Preserving the blood stem cells of your new born can be a true life insurance. Read on and understand more about cord blood banking.

Sumedha moved to U.S. with her husband after their marriage and within one year she gave a birth to a girl child. She chose to bank the blood from her baby's umbilical cord. Today she is happy with her decision as stored blood stem cells are be useful in the future. If her daughter ever gets any disease, it can be cured by her own blood. The stored stem cells act as lifesavers. Sumedha found the method of collecting and preserving the blood stem cells simple and effortless. She feels proud that she can save her daughter from many potential life threatening diseases.

What are stem cells?

In simple terms stem cell is a cell from which other types of cells can be cultivated. For instance blood cells can be developed from blood forming stem cells. Stem cells are specialised cells of animals and plants which possess the ability to grow and divide through mitosis. These cells can give birth to other types of cells. These cells are produced when the embryo is developing. Stem cells also develop in the adult body. A stem cell is an immature blood cell which can evolve into any other body cell.

Sources of stem cells

Blood stem cells exist in the tissues of the adult or foetus body. In the adult body bone marrow is the source of stem cells. On the other hand, stem cells can be acquired from the umbilical cord of the new born baby. Researches have a long way to go to explore the vast facts about stem cells.

What is cord blood banking?

Cord blood means remains in the umbilical cord and placenta after birth. Cord blood bank facilitates the preservation of the umbilical cord blood so it can be used in future. Storing your baby's cord blood stem cells provides you an assurance to deal with future critical conditions.

Stem cells from your baby's cord are processed and saved in a blood bank. Umbilical cord blood stem cells can be frozen and kept in the stock for years.

Researches believe that conserving your baby's cord blood stem cells would be a safeguard for the baby and his family members in the future. Banked blood stem cells are useful for the patients suffering from leukemia, anemia and immune deficiency.

Why you should preserve the cord blood?

In most cases the umbilical cord that connects foetus with the mother is discarded at the time of the delivery. The stem cells from the umbilical cord are the origin of the body's immune and blood system.

Cord blood is the rich source of stem cells. Cord blood contains two types of stem cells called hematopoietic stem cells, progenitor cells and platelets. These stem cells have the capability to produce red and white blood cells. Red blood corpuscles carry oxygen, white blood corpuscles help to fight infections and platelets balance blood clotting.

Cord blood cells if preserved can be used to cure life threatening diseases such as cancer and blood disasters. They can be used to cure blood and immune system related genetic diseases. Cord blood needs to be collected within 15 minutes following the birth and processes within 48 hours in the laboratory after collecting it.

Preservation of the umbilical blood is an absolutely painless procedure. The procedure is carried out once your baby is delivered and the cord is cut. Though storing cord blood is your personal choice, it is advisable to store it as it acts as insurance in the near future.

You can also donate your baby's cord blood in the private or public stem cell banks. If you want to preserve your baby's stem cells from the cord blood you should contact the bank by the 34th week of the pregnancy.

There are public cord blood banks in both developed and developing countries. Private stem cell banks too are establishing in several countries. An awareness and research regarding the blood stem banking could be a great progress in the field of physical science.

If your due date is drawing closer preserving your baby's blood stem cells must be coordinated with your doctor. Few years later you may thank yourself for opting out to store stem cells after delivery instead of discarding the umbilical cord.