Maybe while doing some research during your pregnancy (congratulations by the way), you may have heard of cord blood banking. The question is… do you know what it is?
Fret not dear reader for we have some answers for you in this blog. Read to find out what cord blood banking is and why you may want to consider it.
What is cord blood?
The blood left over in the umbilical cord post-birth is cord blood. Nice and simple.
So, what’s so special about it? Cord blood is a rich source of stem cells. Well, what are stem cells? They are found in 3 places in the body (at different times of course):
– Foetal stem cells
– Cord blood stem cells
– Adult or bone marrow stem cells
There are also differentiated somatic cells but those aren’t created naturally in the body.
These amazing cells can be used in the treatment of medical conditions and injuries. Currently, they are used to treat over 80 conditions worldwide and their potential is being explored further through clinical trials and research.
What is Cord Blood Banking?
The placenta, umbilical cord and cord blood would normally be thrown away as medical waste unless you have chosen to keep them. Some individuals will keep the placenta, some people don’t care and don’t want to think about it, and some will opt to store cord blood. Store the blood, and allow your family or others access to the stem cells.
There are two forms of cord blood storage:
Public
There are a small handful of hospitals in the UK that will offer public cord blood banking in the form of donation. The blood is collected and put into a bank accessible by anyone on the donation list. This is a free service but limited by location. You need to inform your doctors and nurses of your choice so they are ready to help you on the day.
Private
Choosing private stem cell storage gives you and your family exclusive access to the stem cells collected. Should your child or their sibling get it, they can gain immediate access to the treatment options rather than waiting on a donor list. Your child will be a 100% match while their siblings have a high chance of being at least a partial if not full match. It isn’t free but it could absolutely be worth it for the safety net you provide your family. Get in contact with your chosen stem cell storage company and they shall provide you with all the details you could need.
So … should I bank?
The choice is entirely up to you but if you want to provide a safety net for your family you can choose to privately store, if you want to donate just ensure you have access to this service and if you want to do something entirely different with the placenta and cord then you absolutely can.
Nothing in life is predictable so maybe it’ll be comforting to know you have a safeguard ready. Pregnancy can be quite stressful anyway, so it is good to have all the facts. We hope that this blog has helped fill in some of the gaps.