Danielle has been super busy setting up her new business but managed to spare a few minutes to talk to us and tell us why she decided to store with Smart Cells.
How did you find out about stem cell storage?
I studied biology at Harvard so I knew what stem cells were, and something about their potential use. But to be honest, it was through my obstetrician that I found out about the importance of storing stem cells at birth and about Smart Cells in particular.
Why did you decide to store your baby’s stem cells?
I stored stem cells for both my daughter and my son. I know there is only a slim chance I will ever end up needing their stem cells in the future. But the fact is that clinical trials are under way evaluating their use in the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis, Stroke, Diabetes, Parkinson’s Disease and a whole host of other diseases. I would not have been able to live with myself if I hadn’t used the opportunity to store my child’s stem cells at birth and then later found out that they could have been used to treat a problem my son or daughter developed.
Why did you choose Smart Cells?
I got the pamphlet from my obstetrician, and went back and researched a variety of companies. I went with Smart Cells because I liked the information that was available on the website, because the process seemed extraordinarily easy (which it was), and because you had a strong presence at the hospital where I had my babies.
What was your experience with Smart Cells like?
Absolutely wonderful! In all honesty, I never even knew what was going on. My obstetrician took the sample both times so I didn’t need to have a special phlebotomist and the midwife at The Portland Hospital handled the hand off to the courier. I didn’t think much about it until I received confirmation that stem cells had been successfully collected and stored by Smart Cells for both of my children.
Would you like to see more information about stem cell storage made available, if so, where?
Right now, knowledge of stem cell storage is very limited. I would love to see more information made available about it both in the press and by organisations such as the NHS. Yes, it can look expensive, but if more people knew about the potential benefits, I think a lot more people would put the money aside for it and treat stem cell storage as an investment in their child’s future.
What have you been doing since the birth of your recent baby?
I’ve been very busy. I run my own small hedge fund, and didn’t have the opportunity to properly take maternity leave with either child. Thank goodness I am in a situation where I can work from home. Since April of 2013, I have also been working extremely hard putting a new business together called Crux Baby. It is meant to be the ultimate guide to what to buy for baby, pregnancy, and parenting – where every product is tailored to each individual baby, home, lifestyle and parenting approach.
Can you tell us more about Crux Baby and how it all began?
Like most parents, I wanted to get both of my kids off to the best possible start in life – and for me, that meant choosing the right products for my baby and myself during and post pregnancy. The first time I ever walked into a baby store, I was completely overwhelmed by the sheer volume of products. This only got worse when I went to the internet and started researching things further. I literally spent months trying to figure out which pram to buy, what I needed for feeding, what were essential health care items from birth, which cot would look best in my nursery, etc. There are just so many products to choose from and so many reviews you can read. I also found it really hard to figure out what was essential and what wasn’t – most parents will kind of know that they need a pram, a car seat and a place for their baby to sleep. But if they’re anything like me, they will not have a clue about baby carriers, Moses baskets, breast pumps, flexible bath tubs, feeding pillows, Calpol, or any of the litany of other baby products they will end up buying. I thought to myself “there has got to be an easier way.”
I hope that Crux Baby is the ultimate time-saving resource for busy parents and parents-to-be. Integrated into the shopping experience are buying guides in each product category which tell you what is required, recommended or just plain optional. We include only best in class products in each category so this isn’t like Amazon where you have millions to choose from. What I love about Crux Baby is that parents can search for the features that matter to them – so products that are rated “best buys” by consumer product organisations or organic only products or best for a sporty lifestyle or contemporary design, for instance. We also have a large section dedicated to products that actually work for common baby problems that many parents will experience – so rather than scouring the internet for how to get your baby to sleep at night, we suggest products that will actually work. Another thing that makes us completely different from every other “baby shop” is that we remember all the little things like health care essentials, soothers or muslin’s that new parents will often forget. I think the fact that you have all of this in one place is just really unique.
However, for me, the best feature of Crux Baby though is the ability to create your own customised baby list. So we give you the information you need on what to buy, help you choose the products that are right for you and then you can add everything you need to a baby list – no matter whether the product is from Amazon, John Lewis, Kiddicare or some small boutique shop that makes beautiful baby clothes. It makes it really easy for parents to keep track of the things they need in each category, and to sort and share the list in various ways. If you just don’t have the time for any of this or really want expert advice, we are also happy to put together a list for parents after having a detailed consultation on their specific requirements. We are hoping to raise some capital now so we can develop the list features further as well as add social media features whereby parents can find out what their friends thought was useful or not.
I’ve spoken a lot about Crux Baby, but it has truly been a labour of love – it would be great if all new parents could check us out.