Banking cord blood cells.

Caring for your children's future.

As an expectant mother, the welfare of your child is obviously the most important thing to you, and that is true of their future welfare as well. Cord blood cells are potent stem cells that can be transferred either back into your own child, another family member or any patient that is a match and requires a transfusion. Because cord blood cells are so rich in stem cells and because the removal process is much easier than through a bone marrow transplant, collecting cord blood cells looks set to be a superb option.

Storing cord blood.

Storing your baby's cord blood means that if your baby contracts a disease that requires the use of stem cells then they will have access to blood that is perfectly matched to their own blood type. The siblings of your children also have a 25% likelihood of finding that the blood matches. Siblings and any other family members are also able to use the blood should the need arise. Apart from storing the blood privately so that family members can use it you may also want to consider the option of donating the blood. By donating cord blood you can potentially help save people's lives or the blood may be used for research when it can potentially save thousands of lives.

Removing cord blood.

The process of removing the cord blood is something that worries many parents, some believe that it will either hurt the baby or mother or interfere with the birth process. However, the blood is removed after the birth is complete and once the cord has been clamped and cut then the blood is removed using either a sterile syringe or by elevating the cord and draining the blood. Once the placenta, or afterbirth, is born the blood is also removed from that because this contains equally potent stem cells.

Storing cord blood.

Storing cord blood can be done either privately or through a public blood bank and the organization you use will, in part, be decided by whether you store or donate the cord blood cells. Donating the cells does not necessarily allow you direct access to the blood in the event that your baby or another family member needs it, however, it will be stored in a public blood bank but the procedure will cost you nothing. On the other hand, storing cord blood privately for use with your own family members will cost you approximately $3,000 for 15 years of storage. It is important to consider everything even the research facility design stem cells will be kept in because everything plays a part in the eventual potency and viability of the cord blood when it is needed for transfusion.

Retrieving donated cord blood.

Regardless of whether you donate or store the blood for your own use the procedure is always the same. The blood is removed once the birth is complete and the cord has naturally been removed. The blood will then be transported to the storage facility where it will be cryogenically frozen until it is needed. Donating your baby's cord blood means it will be placed in a pubic bank but it may be possible to retrieve them should the need arise. Contact the facility that has your units and ask them for your blood back, they will try to locate and test whether the blood is a match for a family member that may need it. However, if you just want the blood disposed of this may also be possible.

Using cord blood cells.

Cord blood cells contain extremely juvenile stem cells meaning that in the future it will be possible to use them in the treatment of a great many different diseases but at present the uses are reserved for diseases of the blood. Having a stem cell transplant could potentially cure any degenerative disease and research that is currently being conducted is proving this to be the case. Testing on animals has proven that congenital heart failure and many other diseases that effect millions of people will one day be cured using cord blood and the stem cells contained in the cord blood cells.

More on basic cord blood information