| You may have heard of stem cell research with | | | | After the umbilical cord is cut and clamped, |
| all of the political controversy surrounding | | | | the cord blood is collected with a syringe |
| the issue, but you may not have heard of cord | | | | from the cord. Again, there is no harm to the |
| blood. Cord blood, as defined by the Core | | | | mother or to the baby. The blood is then |
| Blood Donor Foundation, is the blood that | | | | processed and stored in a bank. Different |
| stays in the umbilical cord after birth. The | | | | banks have different methods of processing, |
| blood is taken from the cord and placenta | | | | and different ways of storing the cord blood |
| after the baby is born, so the procedure | | | | |
| itself is completely harmless to the baby as | | | | Can I Store My Baby's Umbilical Cord Blood? |
| well as to the mother. | | | | |
| | | | Yes. There are in fact many reasons to store |
| How does Cord Blood Relate to Stem Cell | | | | your newborns umbilical cord blood. If you |
| Research? | | | | baby, or even a family member struggles with |
| | | | certain diseases, the cord blood stem cells |
| The Core Blood Donor Foundation states that | | | | can be used to treat them. As mentioned |
| cord blood is an excellent source of stem | | | | earlier, cord blood stem cells can be used |
| cells. Cord blood stem cells can be used to | | | | instead of bone marrow with significantly |
| treat leukemia and other cancers in the same | | | | less rejection. Umbilical cord blood can also |
| way that bone marrow is used, with a much | | | | be donated, instead of kept in a bank for a |
| less chance of rejection. So what's a stem | | | | specific family. |
| cell? Stem cells are special in that they | | | | |
| have the ability to develop into many | | | | Controversy |
| different types of cells within the body. The | | | | |
| National Institute of Health claims that they | | | | Not everyone feels this way about cord blood |
| are a repair feature for the body. | | | | banking, however. The AAP, or the American |
| | | | Academy of Pediatrics, claims that there is |
| What Can Cord Blood Treat? | | | | no reason for them to recommend banking your |
| | | | baby's cord blood. Money is the root of the |
| Stem cells that are collected from cord blood | | | | AAP's concern. The organization states that |
| can be used to treat several types of | | | | the need for stem cell treatment is so slim |
| disorders. These include several types of | | | | that the monetary investment may not be worth |
| anemia, types of leukemia, as well as many | | | | it for the family should the cord blood not |
| inherited diseases. The list of diseases and | | | | be needed. The AAP worries that emotionally |
| illnesses that can be treated with stem cells | | | | aroused parents are more likely to be |
| extracted from cord blood is too large to | | | | attracted to the marketing of cord blood as a |
| include in this article. | | | | "life insurance policy" for their infants, or |
| | | | for family members in need. The AAP does, |
| How is Cord Blood Collected, Processed, and | | | | however, recommend banking the cord blood |
| Stored? | | | | should the baby itself or a family member |
| | | | need such therapy at the time of delivery. |