Cord Blood Stem Cells Information

What are the benefits of storing a babies cord blood?

I've heard a lot of mothers talk about this but frankly I don't know much about it and everything I've researched is very vague. Thank you very much. Ten points to you when I can choose best answer.

Public Comments

1. What is cord blood banking? Answer: Cord blood banking is a medical option that offers parents the opportunity to collect and cryogenically store their newborn’s umbilical cord blood stem cells for use in medical treatments if ever needed. Like stem cells from bone marrow, umbilical cord blood stem cells can be used to treat various genetic disorders that affect the blood and immune system, leukemia, certain cancers, and some inherited disorders. To date, more than 45 disorders have been treated with stem cells from umbilical cord blood. Cord blood stem cells not only may replace bone marrow stem cells in treating different disorders, but because they are more primitive than those found in bone marrow, they may also be used to help rebuild a patient’s immune system weakened by radiation or chemotherapy. In addition, stem cell research is progressing rapidly and current studies have shown the potential to use cord blood stem cells to treat heart attack, spinal cord injuries, and diabetes. Banking your baby’s cord blood guarantees a perfect match for your child and can potentially be a match for siblings and parents. Increasingly, a related cord blood stem cell transplant is preferred over unrelated cord blood stem cells or bone marrow when treating siblings or other family members. This makes banking cord blood for all siblings all the more important.
2. The blood in the babies cord is very pure and has the perfect balance of nutrients and is the purest blood you'll get. It is also used for medical reasons
3. my sister stored her babies cord. I believe she said that if blood is ever needed for any of the babies siblings the blood in the cord could be used.
4. well it depends on whether you mean privately, where you pay thousands, or donating it.. if you do it privately they will tell you that it is for the future of your child and family but if your child or subsequent children, end up with (God forbid) with luekemia or something you cant always use their stored cord blood anyhow.. But donating it is a wonderful way of possibly helping someone else though and if they dont collect enough they can still research using your donation. It is painless and all you have to do is have a bloodtest and answer a form. Talk to your ob or midwives as i know it is not done at all hospitals. My ob had a pamflet on it and so did the private hospital I booked into. Hope this helps.
5. cord blood can be used for many different things. the cells in the cord blood are not specialized, and can be formed into new things. They are stem cells, and once stem cell research is furthered may be very useful. Another thing to think of is what you want to happen with the placenta, it too can be used for research or shampoo. high in proteins great for the hair.