Cord Blood Banking

Knowing More About Cord Blood Banking

2012-07-06T20:18:00.000-07:00

When a mother is still pregnant with her child, the umbilical cord is actually considered as the lifeline between the mother and the baby. Once the umbilical cord has been discarded after the baby's birth, then you will lose the chance of being able to obtain precious cells that the cord contains which are an exact match with your baby and that you can have preserved. By preserving your baby's stem cells through cord blood banking, your baby will be ensured to have a guaranteed source for perfectly matched cells that can help your child during the unfortunate events (like a life threatening illness). These cells would actually come in handy when it comes to combating this disease. All you have to do is just have it set up during the time of your delivery.

But what exactly are diseases that the cord blood banking will help you save your child from? Stem cells that are preserved due to the cord blood banking can actually help a child be cured of the following life-threatening illnesses: leukemia, lymphoma, breast cancer, Hodgkin's disease, aplastic anemia, various other cancers, sickle cell anemia, blood diseases, hereditary/genetic conditions and various immune system disorders. There are actually an approximate of 14 million new cancer cases that are being recoded every year. Single cell transplants that can be brought about by cord blood banking can also be used for the treatment of ling cancer, AIDS, lupus, multiple sclerosis as well as many other genetic diseases.

You may also be wondering if cord blood banking can actually be beneficial to all of your kids because you may have only one child undergo the cord blood banking process. Well in cord blood banking, your baby will be well ensured that the stem cells will be a perfect match for him or her as well as in the case of having an identical twin.

However, if another child who has not gone through the cord blood banking process is actually needing some stem cells to help fight off a life-threatening disease, it is highly important to note that they can also be used for a sibling since it will possibly a close match for them. But there is the 1:4 chances for the cord blood banking to be proven as beneficial for the other child. Relatives or other close friends who haven't gone through cord blood banking may also benefit from the stem cells that can be derived from cord blood banking if and only if they will pose a close match with the cord blood banking donor's stem cells.

But how does one actually collect stem cells for cord blood banking? Well, the collection process for cord blood banking will actually take place right after the delivery of a baby wherein the cord has already been separated from the newborn infant. This is in no way will be able to interfere with the birth of the baby. The attending physician or nurse or even midwife will be the one to collect the cord blood for the cord blood banking by utilizing it in a sterile kit which will be provided by the Cord Partners Blood Center. The collected cord blood will then be sealed in a specially designed package for cord blood banking and will then be delivered to the cord blood banking laboratory for the testing as well as the processing. In the end, the sample will be cryogenically stored for the cord blood banking until it is needed by the owner.

Another concern by mothers when it comes to cord blood banking is how safe will cord blood banking be for the baby as well as for the mother; if there will be any pain or discomfort involved in the whole cord blood banking process. When it comes to cord blood banking, the first priority will always be the well being of the baby.

The stem cell extraction for the cold banking process will actually be very safe both for the baby as well as for the baby's mother because the blood for cord blood banking will be collected right after the umbilical cord has already been separated from the baby. Afterwards, blood will also be extracted from the mother for the cord blood banking process. The baby, as well as the mother will not really experience any pain or discomfort when it comes to cord blood banking.

Importance of Umbical Cord Blood and umbilical cord blood banks

2012-02-18T06:19:00.003-08:00

Pregnancy is very important and crucial stage for a woman. It is very important to keep in mind important and essential Pregnancy Tips so that a woman can have a good period of pregnancy. There are different medical aspects, which are important to be known for both would be mother and father. This knowledge will help in knowing what a person should do in case of an emergency. Cord Blood is also known as "PLACENTAL BLOOD". This blood is found in umbilical cord of mothers through which babies are attached. After delivery of baby, umbilical cord is cut off from the baby.

Cord Blood is important as it can help in various ways. This blood is collected post delivery of baby. This blood contains various different organism and cells which are important and essential and is used for treatments of various "Physical Disorders". This blood helps in generating a good immune system in body of a person. This type of blood helps in generating different blood cells that are important for a body and it has a unique ability of identifying different blood cells. Cord Blood Bank India gives hope to mother and child for a better future. A cord blood bank stores cord blood just after delivery of a baby. After collection of this blood, it is stored in best conditions where they remain virus free. With help of Stem Cell Banking, it is easy to store and get stem cells of cord blood, which is beneficial for kids.

Stem Cell Banking helps in providing with blood that is essential in forming of important tissues and proper functioning of body organs. Babies are very sensitive and they are prone to different diseases that are injurious to health. To Protect your Child from these hazards it is very important to have complete knowledge about all important aspects of pregnancy and delivery and what kind of bloods should be used for transfusion for both mother and child.

Pre-born education is very important for parents. They should know what all things are essential and important for pregnancy. Pre-born education is important for parents, as it will be helping in a good healthy future of babies. Tips to Protect your Child should be on your fingertips as it essential. Cord Blood Bank India provides with cord blood, which is essential for babies and mother. Pregnancy Tips is important for would be parents, as they will able to know and understand everything about pregnancy. There are different exercises that are essential for pregnant women.

These exercises help at time of delivery. With proper Pregnancy Tips, a person is able to know everything that is related to pregnancy. With these tips, a pregnant woman is able to know what food they should consume during pregnancy and post pregnancy.

There are different websites from which a person can avail all essential information and knowledge about pregnancy. All a person will be able to locate different banks from where an individual can avail Cord Blood, which has numerous health benefits. Tips of child protection can also be seen over internet. A baby is a gift of god and proper care should be taken of them, before birth and after birth.

Cord blood: Protect your child in pregnancy

2012-02-17T05:42:00.001-08:00

There are many advantages of cord blood preservations but only few people know them all, they are usually ignorant of the facts and don't think for the future health of their child. Cord blood is the blood that is in the umbilical cord that is attached with the baby and the mother. This blood contains stem cells and placenta and is useful in treating hereditary diseases. This blood is preserved in blood banks and is highly useful for the future health of the child in case of emergency. Cord blood bank India helps in preserving the blood with proper safety measures taken while preservation so that people can use it for their child's future health benefits.

Cord blood bank India is in both public and private. People have to pay a small amount to store the blood at these banks and they can utilize it in future needs. Stem cell banking is mighty useful because they play a vital role in maintaining the health of the body. Stem cell banking enables you to store the stem cells derived from the blood of the umbilical cord after the child birth. Stem cells improve the immunity of the body and help the body to fight the diseases. If the immunity of the person is low he is more prone to illness and diseases than a normal person. Stem cell banking helps the people in improving their immunity and making the immune system strong by providing them with stem cells.

Women should take extra care of themselves in the pregnancy period so that their child does not suffer from any deficiency or malnutrition at the time of the birth or later. People are more and more cautious nowadays on the care of the woman who is pregnant. In this case the Pre-Born Education is very useful and helpful for the pregnant women. This education imparts knowledge on everything that is related with the pregnancy and its care. Pre-born education can be found on articles and journals in books, magazines as well as on the internet through various websites.

These articles provide relevant information that is helpful for the child in the womb of the woman as well as the woman herself. There are many blogs and forums available on the internet that provides Pregnancy Tipson how to protect your Child. People can visit these blogs and read the articles for relevant and helpful pregnancy tips. These tips involve everything that a mother should know in pregnancy for the proper delivery of the child. They are provided on the internet in easy language and it is very simple for people to read them. It is not necessary that only the mother should have the knowledge of the tips, both the parents are equally responsible for the better health of their child so the other person can also read the articles and take proper steps to keep the child as well as the mother healthy in the crucial times. You can avail the service of a gynecologist at the time of pregnancy before the delivery to protect your Child.

Umbilical Cord Blood Banks: Present and Future

2012-02-15T09:42:00.001-08:00

Cord Blood Banks, Present and Future

Cord blood banks freeze the blood from your babies' umbilical cords for potential future use against diseases developed by your family. Many serious medical conditions can already be successfully treated by this blood source. Moreover, it is confidently predicted that a plethora of further serious medical conditions will be be able to be cured by the use of the genetic material contained within these cord blood sources. It is well worth evaluating the potential benefits of using a cord blood bank if you are concerned about your family's future health.

Current Uses and Future Potential (including alternative health remedies)

NOW. Bone marrow remains the greatest source for stem cells and circulating blood is also a rich vein to tap. But, neither of these sources is ideal and procedures for bone marrow transplants can be extremely complex, invasive and may entail uncomfortable results for donors. Human embryos provide a possible solution, but are massively controversial and will probably be proved redundant by the use of cord blood genes in any case.

FUTURE. Extensive studies demonstrate that stem cells gleaned from umbilical cord blood have numerous advantages over marrow and circulatory blood derived genes. Bone marrow still heads cord blood for certain current procedures and diseases, but it is generally felt that the pendulum is swinging in favor of cord blood even in these instances.

NOW. Current use of blood stem-cell treatment includes conditions such as sickle cell anemia, immune deficiencies, leukemia, lymphomas and certain cancers, all of which can prove fatal. Bear in mind that, in his or her own case, the use of the donor's cord blood on himself or herself will not necessarily be advisable for some procedures, for example leukemia, due to the fact that it may well simply replace the same genes that caused the disease in the first place. However, other siblings' cord blood, if a good match, will likely not contain the leukemia gene, thus being suitable for transfusion. Nonetheless, all this is hopefully set to change, as you will see below. It seems certain that the cord blood bank industry is set to grow.

FUTURE. The future looks bright for health treatment by cord blood cells, despite its current minority status in the world of transfusions. Scientists are pretty sure that an individual's own cord blood will, at some point, be effective in the treatment of their own cancers. Why is that? Because the majority of adult cancers simply aren't genetically derived, whereas pediatric cancers invariably are.

Researches are also finding ways of manipulating the leukemia gene, so eventually even your own blood may be used to cure yourself, thus making cord blood even more valuable as an insurance against future eventualities.

Scientists are conducting animal experiments which predict that cord blood will ultimately be suitable to alleviate or cure heart failure and strokes, spinal cord problems, diabetes and many grave neurological diseases. The possibilities are potentially limitless, the same as all gene related cures. Even such disabilities as motor function disorders are on the cord blood cure hit list. Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases are also set firmly in their viewfinders.

NOW. At the moment public cord blood banks retrieve a small percentage of umbilical cord blood for use in treatments and research. Many people are electing to store cord blood privately, potentially safeguarding their family against future debilitating and fatal diseases. Most umbilical cords are simply discarded after childbirth. Over 200,000 bags or vials of cord blood are preserved in private and public cord blood banks. To date around 3,800 cord blood transplants have been undertaken. This is perceived as a small return.

FUTURE. However, the actual results look good, so perhaps close on four thousand operations is not a bad return on so many stored units. In any case, as more diseases become treatable using cord blood, the return is set to rocket.

NOW. For the time being, there are normally insufficient stem cells within a stored unit of cord blood in order to be effective on an individual whose weight exceeds around 60 kilos. This means that currently the amount of blood available from an umbilical cord is normally only effective for treatment up to a certain age in a person's life.

FUTURE. But, procedures to increase the frequency of stem cells in one unit of cord blood are being experimented with, in intense clinical trials. These experiments have so far been successfully proven to work in over 100 trials.

In Any Case
The potential of cord blood transfusion in the future seems limitless. But even today, if your family has an historical instance of sickle-cell anemia, leukemia, lymphomas, immune system deficiencies, aplastic anemia or thalassemia, plus many other related conditions, the probability of someone in your family requiring a stem cell transplant is well above that of the average family. Private storage of cord blood becomes a much more appealing option the more children you decide to bear. The future is looking good for umbilical cord blood banking as a sensible insurance against disease and disability.

Cord blood Collection - Some Basic Information

2012-02-15T09:39:00.001-08:00

Inadequate knowledge about cord blood collection, processing and cord blood storage is pushing many new parents away from donating their babies' cord blood cells. Hence, comprehensive information on steps of collection, processing and storage of cord blood cells is required to educate them and help them release their fear of unknown risks, if any, involved in the methods. Cord blood collection methods, whether post or pre delivery do not expose the child or the mother to any risk and pain. With all the miraculous therapeutic benefits of cord blood cells, a once disposable umbilical cord is now worthy of being stored to retrieve the diverse life saving opportunities from it.

Types Of Blood Cord Collection Methods
Cord blood storage follows two prior steps:

Collection
Processing
First and foremost is the blood cell collection. There are two methods. Both are considered equally safe. Collection methods vary according to the period of collection -

Ex utero method implies involves placing the placenta in a sterile supporting structure, where the clamped and cut off umbilical cord is injected with a syringe to drain the blood cells in a bag.

In utero (or before the placenta is delivered) method refers to the collection that takes place when the doctor or the midwife is waiting for placenta to be delivered or the period of 5 to 10 minutes before the delivery of placenta. In utero method involves the same procedure, except its time of collection.

Both women undergoing vaginal and cesarean deliveries can consider donating umbilical cord blood stem cells, as the methods are safe for both types of deliveries. However, if during the final stages of pregnancy, complications arise, the cord blood bank and the doctors may choose to abandon the plan for cord blood collection. Along with collecting cord blood cells from umbilical vein, mother's blood gets also collected to detect some infectious diseases as per regulations. Around 40 to 150ml stem cells are drained from the umbilical cords to collect adequate cells for transplantation. The specialists try to collect as cord blood as possible. Incase the blood collected is not sufficient, the blood is still preserved for possible stem cell expansion or if the parents agree, for scientific research. After collection, the blood cells are then forwarded to the cord blood bank facility chosen by the parents. Blood bank centers then test and analyze blood to detect presence of infectious diseases or typecasting the tissues.

Processing Of Cord Blood Cells
After cord blood banking, samples are transferred to the labs within 36 to 48 hours of collection. Different opinions have suggested various ways of processing cord cells. Laboratories that are CLIA certified, at the same time, have registered with FDA test mothers' blood for diseases like syphilis, hepatitis, HLTV, HIV, Malaria and CMV. The processing part, along with ensuring infectious disease status, ensures that blood cells are eligible to be used for transplanting on family members besides autologous use. A point to note here is that the mother usually has to undergo a special test during cord blood registry to ensure that she is eligible for the cord blood donation. The results are sent to the parents so that they can prepare themselves for treatment if required.

Preservation Of Cord Blood Cells
During processing, cord blood cells are depleted of red blood cells, while some processing methods keep the red blood cells. After processing of cells, comes the next procedure of cord blood preservation. When the unit containing cord blood cells is processed, a cyropreservant is added to it. This is added to make the unit survive the cryogenic process. As the unit drops its temperature to -90 degree Celsius, a liquid nitrogen tank is used for cord blood storage. The units of cord blood are preserved in special bags divided into two compartments. One is for immediate use (if required) and the other is for stem cell expansion.

The child's parents or guardians are given the rights to unit for their transplanting use in future. Later, at the onset of legal age, the child possesses control over his or her cord blood cells. For those worried about privacy issues, the cord blood banks assure the donors for complete secrecy. At no stage will the donor's identity be revealed to the recipient, especially if the latter is a stranger.

All About Cord Blood Banking

2012-02-11T08:01:00.001-08:00

Not everyone will know what cord blood banking is about, and what it can be used for. The purpose of this article is to provide you with some simple facts. The first fact is that this is the blood from a baby's umbilical cord once the cord has been cut. It provides a one off opportunity to harvest stem cells that have proven beneficial in treating some type of medical conditions.

When a baby is born, the parents have the option to request that the healthy stem cells are harvested. The blood cells can be saved for future medical use. Alternatively, parents who choose not to bank the baby's cells can be reassured that it will be destroyed in an appropriate manner.

If the collection of these cells is required the procedure is carried out immediately after the birth. Once the umbilical cord is cut any blood left in the cord it is drained into a collection bag. This procedure is considered to be entirely safe and does not cause any discomfort to mother or baby. It is a viable procedure following any birth method.

After collection of the healthy stem cells, the package is immediately sent to a CBRs laboratory. The vital liquid supply goes through a process which freezes it and makes it ready for storage. The frozen vital liquid is then stored in cryogenic storage tanks and remains viable for long term preservation until they are required.

These types of stem cells have to date been used in treating cancer patients. They are given the stem cells to help them to produce healthy blood and immune cells. There is ongoing research into the possibility of treating other potentially fatal diseases and conditions. That includes conditions such as brain injuries and childhood diabetes. These are only a few of the medical treatments, and your medical practitioner will be able to provide you with more detailed information.

There are many misconceptions about the use of these stem cells, so it is always best to do some research before your baby is born. Discuss your options with your medical professionals and read carefully all the information they can provide you with. If you go on the internet to carry out some research on your own, be careful to use only reputable and professional information sources.

Medical research and studies into the use of stem cells and this type of banking are ongoing. As with all types of treatments, researchers are persistently looking for new ways to treat and perhaps cure crippling and often fatal conditions. Stem cell research is only one of the ways they can do this.

It can be a very emotive and sometimes difficult decision for a parent to make. There may be cultural, religious or financial reasons why parents choose not to sign up for cord blood banking. There is a huge gap in public awareness on this subject that will need to be addressed by the medical profession. Ethics and standards will need to be much more transparent to increase the uptake of this task.

Cord Blood Registry Basics

2012-02-11T07:58:00.001-08:00

Potentially life saving stem cells collected after the birth of a child from the umbilical cord or the placenta can be stored for indefinite periods of time. This material is usually processed and held in a cord blood registry for either the private use of the donor and family or in many cases, for general donation and use by the public at large.

When it comes to understanding the process and the companies behind the procedures, a little education and knowledge will go a long way towards preparing parents to be in the best ways possible.

What Is Cord Blood?
After the baby is born, there remains a small amount of blood in the umbilical cord. After a successful live birth and the cord is clamped and wiped with antiseptic, a syringe can be inserted into one of veins in the cord and the blood extracted. There is also an appreciable amount of stem cell blood in the placenta, or more commonly, the afterbirth.

The collected materials are then either transported locally or shipped to the cord blood bank for processing and storage. Viable, nucleated stem cells are extracted from the collection, slowly cooled to -90 degrees Celsius and then placed into long-term storage in liquid nitrogen cooled tanks at temperatures as lows as -196 degrees. The stem cells have been shown to be viable for indefinite periods of time when these procedures are adhered to successfully.

How Do Cord Blood Banks Work?
At least two weeks, preferably six, prior to giving birth, the parents should connect with the cord blood registry to set up their account, receive education and collection kits, and make financial arrangements.
The parents have two choices with regards to where their baby's cord blood will go. The first is into a private blood bank where it will be processed and made available to either the original donor or perhaps an immediate family member, should the need arise and a suitable match can be made.

The second choice is for the parent who would like to donate to for the greater public good. Some cord blood banks are in the business of collecting and storing stem cells which are later made available for matching to anyone who might have need for a transplant but have no cord blood stored of their own.
The public donation option is also beneficial to the ongoing research efforts many of these blood banks perform. There is no cost associated with donating for public use, and as much as 70% of patients do not have a family member who might be eligible to donate marrow or other needed materials.

Other Important Questions To Ask

Do the parents need to contact the delivery room staff or will the cord blood bank do that?
Will the collection bag/kit be sterile in case it is needed in event of a C-section?
Are the materials to collect from the placenta a part of the kit, or do they need to be requested separately?
Is shipping the sample to the facility included in the cost structure, or something additional?
Will the sample be picked up at the medical facility or do arrangements need to be made to get it to the transport service?
Will after-hours or weekend shipments receive the same level of attention as samples received during normal working hours?
What sort of disaster plans does the cord blood registry have in place? Are they prepared for loss of power for extended periods of time?

These are but a few of the areas one will want to learn about before choosing a cord blood registry and where their child's cord blood gets stored. Take the time to get informed and be ready when the magical moment of birth brings a newborn child into your life.

Cord Bank -Best Banking for your baby's umbilical cord blood stem cell

2012-02-10T12:34:00.002-08:00

Expectant parents can now also collect and preserve stem cells from the tissue of the umbilical cord, is a rich source ofHematopoietic (HSC) that differentiate to form the lineage of blood cells. The International Society of Cellular Therapy. ISCT, has established criteria for defining MSC. Mesenchymal stem differentiate to build bone, cartilage and connective tissue, and they are also very effective at mediating the body's inflammatory response to damaged or injured cells.

Harvesting the tissue of the umbilical cord can yield between 21 and 500 million MSC By comparison, a typical cord blood collection in a private bank has a median total nucleated cell count of 470 million. For parents, private storage at birth from both cord blood and cord tissue offer more options for future medical use.

If you or someone you know is expecting a child, now is the time to learn more about the benefits of umbilical banking. A safe and painless procedure performed by your physician or midwife after the delivery of your child can turn what would otherwise be discarded into a potentially life-saving medical tool that you can choose how to use. Unlike other cord blood banks, Cord Bank clients own their privately stored stem cells. It may costs only $99-$110 to order your kit today and get started -- there are no other costs or commitments until after your stem cells are safely stored in liquid nitrogen. And, when you compare bottom line prices, Cord Bank charges a third as much as many other banks and has the lowest yearly storage fee in the nation.
Medical science and researchers is evolving rapidly and many diseases or conditions thought incurable just a few years ago are perfectly manageable today. Therefore, it may be prudent to plan ten to fifteen years ahead.
Benefits of banking cord blood

Cord blood stem cells are currently used in the treatment of several life-threatening diseases, and play an important role in the treatment of blood and immune system related genetic diseases, cancer Cord blood stem cells are currently used in the treatment of several life-threatening diseases, and play an important role in the treatment of blood and immune system related genetic diseases, cancers, and blood disorders.

Acording to the first clinically documented use of cord blood stem cells was in the successful treatment of a six-year-old boy afflicted by Fanconi anemia in 1988. Since then,and it has become increasingly recognized as a source of stem cells that can be used in stem cell therapy and can be use in treating brain injury,type 1 diabaties,research has been conducted for the treatments of strokeand hearing loss.

Cord Blood Banking - Is it a good idea?

2012-02-10T12:33:00.002-08:00

In the ultra-modern world of medicine we've seen some pretty amazing advancements in how we approach the treatment of disease and ill health, including some controversial, cutting edge technologies involving stem cells and their almost unlimited potential for treating illnesses. Here, we'll take a look at one hot button topic: cord blood banking.

So, what is cord blood banking? Well, as the name suggests, this is a process of using the blood (containing stem cells) that is derived from the umbilical cord of a new born baby. The umbilical cord has a rich supply of fresh stem cells that can be manipulated into forming various organs, tissues, blood and blood products that our bodies need to survive. Stem cells have a unique ability to take on the shape, structure and function of any cell in the body and have proven to be effective at reversing the ravishing damages of some diseases.

So why all the controversy? Stem cell research in general has had its share of negative publicity from both political and religious institutions alike, referring to it as an abomination and man playing God. Other schools of thought tout stem cell research as one of the biggest advancements to ever be seen in science and an astounding testament to our evolving species.

No matter which side of the fence you sit on, there will always be controversy surrounding this issue. The good news is, those wishing to partake in a potential life saving measure can save their babies umbilical cord, extract the stem cells and bank them cryogenically for long periods of time - this is the practice known as cord blood banking. Should you or your child or a family member or anyone for that matter ever require stem cells in an effort to fight a hostile disease, you can make a withdrawal from this 'bank' and use the stem cells to help heal you or your loved ones - sounds pretty amazing to me!

Only time will tell how well this technology will be embraced by the public. This type of treatment is still somewhat primitive and in the early stages of generalized use. For anyone suffering from an illness that could be treated by stem cell use, hang in there - hope is just around the corner!

Is Cord Blood Banking Right For You?

2012-02-10T06:48:00.001-08:00

source: mamababyworld.com

Saving your baby's umbilical cord blood allows it to be cryogenically stored, and then available if your child later becomes sick and needs a bone marrow transplant. Umbilical cord blood was discarded until the 1970's, when researchers discovered that umbilical cord blood could save lives under certain circumstances. How do you decide on cord blood banking? Many soon-to-be parents ask this very question. Here are some things to consider when deciding on whether or not to bank your baby's umbilical cord blood.

This type of transplant would be 'autologous' and is different than the more common 'allogenic' transplants that might be done from a sibling or other relative or an unrelated donor. Our own blood is the best choice for a transplant.

Often times, cord blood banking can save a baby's life. But still, there are many other factors to consider. Price seems to be the number one roadblock, with the complete cost being around $3,000. So, you should certainly not feel guilty if you cannot bank your child's cord blood. Should you even consider cord blood banking? That part will be up to you.

However, if you already have a child or family member that has a condition that can be treated with a stem cell transplant (such as sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, aplastic anemia, leukemia, metabolic storage disorders and certain genetic immunodeficiencies), then you defenitely should consider banking your child's umbilical cord blood. However, the average baby without risk factors has a very low chance of ever needing his or her cord blood.

On the other hand, some doctors and researchers support saving umbilical cord blood as a source of blood-forming stem cells in every delivery. This is mainly because of the promise that stem-cell research holds for the future. The majority of people would have little use for stem cells now, but research into the use of stem cells for treatment of disease is ongoing - and the future looks promising.

You may also want to donate your baby's cord blood. This is possible through non-profit cord blood banks that use it for research or to save the life of another child.
Overall, cord blood banking looks to have a promising future. It's defenitely an option you should look into. After you've studied the facts and your family history, you should be able to make a much more informed decision on what's right for you.

by Ravi Chhtraliya

What is Cord Blood and Can it Help Your Baby?

2012-02-10T06:46:00.001-08:00

Cord blood is the blood found in the umbilical cord after a baby is born. It is becoming increasingly popular to bank this cord blood. The reason? The umbilical cord blood contains stem cells.

What are stem cells and why could they be important to the future health of your baby?

Stem cells from cord blood are cells that can create other kinds of beneficial blood cells. These other types of blood cells can be used to combat a variety of diseases that attack the immune system from certain blood diseases to certain varieties of cancers. As medical knowledge continues to advance it is also possible that a number of other diseases might be treatable with this umbilical cord blood.

Saving stem cells from cord blood is becoming a popular option because unlike bone marrow stem cell retrieval it is much easier to harvest and less dangerous to the patient. In fact, the procedure to collect cord blood from the baby at birth is painless for the baby and won't interrupt the birth process.

Another advantage of stem cells from cord blood is that there appears to be less chance of rejection from the host once the cells are introduced making it easier in the case of transplants and other uses.

Add to that the fact that banked cord blood is much more readily accessible than searching for a bone marrow donor through the bone marrow registries and you have an option that makes cord blood seemingly preferable to bone marrow for use in transplants.

Is cord blood preservation and storage economically feasible though?
That remains to be seen. Although the likelihood of one ever having to use the cord blood is remote, the fact that you may have a bank account with cord blood can provide many with a peace of mind unmatched.

Having said that, the jury is still out as to whether using the stem cell blood for your own child is effective or not. For this reason, one should consult a doctor well-versed in the knowledge of the benefits and perils of stem cell transplantation prior to using stored cord blood or even setting up a cord blood bank account.
Using a cord blood bank to store the cord blood for the future use of your child could be important for families that have a history of some cancers or genetic disorders. In this case having the umbilical cord blood in storage is an option that could be explored.

There are an increasing number of cord blood banks that handle cord blood storage. Usually there is an initial outlay that may run up to a couple of thousand dollars followed by a yearly maintanance fee.
Two of the most prominent cord blood banks include the Cord Blood Registry and Viacord. Stored cord blood from the Cord Blood Registry has been responsible for more transplant blood than any other cord blood bank to date. They, like their counterparts, have recommendations from medical professionals on their site.

source: umbilicalcords.org

A parent can also donate the cord blood of their baby to be made available to others via a public cord blood bank. One caveat here though is that even though this is a noble option and one that could very well prolong the lives of others in need there is more red tape involved as the disease history of the parents must be tested, analyzed and confirmed often making it an expensive option.

In the end, is cord blood donation a wise option? On the positive side you have the improved health possibilities and potential future technological advances that may come up with more valuable uses of the stored cord blood. On the negative side you have the cost to retrieve and store the cord blood and the ambiguous scientific evidence as to its efficacy.

Choosing to store or donate cord blood in a cord blood bank then should probably only be done after consultation with a knowledgable physician well-versed in the latest cord blood stem cell research.

by Bob Kish

Saving Cord Blood

2012-02-09T17:51:00.001-08:00

What is Cord Blood?
It is the blood remaining in a newborn baby's umbilical cord after it has been cut. This blood is a rich source for unique stem cells that can be used in life-saving medical treatments that your baby or another family member, most likely a sibling, may need in the future.

How Can I Save My Baby's Cord Blood?
You can save it by storing it in a private cord blood bank, but if you do not save it, it will be discarded after birth. However, you can choose to make a once-in-a-lifetime decision to collect and store your baby's cord blood stem cells after the birth of your newborn baby. You have the option to collect it and store it in a private bank for as long as you choose.

The collection process is done in less than five minutes immediately after your baby is born. The blood remaining in the umbilical cord after it has been cut is drawn into a collection bag and shipped to the private bank. There will be initial processing and testing fees for the first year of storage, and a yearly storage fee thereafter.

Why Should I Save My Baby's Cord Blood?
It can be used to treat almost 80 serious diseases and could potentially treat conditions in the future that currently have no cure. Saving it can be compared to insurance, since you are making an initial investment that could have potential benefits in the future to your baby and your family's health. You can give yourself peace of mind by knowing that the most innovative medical treatments will be available to your family should you ever need them in the future.

Stem cells are unique because they can regenerate and become the cells that form blood, tissues, and organs in the body. They were first used to regenerate healthy blood and immune cells for cancer patients. Today, stem cells can be used in transplant medicine to treat diseases such as leukemia, lymphoma, and other cancer and blood disorders. There is also the possibility that they can be used in regenerative treatments for brain injuries, cerebral palsy, and juvenile diabetes.

The future uses of stem cells in medicine are very promising. There are currently studies which are researching the possibility of using stem cells to treat hearing loss and grow replacement tissues and organs, such as heart valves and blood vessels.

What Leads Cord Blood Registry To Become A Major Phenomenon In The Medical Community?

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Undoubtedly, we have come to a stage where cord blood donation in a cord blood registry has taken up a key role in treating various ailments. Cord blood stem cells from your baby's umbilical cord are considered the building blocks by the medical community. These cells are under the constant scrutiny of medical communities for more latent possibilities of treatments. Researches have brought low cost and effective treatments for diseases like diabetes, blindness, cardiac diseases, spinal cord diseases, Parkinson's diseases, diseases of neurons, cognitive disorders, Alzheimer's disease etc., with stem cell transplants.

Umbilical Cord Blood Cells Registry - An Insurance For Life
Uses of umbilical stem cells have been proved highly effective in curing blood disorders of child or other members of the family, which earlier required bone marrow transplants. Blood cells in umbilical cords of the newborn can match genetic cells of the siblings and parents up to 25%. Hence, cord blood registry and its uses in treating those who match such cells bring extremely positive outcomes. Moreover, cord blood cells transplants reduce the worst drawbacks of organ transplant treatments, that is, graft versus host reaction, which may even lead patients to succumb to death. Hence, cord blood collection is regarded as a way of insuring your entire family's lives to combat major ailments.
According to an estimate, around 72,000 babies are born in India daily. Therefore, 72,000 umbilical blood cords if not banked are going to the trash bin despite their phenomenal healing potential. So, expectant couples are advised to consider cord blood banking to safeguard their future.

The Cord Blood Collection Procedure
The process of cord blood collection begins with clamping and cutting of umbilical cords during pre or post delivery. Cord blood collection, whether pre or post delivery, entails no pains and risk for both mother and child. The procedures advances through following steps -

The first step in cord blood registry is that the parents, especially the mother has to sign a consent form.

She then has to undergo a general health check up and a blood test to ensure that she is eligible for the donation.

The cord blood is collected after the delivery of the baby.

A specialized bag is prepared and bar coded to collect the cells.

After clamping the umbilical cord, a needle is injected to the umbilical vein.

The bag is kept at a lower level to enable blood to be drained in the bag. The entire process should not take more than 10 minutes. The blood unit needs to be transferred to the cord blood banks within 48 hours.

The ideal amount for successful transplants is around three to five ounces. If the amount is less, the collected cord blood is used for scientific researches.

The next step will be to harvest stem cells from the blood drained in the bag and preserve them.

Prior to preservation, the blood units are tested for various diseases like malaria and AIDS.

These stored cells are taken for molecular tests to determine their HLA [Human Leukocyte Antigens, a genetic tissue marker] typing.

Blood cells are stored in cryo-vials at a temperature of -196 degree Celsius in liquid nitrogen solution.

The identity of the mother and the baby will be kept confidential. The mother will be informed about the status of the blood unit and the test results so that she is aware of any infection or disease that might affect her baby.Because umbilical cord cells do not have HLA antigens on the surface, these cells alleviate risk of showing graft versus host disease [GVHD]. This is why, HLA type detecting is considered a critical step in cord blood registry.
Following the FDA's and other authorities' approval in transfusing cord blood cells in the late 1980s, thousands of umbilical cord blood cell transplants have taken place in the US and have cured many children and adults suffering from various blood related and genetic diseases.
Plan for cord blood registry to safeguard yours and your baby's future.

Collection of Cord Blood - Some Frequently Asked Questions

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Decided on preserving your baby's cord blood in a cord blood bank? Wondering how it will be done? Will it harm your baby? Here are some questions which every parent comes up with while registering for cord blood collection.

Let us start by answering the question- "What is Cord Blood?"
Cord Blood can be defined as the blood taken from the umbilical cord at the time of birth. This blood is rich in stem cells. Stem cells are those cells that created the various organs and other parts of the baby's body. These cells have a unique capability of "adjusting in any environment inside the body". They can easily be called the cells that created your baby.

How is Cord blood collected from the umbilical cord?
Usually the cord blood is collected after the placenta is delivered and the umbilical cord is clamped and cut. The surface of the umbilical cord is disinfected and a vein is punctured. The blood is collected in special blood collection bags that prevent contamination. Alternatively, 60 cc syringes can be used too by some cord blood banks. However, this needs to contain an anticoagulant for the blood. The entire process usually 5 to 10 minutes. Any delay beyond 15 minutes can drastically reduce the quantity of the umbilical cord blood and the stem cells.

Can this process hurt the baby and the mother in any way?
No, this process of storing stem cells in a cord blood bank does not harm the baby or the mother in any way. The blood is collected after the baby is born and the umbilical cord is clamped. The syringe comes nowhere close to your baby and blood is NOT drawn out while the baby is still attached to the umbilical cord. Your baby is being taken care of at another location while the umbilical cord blood is being collected for storage in a cord blood bank.

How much blood is required for this?
The cord blood banking representative and the doctors try to collect as much blood as possible from the umbilical cord. Studies show that larger quantities of stem cells are more helpful during transplants and the success rate is higher.

How many years can a baby's cord blood be saved?
Cord blood banking is a relatively new concept. Nevertheless, researchers claim that, if preserved carefully, the cord blood can be saved in a cord blood registry for at least 15 years with no reduction in the quality.

Will the parents have any role in the collection?
Yes, the collection kit will be given to you after the application for cord blood banking is accepted. You have to remember to carry it with you while you are going to the hospital for the delivery. Do not forget to inform the doctors and the cod blood bank before hand as you may not be in a condition to remind him/her during delivery or immediately after it!

What will happen if the mother has to undergo a caesarean?
The cord blood collection process is the same. The placenta is delivered, the umbilical cord is clamped and cut, and the cord blood is drained in the collection vials or bags.
Finally, if there is a complication in the delivery, there are chances that the doctors may decide to abandon the plan for umbilical cord blood collection for being stored in a cord blood bank.