The potential for stem cell research to revolutionize health care, combined with concerns over ethical issues surrounding the harvesting of stem cells, have garnered much attention from researchers, lobbyists and the media. Cord blood banking companies have capitalized on this attention to encourage new parents to bank blood from their newborns' umbilical cord as a future source of potentially life-saving stem cells.
After birth, the blood in the cord and placenta are typically discarded. It is possible to collect and store this blood in a cord bank for later use by a stranger or someone in your family.
The benefits of cord blood are a fairly recent scientific discovery. Cord blood banking is becoming more common as researchers discover more uses for cord blood. However, the decision to save your baby's cord blood is a persona...
Cord blood, found in the umbilical cord, contains stem cells that can develop into red or white blood cells, platelets or other cell types in the body. Expecting parents are encouraged to save their baby's cord blood so that th...
Cord blood is the blood that remains in the placenta and umbilical cord after a baby is born. This blood contains loads of stem cells---the cells from which all other cells are created. Until the end of the 20th century, this b...
When a baby is born, more than one precious thing enters the world. It has been found that the blood in the umbilical cord and placenta has special medical uses. Parents may choose to have the cord blood harvested. They may wan...
Private cord blood banking allows parents to store blood from a baby's umbilical cord and placenta for future use. Cord blood contains primitive stem cells that are capable of developing into several types of mature cells, acco...
Umbilical cord blood contains stem cells that can be used to treat conditions such as leukemia and sickle cell disease, explains the American Pregnancy Association. In order to bank cord blood, parents must make the decision pr...
Umbilical cord blood can be collected and stored in a cord blood bank for possible later use. While the pros of cord blood banking are widely touted, there are some cons to consider before deciding whether or not to store a bab...
This blood is found inside the umbilical cord that connected mother and baby during pregnancy. Preserving the blood has many potential benefits for the family or for a recipient if the blood is donated. Banking or preserving th...
Private cord blood banks tout the potential advantages of saving cord blood banking to expectant parents, but often skip over the disadvantages of doing so. While the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Congress of ...
Once expectant parents decide to save or donate their baby's cord blood, many are at a loss of what to do next. Although the process of saving or donating cord blood varies, some general procedures are common.
Expectant parents often hear about cord blood banking at some point during the pregnancy, but many are unsure exactly what it entails or if it is worth it. Cord blood banking has many advantages, but parents need to consider ma...
Having a baby takes months of preparation. This preparation can include buying clothes, toys, car seats, diapers and for some it can include buying storage space in a private cord blood bank. Cord blood is stem cell rich blood...
The umbilical cord blood storage process begins when a pregnant woman makes a decision to keep the blood from the umbilical cord immediately following the baby's birth. She contacts a cord blood bank and requests a collection k...
Saving a baby's cord blood is an option every parent has but the decision has to be made before the baby is born. Banked blood can be saved for the future use by the family to treat health conditions, such as childhood cancers,...
It contains stem cells that are similar to those found in bone marrow. Cord blood can be used to treat patients who have had chemotherapy or who have certain blood or immune diseases. The blood can also be saved in a private ba...
The umbilical cord contains three blood vessels: two arteries and one vein; the blood in all three vessels is fetal blood. Cord blood is sometimes saved and stored because it contains cells that can differentiate into many type...
Within the blood of your newborn's umbilical cord and placenta are stem cells. Banking this cord blood can allow for future use as an alternative to bone marrow transplants, the treatment of some cancers, immunodeficiencies, me...
Cord blood is rich in stem cells, the cells from which all other cells are made. Stem cells are used in the treatment of some cancers, immune diseases and diabetes, as well as many other disorders. Research is ongoing in this f...
Contractions are severe and you eventually push a baby out with all your strength. As the doctor lays the baby on your chest, your husband cuts the umbilical cord. Instead of discarding it, you tell the medical personnel you w...
Because stem cells can grow into many different types of cells, including blood cells, banked cord blood can be used to treat some cancers, anemia and genetic diseases. Cord blood banking is controversial and not universally re...
Collecting your child's cord blood at the time of delivery provides an insurance policy of sorts because this blood can be used later for the child, a parent or sibling to treat a variety of diseases and conditions. Cord blood ...
Cord blood, like bone marrow, is incredibly rich in stem cells, which are like the body's master cells that can transform into any type of cell in the human body, according to Cord Blood Registry. Cord blood banking is the abil...
Cord blood banking is a procedure in which a newborn's umbilical cord blood is collected and stored for later use. In some cases, cord blood provides treatment opportunities for diseases, such as some forms of cancer.
When expectant parents decide to save their infant's cord blood, they need to make arrangements, in advance, with the hospital and the cord bank. The cord bank provides the parents with the necessary collection equipment and se...
