Cord Blood - Uses And Benefits

What is cord blood and why is there so much of talk about it? Cord blood is human blood from the placenta which is collected after it has been separated from the new born infant. Till only a few years ago the placenta was discarded because it was considered a waste product. Now however, we know that the placenta contains blood forming stem cells, which can be used to cure many blood related diseases.

What Is A Stem Cell

Stem cells are cells that can replicate any kind of blood cells. These cells can be stored and then used by the same donor, a relative or even an unrelated person.

Two Methods To Collect Stem Cells

In the first method the umbilical cord blood is collected after the baby is born and before the delivery of the placenta. In the second method the blood is collected after the placenta has been removed from the womb after childbirth. This blood needs to be processed within forty eight hours. The blood is preserved after removing the red cells.

Cord Blood Banking

Cord blood can be stored in banks for future use. Private cord blood banking is where cord blood is stored for the use of your child, you, or your immediate family. While on the other hand, a public cord blood bank stores blood for use of even unrelated persons. While storing your cord blood in a public bank is free, it can be a little expensive to store it in a private bank. And the blood can be stored in this way for up to ten years!

The Importance Of Cord Blood

Cord blood research began in the1970s when it was found that umbilical cord blood could supply the same kinds of blood forming stem cells as a bone marrow donor. It was found that cord blood could be used to treat diseases such as thallasemia, leukemia, anemia and immune deficiency. Therefore, if you have a family history of blood diseases or immune diseases then you must opt for cord blood storage. For more information visit pregnancy period.

Cord Blood Transplantation - Make A Wise Decision

It was only a few years ago when the placenta was considered useless and thrown away as if it was a waste product. Now-a-days, it is a well known fact that human blood can be collected from the placenta, when it is separated at childbirth and stored for future use to treat dreaded diseases such a thallasemia, leukemia, lymphoma and sickle cell anemia. Therefore, cord blood transplantation has gained a lot of importance.

The Advantages Of Cord Blood Transplantation.

The umbilical cord stem cells can be isolated from the placenta more easily than those from bone marrow. Stem cell harvesting from bone marrow requires surgery.

Cord blood has a greater capacity to renew and replenish blood cells.

It is not necessary to have cord blood transplantation from someone whose blood group matches yours. Nor is it necessary that the donor should be a family member. Even an unrelated person will do. And thirdly, you do not have to wait to find a suitable donor.

Therefore, cord blood can be used whenever you want to because it can be stored in a cord blood bank. You will be able to use it after three weeks of it being isolated from the placenta. It is stored by keeping it frozen in liquid nitrogen.

The donation of cord blood does not adversely affect your health in any way. In fact, the only thing that happens is that you save a life!

The immune cells in cord blood will not attack the patient’s tissue whereas, the bone marrow stem cells may do this.

There are fewer chances of any deadly viruses, which may cause infections, being transmitted to the patient through cord blood.

Cord blood can be stored for up to ten years and still remain good for cord blood transplantation.

It is certain that after reading these benefits of cord blood transplantation, you will want to store your cord blood too. For more information visit pregnancy period.