Cord blood banking may be a life saving process when umbilical blood is collected and
stored for future purposes. Cord blood is rich with stem cells, that may prove to be
beneficial in treating more than 75 life threatening diseases. The collection process is
easy, painless and takes only a few minutes to store cord blood that is otherwise discarded as biological waste.

Cord blood banking has grown in popularity with the knowledge that stem cells are currently responsible for treating over 40 different diseases and disorders and may potentially create cures or ameliorations for diseases such as Type 1 diabetes, Cerebral Palsy and many other devastating ijuries.

Today, there are many private cord blood companies offering the service of collection, processing, testing and storage of umbilical cord blood. 

The internet and telephone conversations are useful resources in helping you choose the right cord blood bank, however it is important to select accredited companies and find out how long each cord blood laboratory has been operational. It is important to check the actual licenses and accreditations as many companies simply put FDA and other logos on their home page.  Experienced companies should have a good track record with banking cord blood and should possess at least an A rating with the BBB.

Financial stability and profitability of the company are two important factors in your
choice for the right cord blood bank. Remember that the company without financial
security will not be able to carry out cord blood banking securely and sustain its
maintenance and operation.

Also, determine how much experience the cord blood bank has company has in providing
samples for lifesaving medical transplants. Many cord blood banks, however, have not
provided a specimen for transplant purposes. Make comparisons among cord blood banks and find out the viability of thawed samples.

Next, consider where the company stores the cord blood stem cells. Some have storage
facilities near their corporate headquarters while others have labs in spots that are free
from natural disasters and the possibility of frequent airport closures. These safeguards
are important points to consider, especially if you live in a hurricane or earthquake prone
area. The final point to consider when choosing a cord blood bank is price.

Each cord blood banking company has a different rate for their service.  Some cord blood

banks offer a service for approximately $1,000, but that is generally for manual cord blood processing. Automated or closed bag processing systems are generally more expensive.  A person can expect to pay up to $2,000 for automated cord blood processing which research has shown recovers higher numbers of critical cells than manual processing.

If you’re an expectant mom, chances are you may have the opportunity to provide a truly valuable service to your family or to somebody else with real medical needs. The service is based on the practice of stem cell preservation. Stem cell preservation is a painless and effortless way to provide life giving cells to someone in need.

You see, at the time of birth, the umbilical cord connecting the mother and baby holds an incredible resource, cord blood carrying stem cells. These stem cells are extremely adaptable, and can be utilized in rebuilding an immune system or a blood system. As the baby is delivered and begins to take its own first breaths, that umbilical cord is severed and the practice of stem cell preservation can begin. Blood is drawn from the umbilical cord, and a short while later is treated under laboratory conditions to a state of deep freezing.

In considering the value of stem cell preservation, imagine the challenges of facing life-threatening diseases. Life suddenly becomes fragile for friends, family, loved ones.  A life threatening disease might sound a little like floating alone in the middle of a deep ocean. However, your life giving experience of becoming a mother can also be a life giving event for someone you may never meet.

Stem Cell Preservation – a Life Preserver

Now think of the relief, the joy, and the exhilaration of being tossed a medical life preserver.  As of 2006, over 8,000 people had received that life-preserver in the way of precious stem cells deriving from cord blood. Stem cell preservation (from cord blood and bone marrow) is proving to be a significant medical healing practice and is helping open doors for treating the likes of leukemia, lymphoma, breast cancer, and Hodgkin’s disease, to name just a few.

How do you think the recipient of a stem cell transplant feels about stem cell preservation? One simple word could characterize this feeling: thankful.

Expectant mothers have the unique privilege of donating umbilical cord blood and contributing to stem cell preservation. The process of stem cell preservation is simple, non-invasive, and free of charge. Please consult with your doctor or midwife before the 34th week of pregnancy. Your decision to look into stem cell preservation could be represent a life preserver to someone who could really use the help.

Expectant mothers in the final few months of pregnancy, probably have heard, or even learned something about, stem cell preservation. Such preservation begins with the gathering of blood from the umbilical cord after your baby’s birth. Within thirty seconds of the baby’s arrival, one of the doctors or medical staff will cut the umbilical cord and draw about 1/3 of a cup of blood from the cord, and then secure it for transport to a nearby cord blood bank. This is the beginning of the process known as stem cell preservation.

The preservation aspect of stem cell preservation is actually quite uncomplicated. It involves storage of the blood and cells in subzero temperatures known as cryogenic freezing. Of course, there is more to stem cell preservation. The samples go through a detailed labeling and identification process, as well as tests for any transmittable diseases. It’s interesting to note that the cryogenic process is so effective that even the oldest cells available (stem cell preservation from cord blood started in 1990) show limited deterioration as they are used today.

You might be wondering what happens when the cells are thawed and issued and just who qualifies to benefit from cord blood stem cell transplants.

Stem Cell Preservation and Tissue Compatibility

Donors are matched to recipients according to six proteins, called Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA), that appear on the surface of white blood cells and other tissues in the body. These six HLA points determine tissue compatibility which leads us to one of the real benefits of cord blood stem cell preservation. As a minimum, only three of the six HLA points need to be a match for a successful transplant. This makes it easier, and less risky, in finding patients with compatible tissues.

The most likely recipients of treatment from stem cell preservation will be those coming out of chemotherapy or radiation therapy; where the healing process starts by eliminating all the cells in the body. Stem cell preservation maintains cells that are highly adaptable and can be used with patients suffering from a number of diseases among them leukemia, different forms of cancer, and Hodgkin’s disease.

From Stem Cell Preservation to Treatment

The new cells supplied by stem cell preservation enter the body through a tube or central line that goes into a vein in the patient’s chest. The transplanted cells move into the spaces inside the bones where they create new marrow. They grow and make healthy new red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Isn’t that miraculous? The human body certainly is a healing marvel, and modern medicine continues to make vital strides in treating even the most challenging diseases.

At the center of this remarkable healing process is stem cell preservation.

Who participates in cord blood storage?

Expectant mothers can get the administrative wheels turning and inquire about cord blood storage. Just ask your physician or midwife. They will surely have some information or links to resources.

What is cord blood storage?

Cord blood storage captures about 1/3 of a cup of the blood from the umbilical cord at the time of a newborn’s delivery. Cord blood contains a very high density of stem cells (70 million in the standard sample size) that can later be used to treat blood and immune system related genetic diseases, cancers and blood disorders. Cord blood storage is the deep-freezing of the cord blood sample in a cryogenic state. The life of the cells is literally frozen, until brought out of that state.

When is cord blood storage done?

The process of cord blood storage starts just after the birth of a newborn when the umbilical cord is clamped and cut. Blood is drawn from the cord and stored in a sterile environment until it can be transferred to a cord blood storage facility. Reinvigorating the cells after preservation does not appear to have any limits. The earliest harvested cells in cord blood storage are over 15 years old now and show no signs of deterioration.

Where does cord blood storage occur?

The umbilical cord is taken at the time of a newborn’s delivery immediately in the delivery room. Cord blood storage takes place at both private and public storage facilities. In the private instance there are fees involved, and contributors can access private storage banks for family members. In the public instance, there is no cost; donation is anonymous, and the bank is accessed by many non-related people, who are compatible with donors’ cells.  However, those stem cells are no longer owned by the family and are available to the general public.

Why is cord blood storage so important?

Cord blood storage provides an invaluable service in the treatment of diseases. For the most part, cord blood stem cells are utilized in transplant medicine to regenerate a patient’s blood and immune system after they have been treated with chemotherapy and/or radiation to destroy cancer cells. The list of diseases where stem cells can assist the healing process is absolutely impressive, and supports the value of cord blood storage. The disease list includes leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, Aplastic Anemia, Sickle Cell Anemia, various other cancers, blood diseases, hereditary/genetic conditions and immune system disorders. In addition, current research on the value of cord blood storage holds significant promise for improving the treatment of some of the most common diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and Alzheimer’s.

The discovery of many uses for cord blood stem cells is a great achievement in medical science.  Cord blood banking is considered a potential life saving process.  Cord blood may be used for treating numerous genetic and blood diseases.

Umbilical cord blood has been shown to treat or ameliorate over 40 diseases and disorders including many blood cancers, immune disorders, Lupus, anemia.  Some diseases would not be suitable for the donor themselves but instead would be suitable for a matching recipient.

The field of cord blood research has recently made many new discoveries including successful human clinical trials in the area of Type 1 diabetes, Cerebral Palsy and heart disease.  There are studies continuing in the United States and abroad that include research on Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, spinal cord injuries and stroke.

In addition, cord blood stem cells have a lower risk of graft versus host disease (rejection issues)  when compared to bone marrow transplants therefore allowing for a greater range of finding a donor/recipient.  Cord blood also provides an option that is more affordable, less painful and less invasive than traditional bone marrow transplants.

Considering the benefits of cord blood banking, many expectant couples are opting to collect and store their family’s cord blood to safeguard their family’s future. Couples who cannot afford to pay for private cord blood storage may want to consider donating their cord blood to a public cord blood bank.

Stem cell preservation is a medical breakthrough with immense possibilities for mankind. Expectant mothers, in particular, maybe very interested in collecting cord blood, because this blood may be used in the future to cure life-threatening conditions not only for the baby, but also potentially for its siblings and possibly unrelated recipients. There is absolutely no risk involved for the mother and child during cord blood collection for the stem cell preservation process.

In addition to cord blood stem cells being used to treat over 40 different diseases and disorders ranging from blood cancers to immune disorders, stem cells in general are currently being studied, with great success, in treating a myriad of diseases and disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, stroke, heart disease, Type 1 diabetes, Cerebral Palsy, spinal cord injuries and organ regeneration.

Current estimates indicate that approximately 1 in 3 Americans could benefit from regenerative medicine, and children whose cord blood stem cells are available for their own potential use could be among the first to benefit from new therapies as they become available. With autologous (the person’s own) cells, there is no risk of an immune system rejecting the cells, so physicians and researchers are only performing these potential cord blood therapies on children who have their own stem cells available.1

As a result, it can be inferred that stem cell preservation is a form of insurance and security for your future life, which may potentially be used in the future.

1Harris DT, et al. (2007). “The potential of cord blood stem cells for use in regenerative medicine.”. Expert Opin. Biol. Ther. 7 (9): 1311–1322. doi:10.1517/14712598.7.9.1311. PMID 17727322.

In the past decade, most new parents have been given a choice of banking their baby’s cord blood or donating it to a public storage bank.  This is a once in a lifetime opportunity that is available when your baby is born and before the umbilical cord is discarded.  Collecting cord blood from the umbilical cord is a five minute procedure and will not hurt the mother or more importantly, the baby.   Umbilical cord blood stem cells are now being used to treat many malignant and non-malignant diseases and new uses for stem cells are being discovered everyday!

A lot of people ask why they should preserve cord blood and the answer is simple.  As most women are aware, during pregnancy the umbilical cord is the lifeline between mothers and their unborn babies.  Most of the time, after the delivery the umbilical cord is cut and then discarded.  The stem cells that are in the cord blood are also discarded.   These stem cells are an exact genetic match for the child.  If you were to preserve them, you would be guaranteeing your child a source of perfectly matched stem cells in the event that they were to develop a life threatening disease that could be treated using these cells.

Stem cells are used to treat a variety of diseases such as leukemia, Hodgkin’s disease, along with other cancers, blood diseases and some immune system disorders.  Researchers are striving to make stem cell transplants of use in fighting AIDS, Lupus, lung cancer and Multiple Sclerosis. The reason why they are so valuable is that stem cells have been known as the building blocks of blood and the immune system and also other tissues in our bodies.   They can also transform into other cell types such as red blood cells and white blood cells and platelets.  This is what makes them so valuable.   They can replace other cells in our body that are abnormal, weakened or ruined by disease. In fact one of the main uses of stem cells is to replace abnormal bone marrow cells.

To date, approximately 8,000 people worldwide have received medical therapies using the stem cells saved from a newborn’s umbilical cord during cord blood storage. Among the diseases treated: leukemia, breast cancer, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, Aplastic Anemia, Sickle Cell Anemia, various other cancers, blood diseases, hereditary/genetic conditions and immune system disorders.

The process of cord blood storage is very simple – just after the birth of a newborn the umbilical cord is clamped and cut. Blood is drawn from the cord and stored in a sterile environment until it can be transferred to a cord blood storage facility. The stem cells from that blood can eventually be utilized (after testing and matching) in rebuilding the blood or immune systems.

Historical Benchmarks in Cord Blood Storage

By participating in cord blood storage you and your child contribute to a rich history of life saving events.

1983 – First proposal of the concept of using umbilical cord blood as an alternative source of stem cells for transplant. The basic function of cord blood stem cells is similar to bone marrow cells, though cord blood cells are viewed as more versatile because a perfect tissue match between donor and recipient is not necessary.

1988 – First successful cord blood transplant to regenerate blood and immune cells in Paris, France, on a six-year old boy suffering from Fanconi’s Anemia, a blood disorder.

1992 – The New York Blood Center established the first cord blood storage facility through funding provided by the National Institutes of Health.

1993 – First cord blood transplant takes place between a donor and recipient not related to one another.

1995 – First family cord blood storage facility opens.

1998 – 12-year old was the first successful transplant patient to benefit from using cord blood storage to cure sickle cell anemia. According to the National Cord Blood Program, one year after transplant, Keone was cured.

2004 – Health and Human Services Appropriations Act for Fiscal year 2004 provides funds to create a national cord blood storage program.

2004 – Illinois becomes first state to enact legislation to mandate that birthing women have the option to donate their baby’s umbilical cord blood to a public cord blood storage facility at no cost.

2006 – More than 8,000 cord blood transplants have been performed worldwide.

Moving Forward in Cord Blood Storage

In just 20 years the medical field has made incredible strides in treating life-threatening diseases, and in the case of cord blood stem cells the advances have been incredible. It is proven to be a safe procedure, and one of low-risk/high reward for the recipients. Stem cell storage continues to be a vital part of these advances and we look forward to what the future brings as more expectant moms opt for cord blood storage.

Moms-To-Be Receive Notice on the Value of Cord Blood Banking

In the final days of pregnancy, an expectant mother receives much information – from the Doctor’s office, from the hospital, from government agencies, even from companies wanting to sell diapers and wipes.  Almost assuredly, one of the pieces of information passed along to the expectant mom pertains to Cord Blood Banking.

Cord Blood Banking is still a relatively new procedure, having begun in 1990, and is already becoming common in our modern culture and maternal medicine. A new mom-to-be may ask, “Why cord blood banking?”  An important question. Cord blood banking is the effective storage of umbilical cord blood captured during the transition of a new born. That’s right…as the young one begins taking his or her first breaths and the umbilical cord is being clamped, then cut, valuable cord blood is drained and preserved. As the term implies, cord blood banking involves the proper storage of the umbilical cord blood that is gathered or harvested.

Why is cord blood banking so valuable?

We can already anticipate the next question coming…”What makes cord blood so valuable?” Another important question! Cord blood contains a very high density of stem cells that can be utilized in the treatment of blood and immune system related genetic diseases, cancers and blood disorders. These hematopoietic cells are specially designed to renew themselves and have the ability to become any one of several different types of cells. This ability helps explain why cells from cord blood have contributed to the healing at least 45 different diseases. Another great benefit – the recipient does not always have to be an exact match to the donor. Current medical research is just starting to realize the importance of cord blood banking.

It is important to note that cord blood banking is not the same process as the controversial techniques having to do with embryonic stem cells. Methods of cord blood banking are in no way invasive for baby or mother, are simple, and preserve an important and vital resource. The storage process includes a gradual freezing of the cord blood cells, eventually bringing them to a cryogenic state of -190 degrees. This slow cooling insures the cells’ integrity over time and allows for future reuse. All indications are that cord blood banking will become still more common as time moves along.

Of all the information a new mom will receive as pregnancy progresses, details on cord blood banking information are very important. The process is safe and increasing in popularity; and the results are dynamic and valuable.

Collecting cord blood stem cells has become a common practice in modern medicine and can be addressed by the OBGYN as the expectant mom during the first trimester of pregnancy. If you’re an expectant mom, undoubtedly health and wellness for you and baby are at the very top of your priority list, as it should be. When thinking about talking to your doctor or midwife about collecting cord blood stem cells, it’s understandable that you have many details on your mind. However, the life saving process of collecting cord blood stem cells is one of the most important contributions you and your baby can make to your family.

The Ease of Collecting Cord Blood Stem Cells

First off – what does collecting cord blood stem cells entail? At the time of birth there is a golden opportunity to capture and harvest one of the human body’s truly restorative assets – stem cells from the umbilical cord blood. This blood has a particularly high density of a special type of blood cell, known as a hematopoietic cell, and in fact millions of cells are gathered in just 75 milliliters (about 1/3 of a cup), which is the average draw from the umbilical cord. This blood is transported to a lab and is frozen to the temperature of -190 degrees. These rich blood cells are frozen immediately in a cryogenic state.

If you are getting a little uncomfortable at the thought of an additional procedure, relax. Collecting cord blood stem cells is a painless process, and one that doesn’t interrupt or interfere with the baby’s delivery in any way. So take a moment to consider additional details about why collecting cord blood stem cells is such a life enhancing procedure.

What are stem cells?

In short, stem cells are the key components within the body for generating all other tissues, organs and systems in the body. Isn’t that remarkable? Stem cells in cord blood are the building blocks of the blood coursing through our veins and immune system. These cells are highly adaptable and can readily replicate into red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. That’s why collecting cord blood stem cells is so vital.

Red blood cells are important because they carry oxygen to all the cells in the body; white blood cells are responsible for fighting infection; and platelets aid in clotting when you’re injured. With these prime components set aside for use at a later time, doctors (using stem cells) are able to help the body recover from diseases like leukemia, breast cancer, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s Disease, Aplastic Anemia, Sickle Cell Anemia, various cancers, blood diseases, hereditary/genetic conditions and immune system disorders.

Important key points to remember concerning collecting cord blood stem cells, are first, the process of collecting cord blood stem cells is simple, second, the stem cells are key ingredients for generating all other tissues, organs and systems in the body; and third, their use is valuable in treating a litany of diseases.