Planning to step into parenthood, you must have come across the term called cord blood storage. Chances are you also have done some research on cord blood and its importance.

For a long time, cord blood was considered medical waste and nothing more. However, recent researches have shed light on the importance of cord blood storage as a biological insurance for your child.

Keeping in view the increasing popularity of cord blood storage and its benefits in treating numerous diseases, you must be wondering whether or not you should preserve the cord blood of your child. Let us discuss more cord blood and its importance.

What is cord blood?

Cord blood is the blood obtained from the placenta and umbilical cord of a newborn child. The blood is collected post-delivery after the umbilical cord is clamped and cut. Hence, cord blood collection is a painless procedure that does not interfere with pregnancy or childbirth in any way.

The blood is collected, processed, and cryogenically frozen for future medical uses. However, cord blood storage is not a last-minute decision. You need to decide and inform your cord blood bank beforehand so that necessary arrangements can be made for the collection of cord blood.

Importance of cord blood

Cord blood is a reservoir of potentially life-saving stem cells. Stem cells are unique cells that can morph into different kinds of cells in the body.

Cord blood is rich in hematopoietic stem cells i.e., blood-forming stem cells. They can boost your immune system and provide numerous benefits. Let us discuss the importance of cord blood in detail.

1. Easy to collect

Compared to other sources of stem cell transplantation like bone marrow or peripheral blood, cord blood is easier to collect. The process is painless and non-invasive.

Once, you opt for cord blood storage and complete the necessary procedure, the bank will take care of the rest. They make all the necessary arrangements for collection, processing, testing, and storage.

The ensure a suitable environment for transportation of stem cell units and make them available as and when needed.

2. Helpful in treating various diseases

At present, cord blood is used in the treatment of 80 rare diseases. Some of these diseases include leukemia, sickle cell anemia, lymphoma, and different types of cancer. Hence, cord blood can serve as a powerful aid in the treatment of these diseases.

3. Immense future potential

Cord blood has immense future potential. Scientists and researchers across the globe are conducting studies to understand the possibility of treating various diseases that were previously considered incurable. Some of these diseases include Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, and type 1 diabetes.

4. Regenerative medicine.

Apart from its uses as transplant medicine, cord blood can also be used as regenerative medicine. Stem cells have the unique property of creating daughter cells.

These cells could be stem cells or other cells with specific functionality. Hence, the regenerative property of stem cells can be used to regrow, repair, and replace tissues and organs in the body.

5. Used by siblings and other family members

If you have another sick child or family member, who can benefit from stem cell transplantation, storing the cord blood of your child becomes essential. When you store the cord blood of your child with a private cord blood bank, it remains available for exclusive use by your family.

6. Medical history of rare disease

If you have a medical history of rare diseases, like cancer, storing the stem cells of your child becomes quintessential. If one of the parents is adopted or there is the involvement of an egg or sperm donor, it may become difficult to ascertain the medical history of your child. In such a case, we strongly recommend storing the cord blood of your child.

Now that you are well aware of the importance of cord blood. You can decide whether or not you should opt for cord blood storage of your child.

With affordable cord blood banks at $19.99 per month, you can store the cord blood of your child with a private bank.