If you are considering banking your baby's cord blood, you have probably done some research and found out that cord blood isn't the body's only source of stem cells. It's true, stem cells are also found in bone marrow and peripheral blood (peripheral blood is simply blood taken from the donor's veins). So, why go to the expense of saving cord blood if you could get stem cells from these other sources anytime you need them? The reason is that not all stem cells are created equal. Cord blood is the best source of stem cells for three reasons:
Better Quality
Hematopoietic and pluripotent are the most valuable stem cells and are found in great abundance in the cord blood of newborns. Hematopoietic stem cells can become any of the blood cells and cellular blood components in our body, but cannot become not organs (like lungs, or nerve cells from the brain). Pluripotent stem cells can become any of the more than 220 cell types in the adult body, including organs.
More Flexibility
Stem cells from cord blood, unlike stem cells from bone marrow or peripheral blood sources, can be successfully used even when there is only a half-match. This means there is more opportunity for transplants between family members (like for a baby's sibling or biological parents).
Lower Risk
One of the most common complications following certain stem cell therapies is graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). GVHD can range from mild to life threatening. GVHD is much less likely when cord blood stem cells are used than when stem cells are used from bone marrow or peripheral blood.
After all, storing cord blood is a significant investment (for most people) that comes at a time when you are also budgeting for nursery furniture, strollers, and the many other things your baby will need.
But, in the long run, storing cord blood offers the same peace of mind that you get from other health-related investments, like high-quality health insurance and regular visits to the pediatrician.
Just like health insurance, storing cord blood offers you and your baby (and possibly your baby's siblings) options that otherwise may not be available. However, unlike health insurance, you only have one chance to "sign up" – if you want to store cord blood, you must make arrangements to do so before your baby is born.
f you are wondering why store cord blood, here are four compelling questions to ask yourself:
Finally, here's another way to think about it: Instead of asking "Why Store Cord Blood?" ask yourself "Why Not Store Cord Blood?" When you consider that stem cell therapy offers potentially life-saving benefits, and harvesting cord blood presents no risk to mother or baby, there is virtually no downside to storing cord blood.
Better Quality
Hematopoietic and pluripotent are the most valuable stem cells and are found in great abundance in the cord blood of newborns. Hematopoietic stem cells can become any of the blood cells and cellular blood components in our body, but cannot become not organs (like lungs, or nerve cells from the brain). Pluripotent stem cells can become any of the more than 220 cell types in the adult body, including organs.
More Flexibility
Stem cells from cord blood, unlike stem cells from bone marrow or peripheral blood sources, can be successfully used even when there is only a half-match. This means there is more opportunity for transplants between family members (like for a baby's sibling or biological parents).
Lower Risk
One of the most common complications following certain stem cell therapies is graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). GVHD can range from mild to life threatening. GVHD is much less likely when cord blood stem cells are used than when stem cells are used from bone marrow or peripheral blood.
After all, storing cord blood is a significant investment (for most people) that comes at a time when you are also budgeting for nursery furniture, strollers, and the many other things your baby will need.
But, in the long run, storing cord blood offers the same peace of mind that you get from other health-related investments, like high-quality health insurance and regular visits to the pediatrician.
Just like health insurance, storing cord blood offers you and your baby (and possibly your baby's siblings) options that otherwise may not be available. However, unlike health insurance, you only have one chance to "sign up" – if you want to store cord blood, you must make arrangements to do so before your baby is born.
f you are wondering why store cord blood, here are four compelling questions to ask yourself:
- Does either parent have a family history of a disease that is treatable with stem cells, such as leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma? If your baby is at higher risk of contracting a disease that is treatable with stem cell therapy, then you have more reason to store cord blood.
- Is either parent an ethnic minority, or does either parent come from a family of mixed ethnicity? In such cases it can be harder to find a match from stem cell donors, so you may want to ensure that your baby's own stem cells, which are a perfect match, are stored.
- Are you adopting a newborn? If so, you may or may not know anything about your adopted baby's biological family history, and, if stem cell therapy is ever needed in the future, his or her cord blood stem cells may be the only genetic source of stem cells that is available.
- Are you using fertility treatments that involve a donor egg and/or sperm? If so, the issues are similar to those for an adopted baby.
Finally, here's another way to think about it: Instead of asking "Why Store Cord Blood?" ask yourself "Why Not Store Cord Blood?" When you consider that stem cell therapy offers potentially life-saving benefits, and harvesting cord blood presents no risk to mother or baby, there is virtually no downside to storing cord blood.