Donating Your Baby’s Cord Blood

Great advancements have been reported in the field of stem cell research in the recent years. With several research and clinical trials underway, the future of stem cell banking and regenerative medicine therapy looks promising. While embryonic stem cell research is surrounded by ethical controversies and moral hazards, scientists have been shifting their focus to alternate sources of stem cells. That is how umbilical cord stem cell banking gained its name and fame over the past decade. Presence of the master cells in the new born baby’s cord blood was a new milestone in the history of stem cell banking and research. But the topic of cord blood banking is confusing for both the expectant parents and the medical community. 

The most important thing which  the expectant parents should know about their newborn’s cord blood

is that it has an immense potential to treat more than 80 life threatening conditions including different forms of cancer, inherited metabolic disorders and other debilitating diseases. Newborn baby’s cord blood contains Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) which develop into blood-related cells in the body, while the cord tissue contains Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) which develops into structural and connective tissues. Both the HSCs and MSCs are subjected to a set of progressive clinical trials and is expected to cure several disorders such as spinal cord injury, diabetes, heart disease, Parkinson’s'disease, Alzheimer’s , lung disease, arthritis and organ failures.

Expectant parents can either donate or store their baby’s umbilical cord blood. If you donate the cord blood, then it will be stored in a public banking facility. Patients who are in need for stem cell transplants are benefitted from the cord blood stored in the public banks. When you want your baby’s cord blood stored for you and your family, then private banking is the ideal option. Both the private and public cord blood banking facilities work in compliance with the federal regulations and meet stringent quality standards. Expectant parents who find it hard to afford the highly expensive private cord blood pricing may think about the public bank donations, where it can be used to treat someone else.