Introduction
Umbilical cord blood is collected and preserved through “cord blood banking” following birth.
This blood stem cell can be employed to treat various diseases and disorders.
While public cord blood banks make donated cord blood available to anybody who needs it, private cord blood banks solely preserve it for the donor’s family.
Nevertheless, 95% of cord blood is discarded, making it hard and uncommon for individuals with urgent medical needs to receive the required blood.
Although it is new and still being studied, cord blood banking has a significant impact.
More than 30,000 transplants worldwide have used potent stem cells from cord blood to repair the immune system and restore healthy blood.
Cord blood has potential uses in the future in domains that are still unexplored and can be securely kept for many years.
Why Should You Consider Cord Blood Banking?
Here we have gathered a list of reasons to help you learn more about the importance of considering cord blood for both personal and societal gains:
1. Find Biological Insurance For Your Child
Umbilical cord blood is important for treating a child’s future health. It contains stem cells that can treat diseases such as leukemia, sickle cell anemia, and immune system disorders.
Additionally, cord blood banks may allow families to use stem cells for their medical needs.
Cord blood banks are becoming increasingly popular among families who want to ensure that potentially life-saving treatments are available.
Private cord blood banks can be expensive, and there is no guarantee that the cord blood they hold will be suitable for your sick sibling or family member.
It is important to discuss the potential benefits and limitations of storing cord blood for future use with your healthcare provider.
2. Donations Can Save Other Lives
Other family members can receive cord blood from the baby if the baby’s HLA compatibility is acceptable. It is important to note that cord blood can only be collected at birth and stored properly for future use. Public cord blood banks promote community health by collecting and storing acceptable cord blood donations from healthy pregnancies if a patient requires a stem cell transplant.
On the other hand, private cord blood banks allow families to store their cord blood for personal use if they need a stem cell transplant. However, it can be expensive, and stored cord blood is not guaranteed for a needy family.
3. The Process Is Safe And Simple
This is untrue, though, as taking cord blood is a painless, safe operation that doesn’t endanger the mother or the unborn child. Stem cells found in cord blood can be utilized to treat a number of illnesses and conditions, including leukemia, sickle cell disease, and some forms of cancer. Parents can support medical research by donating or keeping cord blood and may even be able to assist those in need. The mother and the child experience no discomfort during the process, and no health concerns are involved.
As cord blood includes stem cells that may be utilized to cure a range of illnesses and ailments, including leukemia, sickle cell anemia, and some forms of cancer, it can really be a decision that saves the child’s and their family’s lives. The cord blood may be collected quickly and painlessly and can be stored for years if necessary.
4. It Provides For The Future Of Cord Blood Research
We already know that cord blood banking efficiently treats various serious diseases.
Cord blood banks can store stem cells for up to 15 years and be used for transplantation in a medical emergency.
Additionally, research is underway to investigate the potential of cord blood stem cells in treating other diseases, such as autism and cerebral palsy.
Only collecting and storing cord blood from the umbilical cord will help in the future to carry out various research processes, such as developing new treatments for diseases and disorders.
It is important to consult a physician and a reputable cord blood bank to follow the collection and storage process properly.
Donate Your Baby’s Cord Blood
The Health Resource and Service Administration (HRSA) decides who is qualified to donate cord blood.
In order to make sure that there are no genetic or inherited disorders that might jeopardize the safety of the donation, the HRSA may also ask for information on the family’s medical history.
Even if you satisfy all requirements for eligibility, the cord blood bank itself has the final say in whether or not to accept your cord blood donation.
