Cord Blood Banking Benefits

Question:
Why should I bank my baby's cord blood?

Answer:

Cord blood stem cells are considered one of the most promising medical treatments of the future. Parents are storing cord blood for their families not only as a treatment option for current uses of stem cells, but also for their potential future uses. In recent years, stem cell research has demonstrated that cord blood stem cells can differentiate into other types of cell tissue in the body, suggesting the possibility to treat diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and diabetes.

Cord blood stem cells are not only for your baby. Because your baby’s cord blood stem cells are unique to your family, it may be valuable to your whole family in treating a variety of diseases. Studies have shown that stem cell transplants from a relative have a greater chance for success than transplants with stem cells from unrelated donors. In addition, when compared to transplants with other sources of stem cells such as bone marrow, cord blood stem cells transplants resulted in less graft vs. host disease (GVHD), an immune attack on the recipient by cells from a donor.

Matched stem cells necessary for transplant are difficult to find due to strict requirements. Banking your baby’s cord blood stem cells provides 100% match to your baby and improves the odds of having a proper match for another family member. Finding a proper match is especially problematic for African-Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans and people of diverse ethnic backgrounds. In addition, cord blood stem cells transplants can be performed without a perfect biological match.

Cord blood stem cells stored with a private bank is available when you and your family need it most. They would be available for transplant within a few days of a request, allowing treatment to begin almost immediately and without time spent searching for a matching donor. In addition, compared to bone marrow stem cells, there is a lower risk of viral infections when using cord blood.

Banking your baby’s cord blood could be especially valuable if your family has a history of a disease that can be treated with stem cells, such as leukemia and lymphoma. It is also valuable for families adopting a newborn or using assisted reproductive techniques. In any case where, a complete family history might not be available, stored cord blood may be the only available genetic source of stem cells for your baby.

Collecting cord blood is a simple and safe process that poses no risk or discomfort to mother or baby. It takes only 5-10 minutes to collect cord blood and the blood is collected after the umbilical cord has already been cut.