What is Cord Blood?
Cord blood is, quite simply, the blood that remains in your baby’s umbilical cord after delivery. This cord blood is rich in stem cells, with the ability to differentiate into cell types, such as brain, muscle and heart cells. Cord blood stem cells are unique because they have the capability to repair or replace diseased or damaged cells. Cord blood is a source of non-embryonic stem cells, which are considered the building blocks of our immune system. Cord blood is one of 3 sources of cells used in transplant. The 2 other sources are bone marrow, and peripheral blood (circulating blood).
Stem cells serve as the body’s repair kit, having the ability to differentiate into many types of cells. Stem cells from cord blood have been proven to be able to change into heart cells, muscle cells and brain cells. There are 3 sources of stem cells available for transplantation medicine. Adult stem cells which are obtained from bone marrow through an invasive procedure, peripheral blood, and umbilical cord blood stem cells, which is collected in a non invasive and safe manner.
Currently cord blood stem cells are primarily being used in transplant medicine to restore a patients blood making and immune systems. Typically chemotherapy and radiation are used to destroy the diseased cell, then the stem cells from the cord blood are transfused into the patient. As the stem cells engraft, the body begins to regenerate new blood cells and restore the immune system.
Cord blood can be collected in a non-invasive safe and painless process for both mother and baby at the time of delivery. Once the cells are collected they can be processed and stored at -196 C, for future use. Your baby is a perfect genetic match to their own cells and if there is an adequate match, parents and siblings can possible benefit as well.
The decision to bank your baby’s cord blood allows you more options for treating medical conditions and is an opportunity to make a difference in you family’s health by preserving these cells for future use.
Medical treatment using stem cells are consistently being researched and developed. Currently there are about 70 diseases that stem cells are being utilized for. Utilizing cord blood stem cells for regenerative therapies is a major focus for stem cell researches. This includes diabetes, heart disease, cerebral palsy and Alzheimer.
For additional information on cord blood, the following sites are recommended.
stemcells.nih.gov
www.parentsguidecordblood.org
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