Banking Cord Blood: How It Works

We have been hearing a lot about the magical cure of stem cells and regenerative medicine therapy over the last decade. Latest developments in the study of stem cell research offer a promising approach to revolutionise the future of medicine. Self renewal capacity and unspecialised nature of the master cells have the limitless potential to cure different diseases. Blood present in the umbilical cord has been found to be a rich source of stem cells. This realization has lead to the introduction of newborn’s cord blood banking services. Pros associated with cord blood banking are many and that is why the researchers and doctors advise the expectant parents to bank it or donate it.

Cord blood is used for the stem cell transplants that can treat more than 80 life-threatening diseases including leukaemia, bone marrow disease, sickle cell anaemia and lymphoma. Stem cells also help the body to recover from the after-effects of chemotherapy and radiation. Moreover, if a family has a medical history of genetically inherited disorders, then it is strongly recommended to bank the umbilical cord tissue and cord blood. Your baby’s genetically unique stem cells can be a close match for your family members, which will cut down the unnecessary complications. Mesenchymal Stem cells (MSCs) present in the umbilical cord tissue has the potential to treat different types of bone and cartilage disorders. Several clinical trials are underway researching the role of cord tissue in treat debilitating conditions. 

Collecting the newborn’s cord blood is a simple, quick and painless procedure that poses no threat to the mother or the baby. Right after the delivery, the umbilical cord is clamped and cut by the medical provider. A needle is inserted into the umbilical vein to drain out the cord blood to the sterile collection bag. The blood is shipped to cord blood banking facilities where it is processed and frozen with liquid nitrogen for long-term storage. Expectant parents who can’t afford the processing and storage prices of cord blood banking services may think about donating it to a public bank. The bottom line here is that cord blood banking is an important decision that expectant parents should not take lightly. Having a brief discussion with your doctor will prove helpful in making an informed decision.

Private and Public Umbilical Cord Blood Banks

Discovery about the presence of stem cells in the umbilical cord blood  is a new milestone achieved in the stem cell research. This new medical promise of treating illness with stem cell cord blood has drawn the attention of the public. If you are still wondering what exactly this cord blood is and what is cord tissue, let us explain it in the layman terms. Blood present in the umbilical cord is termed as cord blood, whereas the tissue of the umbilical cord is termed as cord tissue. Both the cord blood and tissue were discarded right after the child birth in previous times, but now it has achieved a life saving status.

If you are an expectant parent, then it is essential to decide whether or not to bank your newborn’s umbilical cord blood and tissue. You have to collect as much information as possible about the cord blood banking and its benefits. More than just defining what is cord tissue or what cord blood is, you should figure out how it will prove beneficial in protecting your family’s long-term health. Searching over the web pages or having a brief discussion with your doctor will help you in collecting all the necessary information. Once you have realised about the value of saving your newborn’s cord blood, then it is time to decide whether to bank it or donate it. You have to choose between private and public umbilical cord blood banks. 

Storing your baby’s cord blood at a private umbilical cord blood bank has several set of advantages, especially if your family has any sort of genetically inherited disorders or ailments. The cord blood you stored at the private bank can be used for your child or it can also  be a close match for any of your family member if he or she ever needs it for stem cell transplants or therapeutic treatments. However, expectant parents who can’t afford the high cord blood pricing or simply don’t want to bank it can think about donating the cord blood to public banks. Umbilical cord blood donated to the public banks will be either used for life-saving transplants or medical research purpose. No matter whether you decide to bank it or donate it, make it a point to check with your doctor for the availability of medical facilities.

Baby Blood Cord Banking – What You Need To Know

If you are an expecting parent, then you should be aware about the benefits of newborn baby blood cord banking services. In most cases, the umbilical cord is  clamped, cut and discarded as a medical waste. However, the blood present in the umbilical cords and the placentas are rich in stem cells, similar to those found in bone marrow. Used for treating a range of conditions including blood cancers and other genetically inherited disorders, cord blood (CB) possesses an incredible potential to save lives. 

Harvesting the newborn umbilical cord blood is as simple as donating blood, which harms neither the mother nor the baby. Soon after the child  birth, the cord will be cut and the clinician will pierce the cord with a needle to draw out the blood into a sterile collection bag.  The sample is then transferred to the bank, where it is processed and frozen in liquid nitrogen for storage.

Expectant parents who are interested in saving the umbilical cord tissue and cord blood should do a detailed research to find the best family cord blood banking facility. Browse the web pages to collect details about the private cord blood banks in and around your vicinity. Or else, seek the recommendations and guidance of your doctor. 

Choosing a private baby blood cord bankingfacility is not an easy task, especially if you have no idea about the factors to look for. Start with the background check. Enquire about their accreditation and reputation in the medical community.  Find out whether they are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for processing and storing the umbilical cord tissue and blood. Make it a point to go through the testimonials and references. Last but not the least, ask about their pricing structure. 

If you are not planning to save the newborn’s umbilical cord blood because of the higher banking costs, then consider donating it to the public cord blood banks. Cord blood donated to the public banks will be used for life saving stem cell transplants and research purposes. Since now you are aware of the benefits and options available for using the child’s cord blood, it is up to you to decide whether to discard it or save it.