Everyone understands how important the umbilical cord is to the baby for its development. But are you aware that the umbilical cord also has uses once the baby is born? It used to be that after the birth, both the umbilical cord and the placenta were simply discarded after the birth.
About thirty years ago medical research discovered they had potential life saving benefits.
The blood extracted from the umbilical cord, commonly known as umbilical cord blood or simply cord blood, is full of stem cells. Stem cells are the building blocks of all cells. It is the cord blood stems cells that could save your child’s life and possibly even other family members. Research has shown that the umbilical cord blood stem cells are better than those recovered from bone marrow.
Cord Blood Collection
The collection process itself is very simple. There is no danger and no pain involved for either you or your baby, as the cord blood is collected once the baby has been delivered. The umbilical cord is clamped as normal and only then is the cord blood saved in sterile containers. The whole process lasts less than 10 minutes. There are some things you should be aware of if you are considering cord blood banking, which we will cover next.
Things to Consider When Considering Cord Blood Banking
These are some of the things that you should consider before you bank your child’s cord blood stem cells. Firstly, you need to make the decision well in advance of your delivery. Consider the pros and cons of public cord blood banks and private cord blood banks. Don’t forget that the registry procedure will take time, so as soon as your pregnancy is confirmed you should start contacting different cord blood banks.
The cost might look prohibitive now, but think of it as long term insurance for your child and family. The important thing if you are considering cord blood banking is to do some research and understand the pros and cons of banking your child’s stem cells.
