Embarking on the journey of parenthood is an extraordinary experience. It is marked by countless decisions aimed at ensuring the well-being of your growing family. Among these decisions, the choice of banking your baby’s cord blood stem cells stands out as a pivotal investment in the future health of both your child and the entire family.
Cord blood, rich in precious stem cells, holds the promise of medical advancements that can safeguard against unforeseen health challenges. In this blog, let’s explore how cord blood stem cell banking offers a proactive approach to nurturing the health and happiness of your beloved family.
Table of Contents
What Is Cord Blood Banking?
Cord blood banking is the process of collecting, freezing, and storing your infant’s umbilical cord stem cells through cryogenic methods. These cells hold promise for addressing severe conditions such as bone marrow disorders necessitating transplants, sickle cell disease, immune disorders, and certain cancers like lymphoma or leukemia.
The reason to safeguard this overlooked asset arises from the extraordinary features of cord blood stem cells, which offer the potential to revolutionise personalised treatments. This blog will help you understand the scientific rationale behind preserving them.
Understanding The Scientific Basis Of Cord Blood Banking
Cord blood contains hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) that possess a special capability to transform into various blood cell types. This quality renders them indispensable for addressing conditions that impact the blood and immune system.
Process Of Cord Blood Preservation
Cord blood banking is generally a safe and painless process, and involves the following steps:
1. Sample Collection – A laboratory paramedic collects the cord blood sample by using a sterile needle and a container.
2. Sample Processing – The collected cord blood sample is sent to a specialised laboratory, where it undergoes rigorous screening and processing to make sure that it is viable and safe.
3. Sample Cryopreservation – After processing, the cord blood undergoes cryogenic freezing and is stored in secure tanks at controlled temperatures, ensuring its viability for several decades.
4. Retrieval – When necessary, preserved cord blood can be retrieved and employed for a stem cell transplant, either for your child or an eligible family member.
Unmatched Benefits Of Cord Blood Banking
The benefits of preserving your baby’s cord blood stem cells are manifold which include:
- Stem cells from cord blood offer improved transplant accessibility and lower rates of rejection.
- The collection process of cord blood is painless, simple and less risky.
- The cord blood can be easily frozen and preserved for later use.
- Cord blood has diverse uses, including fortifying the immune system in the course of cancer treatments.
- Cord blood is a valuable resource that can be readily available for various medical needs.
- Enriched with blood-forming cells, cord blood aids in the treatment of life-threatening conditions like leukaemia, lymphoma, and other serious diseases.
Weighing Your Options
Although cord blood banking presents potential advantages, it’s crucial to weigh factors such as expenses, storage fees, and the chance that the cells might never be utilised. Having a conversation with your healthcare provider and thoroughly researching reputable cord blood banks before reaching a decision is essential.
Current Trends In Cord Blood Banking
Cord blood preservation is becoming more popular worldwide due to advances in science. Countries are investing a lot in this area, expecting big changes in medical treatments. The focus on personalised medicine and successful stem cell transplant stories makes banking stem cells a smart choice for future health. It’s not just a trend; it’s an important step in creating a future with personalised healthcare.
Final Words
Cord blood banking emerges as a progressive investment in the well-being of your family. The remarkable potential of stem cells in treating various illnesses, coupled with the advancements in medical science, underscores the significance of preserving this valuable resource.
LifeCell’s Community Stem Cell Banking program extends its commitment beyond just preserving cord blood; it fosters a sense of shared responsibility and support within our community. By choosing our community banking service, you not only secure the future health of your loved ones but also contribute to a collective effort in advancing medical frontiers. This program provides long-term preservation (up to 75 years) and may offer the potential for future protection against the impact of 80+ medical conditions. Join us in safeguarding the health of generations to come.
For more details, call us at 1800-266-5533 or visit www.lifecell.in.
FAQs
Q1: Is It Safe To Bank My Newborn’s Cord Blood?
A: Yes, cord blood banking is a safe and painless procedure. The collected cells undergo processing and storage in specialised facilities, following strict regulations.11
Q2. What Is The Benefit Of Stem Cell Preservation?
The main purpose of stem cell preservation is to secure a rich source of hematopoietic stem cells. These cells, derived from umbilical cord blood, hold the potential to treat various diseases and conditions, ensuring the health and well-being of both the baby and the family.3
References:
1. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/23981-cord-blood-banking
- https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/bone-marrow-transplantation
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20890962/#:~:text=Abstract,into%20all%20functional%20blood%20cells.
- https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/cord-blood-banking#:~:text=Cord%20blood%20is%20collected%20by,process%20takes%20about%2010%20minutes.
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9584102/#:~:text=Cord%20blood%20is%20placed%20in,et%20al.%2C%202015).
- https://parentsguidecordblood.org/en/faqs/cord-blood-stem-cells-release-signals-tell-body-heal-itself-and-thus-can-support-regenerative
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3209739/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9321494/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25797907/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5423479/
- https://main.icmr.nic.in/sites/default/files/upload_documents/GUCBB_F.pdf