Parenting can be tough, and there are many decisions to make. One of the major and probably life-saving one would be storing the blood from your baby’s umbilical cord for its future health. The umbilical cord is one that connects the baby to its mother, when in the womb. In the future, if your child becomes a patient of genetic blood disorders like blood cancer, aplastic anemia, or thalassemia, then he/she may get a chance to improve their health with this stored cord blood.
What Is The Need Of Cord Blood?
Every year, the month of July is celebrated as Blood Awareness Month and today we will highlight the importance of Cord Blood and its importance. Dr. Renuka Gupta, Gynecologist says, “After birth, there are special cells in the umbilical cord blood of the infant which are called stem cells. Over time, these cells can develop into blood cells. Along with fighting the infection present in the body, it can help in making blood clots by transporting oxygen throughout the body.”
Cord blood storage is something people are not much aware about. “In our country, there have been very few cases in which the stored cord blood was used in blood disorders or stem cell transplants. There can be two reasons for this. Either due to lack of awareness among people or a shorter time period between taking the stored cells out of conservancy and bringing them for the treatment,” adds Dr. Renuka.
She further informs us that research is still going on regarding the umbilical cord. However, currently, there are only limited diseases in which it has served to be very beneficial. Although, physicians and scientists claim that with continuous research and advancement in the medical field, umbilical cord blood cells can revolutionize the treatment of many serious diseases such as various blood disorders, cerebral palsy, type-1 diabetes, hydrocephalus and degenerative diseases like multiple sclerosis.
How Is The Cord Blood Collected?
Dr. Renuka explains that after the birth of a child when the umbilical cord is cut, the doctor draws the blood out of the umbilical vein from the part that is attached to the placenta. This blood is collected in a special bag. In this quick process, 60-150ml of blood is collected and is sealed and sent to the blood bank laboratory within 48 hours. There, the blood is processed and refrigerated for a long time. Normally it is stored for 21 years, but it can be extended if the person wishes so.
Worldwide, cord blood stem cells are being used to treat many lives-threatening diseases, including certain cancers and genetic disorders. Therefore, parents should be made more aware of it, take their decision before the delivery, and save it for their baby’s healthy future.
