Cord Blood Information
Parents who are expecting is usually involved in a lot of decisions to make the arrival of their child as smooth as possible. With the advancement of medical science, giving birth itself is not a problem; however there are plenty of other things that parents should consider like umbilical cord blood banking.
This simple cord blood banking guide will help parents understand more about this procedure, why it is advantageous, and how it can potentially save their child or even children’s lives in the future.
What is Cord Blood?
Umbilical cord blood is the left of over of the placenta and the umbilical cord which connects the mother and the child. Generally, the umbilical cord as well as the placenta is considered hospital waste. This changed when scientists discovered that cord blood is rich with stem cells that are useful for regenerative purposes.
With plenty of studies and going on these days cord blood is found to help cure fatal disorders like leukemia, lymphoma, and many others.
What is the Importance of Cord Blood Collection?
Most of the time cord blood and even the whole umbilical cord is discarded. With the discovery that umbilical cord is rich in stem cells, it could be saved to help in future medical needs.
How is the Umbilical Blood Cord Harvested?
Umbilical cord blood collection is known to be safe for both the mother and the child. It does not affect childbirth at all. The collection of the blood cord is simple, after the umbilical cord is clamped and cut, the cord blood will be harvested. The cord blood will be tested for possible diseases, once cleared it will be stored in a cryogenic state which will preserve the blood for indefinite number of years.
Are Parents Obligated to Consent Cord Blood Harvesting?
A lot of parents are asking if cord blood harvesting is an obligated procedure. While it can possibly help in a lot of ways in the future cord blood harvesting and banking is not obligated. You can speak with your trusted physician or research on the process to understand more about your options.
Which Circumstances is Cord Blood Collection Not Advisable?
In many cases and studies, cord blood collection is not safe for premature births or delivery through caesarean section and in cases when the mother suffered from maternal hemorrhage. You can check with your physician on your options, they are the best people to judge what is best done for you each situation.
Why Should Parents Consider Cord Blood Banking?
Cord blood banking is best for children whose parents are from mixed ethnical background. This is because it is usually difficult to find a potential suitable donor in case the child gets sick and needs transfusion. Additionally, it should be considered by parents with the history of severe anemia, cancers, or other immune disorders. Each blood cord is about 25% similar to siblings; therefore it is also very helpful for multiple births since it can potentially save a life in case of fatal disease.
Private or Public Banking?
Private or public banking is personal choice of the parents. There are its own cons and pros one thing that you must consider is the facility itself. Private facilities are known to have state of the art equipment so you can be assured of the quality of the blood cord.
Cost of Cord Blood Banking
Cord blood banking for private use can usually range from $1,500 up to $2,000 for the initial harvesting and storing. Annual storage fees are also required and they usually range from $80 – $100 depending on the facility.
Cord Blood FAQs
What are Stem Cells?
Stem cells are known to be the building blocks of most cells in the blood as well as the most parts of the immune systems. They are usually found in many parts of the body including the bone marrow, peripheral blood, and cord blood. Stem cells are very useful because they can treat, repair, and even replace the damaged or depleted cells in the body.
What are the Advantages of Collecting and Storing Cord Blood?
There are plenty of reasons why families choose to save the cord blood of their newborn child. Cord blood nowadays is known to successfully treat more than 70 disorders and diseases that would have otherwise be fatal. Stem cell transfusion using cord blood is already utilized by more than 600,000 families.
Nowadays continuing research on the benefits of stem cell is on its way and in the future this research will help in many ways. Most families choose to have their child’s cord blood preserve to secure their future. Additionally, there are plenty of emerging researches in the good use of stem cells. Aside from the successful use of cord blood to produce red blood cells for leukemia patients it is also making progress in research for type 1 diabetes, heart disease and cerebral palsy.
Using cord blood bank is also very helpful for people with known disorders in their family history. This is because the potential for developing problems in the future is also immense. Another advantage of cord blood banking is another great biological insurance for people who have parents from different races.
How are Stem Cells Utilized in Medicine?
Stem cells are getting a lot of attention because there are plenty of uses in helping the body. Stem cells are currently being used as therapeutic transplants. Transplants such as this can help cure, repair, replenish and treat blood as well as the immune system. Stem cells are effective in helping people who are undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
What are the Different Kinds of Future Application for Stem Cells?
Stem cells continue to be an important research source for many scientists and physicians around the world. A lot of researches are still being geared in discovering the answer for many diseases using stem cells. It is being used as the answer for heart disease, Alzheimer’s, cerebral palsy, different types of cancer, diabetes and many more. Moreover there is also a lot of research that is used in finding ways to multiply the number of stem cells to treat more adults currently.
How is Cord Blood Cells Collected?
Cord blood cells are collected in an easy and painless manner. It does not in any way affect the mother, the child, or the birth process. When the baby is born, right before the placenta is completely delivered the physician or the midwife will clamp and clean an area in the umbilical cord. The physician will be inserting a blood bag needle into the vein so that the blood will flow freely into the bag. Once done it will be tested for any disease. Once cleared, it will be frozen.
How Much Does Cord Blood Banking Cost?
Cord blood banking can be an expensive procedure depending on the company that you choose to bank your cord blood with. The initial collection and storage can amount from $1500 up to $2000. Yearly you will have to spend $80 – $100 for storage fees.