TO BANK OR NOT TO BANK THAT IS THE QUESTION?
So, a baby is born with the potential to save someone’s life and the question is asked to bank your cord blood or not to bank your cord blood? The placenta is normally thrown away along with the cord blood following the birth of a baby. Scientific research in this field, is constantly evolving and has discovered that over 80 diseases can be successfully treated with stem cells found within cord blood. It is a mother’s CHOICE whether to donate their cord blood or not although many do not know of the procedure as it is only limited to 5 hospitals in the UK. Trained NHS staff or private cord blood banking facilities can collect the cord blood of the mother in order to bank it for 25 years and with evolving science possibly infinitely. It’s a no brainer for women who already have sick children to bank the cord blood of their child’s sibling, but for women who are not aware of the benefits of cord blood of haven’t been told are missing out on a lifesaving procedure. Let’s be honest we don’t predict the worst until it directly hits us…
DON’T PEOPLE DONATE STEM CELLS ALREADY?
What makes cord blood so important is that unlike adult stem cell donors, the donated cord blood doesn’t even need to be an exact match for a patient. What I am about to tell you next is MIND BLOWING (Well it was for me lol) ‘The stem cells in cord blood aren’t mature so can develop to suit their recipient.’ Let me repeat that for the people in the back ‘THE STEM CELLS IN CORD BLOOD AREN’T MATURE SO CAN DEVELOP TO SUIT THEIR RECIPIENT’. As we know people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds find it harder to find a match on the stem cell register and cord blood can be a great option for them. The accredited Health Tissue Authority (HTA) regulated public or private body regulates the collection of cord blood to ensure it is safe and legal.
The virus that causes COVID-19 can be passed to a patient in a cord blood transplant.
There are no known reports of coronavirus transmission in a transplant. In fact, there has never been a documented case in which any kind of respiratory virus has been transmitted to a patient by implantation, transplantation, infusion or other transfer of cells or tissues.
Cord blood collection could affect or harm my baby.
Cord blood is collected from the umbilical cord and placenta (often called “afterbirth”) after the baby is delivered and the cord has been cut. No blood is taken directly from your baby.
Cord blood can be donated at almost any hospital.
No! In the UK the current four hospitals who offer cord blood services are Barnet General Hospital, Luton and Dunstable hospital, St George’s hospital, University College hospital.
Stored cord blood has a limited “shelf-life.”
Currently being stored for up to 25 years although studies suggest the length of time samples could be stored is infinite.
Since I banked cord blood for my first child, I don’t need to store cord blood for the second child.
If you banked cord blood for your first child, the reasons for banking cord blood for other brothers and sisters are the same. There is about a 25% chance that any two siblings will have identical typing.
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