Would you believe us if we said banking your baby’s umbilical cord blood stem cells could make you feel like a lifesaver? Seriously, it’s a major deal in healthcare! As you prepare for your baby’s arrival, here’s an interesting fact about the placenta and umbilical cord you should know! They are often tossed out as medical waste after birth. But guess what? They do much more than just help with bonding between moms and babies. They are packed with stem cells that can treat serious diseases, speed up healing, and aid cancer therapies — truly superhero organs!
However, it’s natural to feel a bit overwhelmed when deciding whether to bank these precious resources or not. No worries! Let’s explore the world of stem cells together and uncover the amazing benefits of banking umbilical cord blood and placenta!
Umbilical Cord & Its Benefits
The umbilical cord nurtures a heartfelt bond between you and your baby within the womb. Through this essential connection, the umbilical vein channels oxygen and vital nutrients that your baby needs, ensuring they grow healthy and strong. On the other part, the umbilical artery efficiently removes all waste, maintaining your baby’s well-being. This perfect exchange keeps your baby healthy and growing throughout your pregnancy.
The umbilical cord contains valuable hematopoietic stem cells, hidden gems with the potential to transform into various cell types. These cells have been medical superheroes for over three decades, crucial in treating conditions like Beta thalassemia and sickle-cell disease. Today, they are fundamental in addressing over 80+ life-threatening diseases.
Let’s explore them with respect to stem cell banking.
Umbilical Cord Stem Cell Banking & Its Types
After your baby’s birth, a small section of the umbilical cord is clamped and cut to collect a blood sample. This sample, along with a sample of the mother’s blood, undergoes quality checks to ensure suitability for long-term storage. If it meets the criteria, the sample is then preserved using a special freezing process for potential future use. Otherwise, the sample is disposed of following proper procedures.
While opting for cord blood stem cell banking, know that there are three main options to choose from:
- Private
- Public
- Community banking
When you bank your little one’s cord blood stem cells at a private bank, only immediate family members & the baby can use them for medical treatments, when needed. On the other hand, public banks rely on donations. Parents donate their baby’s umbilical cord blood, which goes into a common pool that anyone can use.
Community banking mixes the features of both private and public banks. It’s cheaper and gives access to all community members, making it easier to find a good match for stem cell transplants.
Let us now explore the basics of the placenta and its role in stem cell applications.
The Placenta and Its Stem Cell Power
The placenta creates a natural bridge between a mother and her growing baby, delivering love and nourishment right in the womb. It’s a mix of the placental disc, umbilical cord, amniotic fluid, and amniotic sac, creating a warm environment for the precious little life inside.
Placental tissue is rich in stem cells, which are valuable for healing and regenerating body parts. These stem cells are also useful for treating many currently untreatable diseases, anti-ageing therapies, along with brain and immune system diseases. However, in India, the authorities do not permit the storage of these stem cells in commercial banks.
Moreover, these tissues help heal wounds, treat stubborn ulcers and burns, and address chronic inflammatory diseases. Placental tissue membranes are rich in substances that promote healing. These properties make placental tissue-based grafts useful in areas like urology, dentistry, and cartilage repair.
These grafts are available in the market and are enriched with growth-promoting substances, making them excellent for covering wounds. They are processed in certified labs, ensuring they are safe and effective for medical use.
Final Thoughts
Hey there! Thanks for diving into this article! We know that taking the right call is a BIG deal when it comes to preserving your baby’s umbilical cord blood and placenta. But fret not, we have listed all the key points! Both offer their own benefits, but umbilical cord blood banking truly shines when it comes to proven results in treating numerous diseases.
These results matter when you embark on the journey of parenthood! That’s why finding a reliable Stem Cell Banking option Like LifeCell is crucial. It’s the ultimate choice of over 450,000 parents and also offers access to 75,000 approved stem cell units to their community members.
For more details, visit www.lifecell.in or call 1800 266 5533.
References:
1. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types/stem-cell-transplant#:~:text=Stem%20cell%20transplants%20are%20most,cell%20tumors%2C%20and%20testicular%20cancer.
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557490/
3. https://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/cord-blood-bank/what-is-cord-blood/
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3209739/
5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32619330/
6. https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/cord-blood-banking
7. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/23981-cord-blood-banking
8. https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/cord-blood-banking-faqs/
9. https://parentsguidecordblood.org/en/faqs/what-community-cord-blood-bank
10. https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/53065
11.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK53250/#:~:text=They%20offer%20a%20renewable%20source,in%20the%20years%20to%20come.
12. https://main.icmr.nic.in/sites/default/files/upload_documents/UCBB_eng.pdf
13. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5822788/
14. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4228928/
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