Cord Blood: A Lifeline for Your Baby

Cord blood means the blood left over in the placenta and umbilical cord after birth. It’s filled with all kinds of stem cells that are potent enough to treat more than 80 diseases and conditions, including leukemia, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, sickle cell anemia, and some immune system deficiencies. Cord blood can also be used to treat more common conditions like Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and several others.

What is the importance of cord blood

Cord blood is rich in stem cells. These cells can be harvested from your newborn’s umbilical cord right after your birth. The stem cells found in cord blood are different from those found in other parts of your baby’s body and are incredibly valuable.

 four ways cord blood can be used

Transplant — If you choose to donate your baby’s cord blood, it may be used to treat a variety of diseases such as leukemia and sickle cell anemia. 

• Research — Research trials are currently being conducted at various medical facilities throughout North America.
•  Cord blood is used in stem cell research If a research trial doesn’t pan out, there are options for families to either have their cord blood privately stored or donated to another family in need of a transplant.

Whether to save your baby’s cord blood

The biggest decision you will face about cord blood is whether to save it. Cord blood has been used in successful transplants since 1988, and researchers are still working on ways to use cord blood to treat many different types of diseases and conditions, including some cancers. 

However, cord blood is not easily available outside of public banks. You can only collect at birth from babies born good with no health problems.

How parents can benefit from their baby’s cord blood

Cord blood contains a rich supply of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which are powerful natural factories for generating new cells. When transplanted, these cells can boost immune systems and help ward off certain diseases.

Is there a downside?

Although cord blood has been used in medicine since 1989, it’s still relatively new to parents. Because most adults aren’t familiar with cord blood, they may question whether their decision is a good one or not. The truth is that cord blood is one of our best biological resources and it’s here to stay.