Cord blood might sound relatively new to a mother. But the key it holds for the special guest who will be welcomed to the world is inexplicable. The precious cord blood is that heavenly succulent which can cure that child of a number of fatal causes. Having said that, it’s nothing heavenly, just logic, science. A mother holds the life saving stem cells for her little one in the umbilical cord and the placenta.
Both the umbilical cord and placenta hold a dollop of blood that is very rich in stem cells, the cells which can cure the child’s leukemia and blood disorders. Cord tissue is the umbilical cord itself, which is rich in newborn mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). MSCs have demonstrated the power to heal spinal cord, brain, and cartilage injuries. Stem cells are the building blocks of our body’s organs and tissues. Their ability to regenerate the blood and the immune system gives them the power to heal.
The cord blood and the cord tissue are collected and placed in proper containers. These containers are even transportable. A similar freezing process is put to use for both cord blood stem cells and cord tissue stem cells. The concerned cord blood bank collects the umbilical cord tissue and then extracts the stem cells, prior to cryopreservation. This guarantees that the baby’s stem cells are treatment-ready when he or she needs them.
A question might arise if the number of stem cells of the infant will anyhow be affected And that’s no. Cord blood is basically the content of the umbilical cord vein and cord tissue stem cells are part of the umbilical cord itself, the walls that surround the vein and arteries that carry blood and waste back to the placenta. Due to this reason, cord tissue and cord blood are two isolated sources of stem cells and can be processed and stored individually with no consequence on each other.
There are precisely two ways to preserve the Cord blood. They are family banking and public donation. Under family banking a mother can save her baby’s unique stem cells for the exclusive use of the child or any other family member for a predetermined fee, or else, she can show her generous side and donate the blood for any other patient in need of a transplant.
The baby’s cord blood could be a valuable resource for another family. Whether it is through foundations, non-profit blood banks or medical institutions, there are numerous locations that will collect, process, and use the stem cells from the baby’s cord blood to help other people. There are no costs to the interested humble parents, and it is just like donating blood.
If a couple do not choose to store their baby’s blood, they must always consider donating. That donation of cord blood could make a difference in someone else’s life.