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