Before your baby is born, there seem to be a lot of things to consider. How am I going to choose a color for the nursery? What would I do if I can’t afford a good pediatrician? Or what are the things that I need to prepare? However, there is yet another decision to make: whether or not to preserve the cord blood of your baby.
Maybe this is something you’ve never been aware of before. Or perhaps you’ve heard about it but aren’t certain how to do it. Over the past several years, cord blood banking has grown in popularity. Here’s a quick guide to cord blood banking, including how it works and what to know if you believe it’s a good option.
Description
Cord blood is the term given to the blood that is found in the umbilical cord of newborns. When a baby is born, this blood is no longer needed. However, the cord blood has cells that could benefit sick people both now and in the coming years.
Plasma, white blood cells, platelets, and red blood cells are also found in cord blood, just like in normal blood. Hematopoietic stem cells are also present in the blood. These special cells can form into blood similar to the ones in bone marrow, and several diseases could also be treated with those kinds of cells.
People with sickle cell anemia, lymphoma, and leukemia also had their lives saved by stem cells. Individuals with immune deficiencies and uncommon hereditary genetic diseases have also been cured. They aren’t an instant treatment that works, but they all can be effective in the right situation.
How Cord Blood Banking Works?
Cord blood banking is the way of preserving umbilical cord blood for possible uses. A sperm bank, an egg/embryo storage facility or a blood bank are all examples of this kind of facility.
Cord blood banking is a painless and easy process that has the potential to save lives. Cord blood is extracted — or removed from the umbilical cord clamp off — right after birth. The blood is then processed, preserved, or “banked” for possible uses.
Specialists are also exploring how it can respond to various disorders and diseases, including Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, cerebral palsy, congenital heart disabilities, and autism.
What Must Be Considered When Choosing a Blood Bank?
If you’re thinking about storing stem cells from your baby’s cord blood, you just have one chance: right after he or she is born. You might be curious about how to find the Best cord blood bank to store your precious stem cells during the next twenty years. To choose the right cord blood bank, you should look for :
Experience
Inquire how many clients’ cord blood has been used for transplants, also for other treatments with the banks you’re considering. A bank’s capacity to produce healthy stem cells when it is needed is being measured by the amount of cord blood systems it has issued for transplant. Although most cord blood banks have already released several hundred or fewer transplants, some have set to release around 1,000 units.
The company’s record of providing cord blood for transplants and engaging in experimental treatments is a good thing. It also clarifies that blood is being processed safely enough for all the stem cells to function effectively after being taken from the freezer.
Insurance and Accreditation
Cord blood banks are now inspected and regulated by the FDA on a national level. These federal rules must be followed by all banks; otherwise, they will be forced to close. Since each state has its license standards, ensure that the bank you’re choosing is authorized to receive cord blood from a certain state.
Among the most common concerns among parents is whether their child’s stem cells would be compatible for transplant if necessary. Banks do provide insurance services to help parents if they need their cord blood for medical purposes. Some banks guarantee their cord blood’s right to engraft with a financial assurance as high as $100,000.
Shipment
Does the cord blood bank provide temperature control during shipments? Selecting the best cord blood bank that offers a shipment method that keeps cord blood at a constant temperature on the way to the lab is a smart option.
The insulation and material that a cord blood bank utilizes for shipping and storage sets must be considered by soon-to-be parents. Parents must prefer a bank that offers a package that has already been tested to keep a consistent temperature despite outdoor conditions.
Final Thoughts
You might have many things in mind throughout your maternity, and it is understandable. As every collection only contains a limited number of stem cells, selecting the cord blood bank with the most efficient preparation methods is important. Your child’s cord blood’s safety and effectiveness in the transplant should be your primary concern when considering a cord blood bank.
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