Cord Blood Awareness Month

Many people have no idea how important a newborn’s umbilical cord blood can be due to the stem cells the blood contains. These young, immature stem cells are found in the blood of the umbilical cord and placenta after the birth of the baby. Most of the time the cord and placenta are discarded as medical waste after a baby’s birth. But, in fact, the medical value and potential of the stem cells is a true medical frontier.

Cord blood stem cells are similar to the cells found in bone marrow where human blood is produced. These cells can grow into blood and immune system cells, as well as other kinds of cells. They have been found to help cure certain diseases of the blood and immune system in children and adults. Cord blood stem cells are now often used as a substitute for bone marrow stem cells in stem cell transplants. Cord blood doesn’t need to be a 100% match as bone marrow does.

Currently over 80 diseases can be cured by cord blood transplant, including certain leukemias, lymphomas, anemias and inherited disorders. New clinical trials are done all the time which bring more hope for the future for autoimmune disorders (such as Crohn’s Disease, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis), cardiovascular (such as heart attack, cardiomyopathy, heart failure), diabetes, and many other diagnoses in the fields of orthopedics, genetics and neurological disorders.

How is the umbilical cord blood collected? After delivery of the baby and the cord has been clamped and cut, the blood is taken from the cord. Remember that this is blood that is normally disposed of after the birth and doesn’t hurt the mother or the baby. The blood is shipped to a cord blood bank to be cryopreserved for later use.

The cord blood can be stored in a private or public cord blood bank.

• Private cord blood bank 
• The stem cells could be used for the child, siblings, parents or other relatives of the baby for future medical purposes 
• There is a collection fee and yearly fee associated with a private cord blood blank 
• Public cord blood bank 
• The stem cells are donated and would be listed in a registry for people who may need stem cell transplant and are a close match 
• Donor is anonymous 

The choice to do nothing and let the cord blood be discarded after birth or save it is for the parents of the baby to make. However, this decision can’t be made at the last-minute before the baby is born. It needs to be looked at ahead of time as the mother needs to meet certain eligibility criteria, such as a health history screening, be registered between the 28th and 34th week of pregnancy, and already discussed with the cord blood bank.

Cord blood has the power to save lives and is readily available. More people need to know about the potential of this for their families or public donation. With education and accurate information being out in the public domain, hopefully, they will.

https://parentsguidecordblood.org

https://parentsguidecordblood.org/sites/default/files/uploaded-files/pgcb_brochure_usa.pdf

https://www.cordbloodbanking.com




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