Many people ask this question about the need and benefit of storing cord blood cells in a cord blood bank at such a high cost. The answer is - the umbilical cord blood is rich in stem cells that have the potential to help in the treatment of around 50 serious diseases. Some of them include leukemia, genetic and immune disorders, cardio vascular diseases, muscular dystrophy, diabetes, and several cancers.

There are three kinds of people in this world, who opt for cord blood storage or cord blood banking:

The first ones are the families who crave for comfort and assurance that cord blood banking provides. Should the need arise; they have their baby's cord blood readily available.

The second ones are the people who are excited with this new discovery and wish to become a part of the stem cell revolution.

The third ones are people who are in need of cord blood to treat their family members who are in grave medical condition.

The umbilical cord blood contains the same hematopoietic stem cells found in bone marrow. These stem cells are elemental constituents of blood and immune system of the body.

Do you know that every year, about 14,000 people in America alone need a bone marrow transplant for treating their diseases? And the scary part is that not everyone is ready to give their bone marrow, therefore, there is a constant dearth of donors. As it's said, "necessity is the mother of invention"; in a bid to meet the needs of patients, researchers have discovered an alternative source of stem cells - umbilical cord blood.

Save Your Child

Saving cord blood is not simply for donation purposes, but also for your personal use to save your child from some of the fatal diseases. By saving the umbilical cord of your baby, you are sort of securing your child's life.

Just 50 ml of cord blood harbors millions of stem cells. These cells from your baby's umbilical blood are compatible with her immune system, hence, can be utilized in combating a large number of big diseases, including Hodgkin's disease and leukemia, WITHOUT any risk of rejection. THIS IS THE MAJOR ADVANTAGE OF CORD BLOOD TRANSFUSION.

A Unique Treasure

The cord blood stem cells of your baby are unique and are better than other kinds of stem cells. Firstly, they are immature and have a greater probability to be a suitable match for your family members. Research has shown that patients have double chances of survival if their stem cell donor is their own relative. The association of graft vs. host disease (GVHD) is lesser with cord blood stem cell treatment than in other stem cell treatments. It is important to know that the main cause of death of patients in stem cell transplantation cases is due to rejection of cells by the patient's body.

Therefore, among the wise decisions that you take in life, umbilical cord blood banking should be one of them.

ADVANTAGES OF CORD BLOOD STORAGE

Cord blood collection is a simple and painless process. However, it has to be done at birth.

There is no requirement of general anesthesia in harvesting cord blood, unlike bone marrow.

The stored cord blood is readily available at the time of need.

There is lower procurement cost as compared to that in bone marrow or peripheral blood.

There is 100 per cent compatibility for your baby and 25 per cent probability of turning out to be a perfect match for the sibling. In addition, it has the potential to be used for parents as well as grandparents.

Thus, storing cord blood is like saving a life!

You would have heard the suggestion to save your baby's cord blood in a cord blood bank! If you were wondering, why people suggest umbilical cord blood preservation or cord blood banking, visit Cord Blood Banking to get an answer to your question, know about the cord blood banking costs and then decide whether you want to join the revolution!