Learn About Cord Blood Banking

When a mother is still pregnant with her child, the umbilical cord is actually considered as the lifeline between the mother and the baby. Once the umbilical cord has been discarded after the baby?s birth, then you will lose the chance of being able to obtain precious cells that the cord contains which are an exact match with your baby and that you can have preserved. By preserving your baby?s stem cells through cord blood banking, your baby will be ensured to have a guaranteed source for perfectly matched cells that can help your child during unfortunate events (like a life threatening illness). These cells would actually come in handy when it comes to combating this disease. All you have to do is just have it set up during the time of your delivery.

However, a large number of curious expecting couples are interested in knowing more about umbilical cord blood banking. Unfortunately, a lot of rumors and misleading facts are going around regarding cord blood banking. It's important to have a clear understanding of this significant step that can prove to be a life savior!

Cord blood stem cells can be used to treat diseases and conditions such as leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, anemia, sickle cell disease, inherited red cell abnormality, lymphoma, plasma cell disorder, neuroblastoma and myeloma. Today, there are over 75 different diseases, immune deficiencies and other conditions that are treated with cord blood successfully. With the advancement of stem cell research, there is likely to be more uses for cord blood in the future.

Studies on transplants of umbilical cord blood have revealed a sustained engraftment, which is similar to bone marrow transplant results. Umbilical cord blood is stored cryogenically through a meticulous cord blood banking process and is available at once when needed. Research on umbilical cord blood stem cell has revealed its potential to treat Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, heart attacks and strokes, and spinal cord injuries.

There are two ways to store your baby's cord blood. If you choose public cord blood banking, your baby's blood is taken from the umbilical cord, stored cryogenically and can be used by anyone that is in need of it. However, cord blood that is stored in a private bank can only be used for your child or other family members when required.

Umbilical cord blood stem cells are more primitive than bone marrow stem cells. Hence, they harbor a lower risk of graft versus host disease (GVHD). This makes it possible to use less than perfect matches for transplants. Ultra-modern cord blood banking technologies induce multiplication of cord blood stem cells by ex vivo expansion.

The stem cell extraction for the cold banking process will actually be very safe both for the baby as well as for the baby?s mother because the blood for cord blood banking will be collected right after the umbilical cord has already been separated from the baby. Afterwards, blood will also be extracted from the mother for the cord blood banking process. The baby, as well as the mother will not really experience any pain or discomfort when it comes to cord blood banking.

By Ray Lam
About the Author:
Learn more about cord blood and get a free report on "Stem Cell Treatment - Uncovered" by visiting http://cordbloodadvice.info, a popular website that provides free cord blood stem cells advice.