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Whether you’re newly pregnant or counting down the remaining weeks until you meet your baby, you probably already know that you would do anything to protect your future child. Still, you may be surprised to learn that your baby's umbilical cord contains cord blood and cord tissue, both rich sources of powerful stem cells which are being researched for their ability to help our bodies heal.
So, what does that mean for you? While the decision to pursue cord blood banking is a personal one, this guide will explore some of the potential ways cord blood can be used, so you can make an informed decision for you and your family.
But first, what is cord blood?
Put simply, cord blood is the blood that’s left in the umbilical cord after a baby is born. While it might seem like just another part of the birth process, it’s actually packed with hematopoietic stem cells — cells that can turn into all kinds of different blood and immune system cells.
Once the umbilical cord has been clamped and cut, your healthcare provider draws the remaining blood into a collection bag to bank the cord blood.
Helping with blood disorders and cancers
One of the main ways cord blood is used today is to help treat blood disorders and cancers in stem cell transplants. The stem cells in cord blood can replace damaged blood and immune system cells in people with conditions like leukemia, lymphoma, and sickle cell anemia. Imagine these stem cells as tiny repair kits that can help rebuild a person’s blood and immune system. For those facing serious illnesses, cord blood can potentially be a lifesaver, quite literally.
Beyond blood: Treating other diseases
But the magic of cord blood doesn’t stop there. To date, nearly 50,000 cord blood stem cell transplants have been performed around the world.
Researchers are even exploring how it can help with a whole range of other conditions, including neurological disorders like cerebral palsy, and autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis. This is still an area of active research, but the potential for what these stem cells can do is enormous.
Cord blood banking: What’s the fuss all about?
So, how can you make sure that you have access to this amazing resource if you ever need it? That’s where cord blood banking comes in. When your baby is born, you can choose to store their newborn stem cells in a secure facility. This way, if your child — or even a family member — needs it in the future, it’s ready and waiting.
Storing cord blood doesn’t just offer potential benefits for the baby it came from. It can also be a possible resource for siblings and parents:
- Genetic match: Full siblings have a 75% chance of being at least a partial match and biological parents are always a partial match. This can be crucial in treatments for conditions like leukemia, lymphoma, and inherited metabolic disorders where a stem cell transplant may be a treatment option.
- Immediate availability: Having cord blood banked with a private company means it’s available in a timely manner. This can be a huge advantage in emergencies where time is critical.
- Future medical advances: As research progresses, the potential uses of cord blood stem cells may continue to expand. By banking cord blood now, you’re securing a potential resource that might be used in future treatments for conditions we can’t yet predict.
Cord Blood Registry: Leading the way
If you're still unsure as to where to start, one of the leading names in private cord blood banking is Cord Blood Registry (CBR®). Established over 30 years ago, CBR is the largest private family cord blood bank in the world. Here’s why so many families choose CBR:
- High Standards: CBR operates under high standards of quality and care, ensuring that your baby’s cord blood is stored safely and securely.
- Proven Experience: With more than 1 million cord blood and tissue samples stored, CBR has extensive experience and a track record of reliability.
- Accessibility and Support: CBR offers financial assistance programs, and flexible payment plans to make cord blood banking accessible to more families. They also provide ongoing support and resources to help you understand and navigate the process.
Cord blood banking is exciting because it represents a huge leap forward in how we can potentially treat many serious conditions. And when it comes to the health of your child(ren), you probably want to leave no stone unturned.
To learn more and enroll, head to cordblood.com and use promo code SCRP for a 50% discount on your annual bundle, which includes processing, shipping, and the first year of storage.*
*Annual storage fees are charged after the first year. Fees are subject to change.
The use of cord blood is determined by the treating physician and is influenced by many factors, including the patient's medical condition, the characteristics of the sample, and whether the cord blood should come from the patient or an appropriately matched donor. Cord blood has established uses in transplant medicine; however, its use in regenerative medicine is still being researched. There is no guarantee that potential medical applications being studied in the laboratory or clinical trials will become available.
Cord tissue use is still in early research stages, and there is no guarantee that treatments using cord tissue will be available in the future. Cord tissue is stored whole. Additional processing prior to use will be required to extract and prepare any of the multiple cell types from cryopreserved cord tissue. Cbr Systems, Inc.’s activities for New York State residents are limited to collection of umbilical cord tissue and long-term storage of umbilical cord–derived stem cells. Cbr Systems, Inc.’s possession of a New York State license for such collection and long-term storage does not indicate approval or endorsement of possible future uses or future suitability of these cells.
Kristyn Hodgdon is the Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer at Rescripted.