What is cord blood?
Blood taken from the umbilical cord at the time of birth. It is rich in a variety of stem cells.
What are stem cells?
Stem cells are currently a fascination to both the medical and scientific world. They are the supply of cells that construct human bodies and repair worn out, damaged and diseased tissues.
Stem cells are the most powerful cells in a human body. One can liken a stem cell to a "mother" cell because it can create all other tissues, organs and systems in the body.
Stem cells are like basic building blocks that have the unique ability to renew themselves and differentiate to become other specialised cell types.
A stem cell is "uncommitted" and remains "unemployed" till it receives a signal to develop into a specialised cell such as a brain, kidney, heart or liver cell. In other words, they are nature's blank slates capable of developing into any of the 220 cell types that make up a human body.
There are 3 main sources of stem cells, namely bone marrow, peripheral blood and umbilical cord blood. These stem cells are known as "hematopoietic stem cells". These stem cells are the building blocks of a human's blood, immune system and metabolic system. It can readily reproduce into red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, all of which have specific functions for normal operations of the human body.
Stem cell therapy is now widely used to combat deadly diseases such as cancer and blood disorders. The research on stem cells shows promising signs on the possibility of cell based therapies for degenerative diseases and tissue repair such as spinal cord injuries, heart diseases and Alzheimer's.
What is Cord Blood Banking?
CORD BLOOD is the blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta following birth of the baby and after the cord is cut. Umbilical cord blood is a valuable source of stem cells which are genetically unique to your baby and family. Cord blood banking is the process of collecting this precious placental blood immediately after delivery and cryogenically storing it for future potential medical therapies.
Collections can take place after vaginal or caesarean births and caregivers do not alter routine delivery procedures to collect cord blood. Because the collection occurs after the cord has been clamped and cut, there is no risk or pain to the infant or mother.
Thousands of families are banking their newborns' cord blood because it contains stem cells that are unique to the newborns, and genetically related to their families. Cord blood banking enables parents to preserve these precious stem cells for their own potential use for the many developing applications of stem cell technologies, such as its use in treating heart disease and Alzheimer's. It also serves as a type of safeguard in case of future need for treatment of cancers and blood disorders that are already being treated with cord blood stem cells.
Why Collect Cord Blood?
Cord blood may easily be collected after your baby’s birth directly from the umbilical cord. This painless procedure can provide your family with a rich source of umbilical cord stem cells that you can access at any time. If a you already have a child who is in need of a stem cell transplant, then you may want to consider banking with a storage facility.
Advantages of Storing Cord Blood
Stem cells have been found to be highly beneficial in curing a variety of life-threatening diseases. Stem cells, like the ones found in your baby’s umbilical cord blood, are unspecialized, meaning that they don’t perform a particular purpose. However, when stem cells are placed inside the body, they have the ability to regenerate and create specialized cells. Stem cells can become heart cells, muscle cells, nerve cells, and even blood cells. Stem cells can also fight off diseased cells in the body, which are often the result of fatal diseases.
There are numerous benefits to collecting umbilical cord blood that you should take into consideration:
- stem cells can treat over 45 diseases, including blood disorders, cancers, and immune deficiencies.
- bone marrow donors can be difficult to find whereas cord blood is easily collectable and always available for your use.
- cord blood stem cells can work without being exactly matched, unlike bone marrow stem cells.
- cord blood research shows that umbilical blood contains 10 times more stem cells than that contained in bone marrow.
- cord blood stem cells pose less risk for Graft vs Host Disease, a disease in which the body attacks new cells.
- cord blood can be easily stored for up to 20 years.
How is Cord Blood Collected
Cord blood collection is very easy and will cause no pain to you or your newborn. Immediately after birth, your health care practitioner will collect the cord blood. Using a needle, the blood will be removed from the umbilical cord and either stored in the needle or in a blood bag. The cord blood is then immediately sent to a facility that will process and preserve the stem cells. Once the stem cells are preserved, they can be kept frozen for up to 20 years. Cord blood storage is safe and reliable and allows you access to your stem cells whenever you may need them.
posted by Carey @ 9:34 PM
0 comments
