Written By: Pavitra Sampath | Published : June 9, 2014 1:44 PM IST
I am expecting my first child in a few months. Many people have told me about stem cell treatments and how storing my baby's cord blood is essential for that. I want to know what actually is stem cell treatment and how does my baby's umbilical cord play a role in it?
What you are referring to is a process known as cord blood banking. In the 1970's scientists found that a baby's umbilical cord contained hemopoetic (blood forming) stem cells. These cells are capable of developing into three types of mature blood cells red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Cord blood stem cells are also known for their potential to give rise to other types of cells in the body, and since they are from the baby's own body there is a lower chance of rejection when the cells are used on your child in the future.
During cord blood banking, the cord blood (collected from your baby's umbilical cord) is sent to the cord-blood bank. Once in the bank, the sample is assigned an identification number, which is unique to you and your baby. The stem cells are then separated from the blood and stored in liquid nitrogen (also called cryogenic storage). The harvesting of cord blood is not a painful process and will not hurt your child in anyway. Moreover this blood can be safely stored for over 20 years without affecting its efficacy.
The most interesting part about these cells is that they can be used for your child and for his/her sibling in the future. With the prospect of being able to treat and in some cases even cure conditions like cancer, blindness and other degenerative diseases, cord blood banking is always a good idea.
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