it she had a flier for cord blood banking with a little note saying "might be something good to look into."  So I asked my doctor about it this morning and he said they don't have the equipment to do it at the hospital on base, but I could contact the cord center and they would send the equipment to the hospital. 

I got home and researched it a little more.  I found a few great informational sites.  There have been cases where families have helped treat their child's leukemia.  It's amazing to me how something so natural in life, usually wasted, can save a little kids life from some diseases.  However, I don't think I can save my baby's cord blood.  It is just too expensive....

One company, the cheapest I found, starts at 20 years for $1900 and then $100 a year after that.  I wish we had the money to do it.

But I did find out that I can donate the cord blood, just like you can donate regular blood.  I think this is what I am going to do.  It would bring me so much happiness knowing that instead of wasting the cord blood, I could be saving another kids life.  So first thing Monday morning, I am going to call a donation center and get the equipment sent to my hospital.  I think it'll be such a great contribution :)