Health

Collecting and storing cord blood is a rather new concept. Nevertheless, many parents have seriously considered cord blood banking as they become aware of the substantial health benefits.

Cord blood is the blood that remains in umbilical cord after a live birth. Currently the umbilical cord along with the placenta and associated blood are all discarded after birth. Cord blood stem cells have more extensive uses than bone marrow stem cells and do not face the controversy that is associated with embryonic stem cell research.

Cord blood stem cells are capable of developing into a different types of cells like muscle, nerve or blood cells. These cells can repair damaged cells and the immune system. They are capable of treating kidney disease, stroke, liver disease, heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and injury to the spinal cord.

Cord blood may indeed be the way of the future. Currently, it can treat more than 75 diseases, immune deficiencies and other conditions. It is effective for treatment of certain types of cancer, blood disorders and auto-immune diseases. The cord blood can be used not only by your child, but also other family members.

Recently there have been a number of substantial breakthroughs in stem cell research. Scientists were able to created bone and cartilage, grow liver and lung cells from cord blood stem cells. Eventually these cells could potentially be placed into the human body to repair any damaged organ, hence overcoming the short supply of organ donors. It is possible that these cells will be able to be grown up into organs without having to first implant them into the human body, this could potentially save thousands of lives all around the world. This organ is produced from your own tissue, which means the body will not see it as a foreign body and therefore it has less chance of the body rejecting the organ.

There are 2 types of cord blood banks: private and public. If you want to bank your baby’s cord blood for use by your child or other family members, then you should choose a private cord blood bank. However, private cord blood banking can be costly as you have to pay for the cord blood collection process and annual storage fees. There are cases you should consider storing cord blood privately. Parents of children of ethnic minorities are encouraged to bank their baby’s cord blood as it is difficult to find bone marrow match. Private cord blood banking is also recommended where there’s a family history to diseases only treatable with cord blood.

Storing cord blood in a public bank means that anyone can use it who needs it.

If you want to bank your baby’s cord blood, you should select a cord blood bank before the baby is born. Ideally you need to do this at least a month before your baby is due. You then need to fill out the paperwork and talk to your doctor and the hospital. Many hospitals will need to make special arrangements to allow the collection of cord blood.