Friday, December 16, 2011

Learning New Facts About Cord Blood Banking

By Adriana Noton


Cord blood banking is a subject that many people know little about. They will not be aware that the cord referred to is the umbilical cord of a new born baby. They may also not be aware that once the umbilical cord is cut the blood can be collected and stored for years, until it is required to treat some forms of serious medical conditions.

It is a decision that has to be made by the parents before the actual birth. If they approve harvesting of the blood, the procedure has to be carried out immediately the umbilical cord is cut. The blood can then be stored for future use. If parents decide not to harvest the blood, then the umbilical cord and its content are destroyed in an ethical manner.

The blood needs to be collected at the birth and immediately the umbilical cord is cut. Medical staff should be advised of the parents decision before the birth, to ensure the collection bag is on hand and the processing can be done without any delay. There are no ill-effects or discomfort caused for baby or mum from this procedure and it is perfectly safe following any type of birth.

After collection of the healthy stem cells, the package is immediately sent to a CBRs laboratory. The vital liquid supply goes through a process which freezes it and makes it ready for storage. The frozen vital liquid is then stored in cryogenic storage tanks and remains viable for long term preservation until they are required.

These types of stem cells have to date been used in treating cancer patients. They are given the stem cells to help them to produce healthy blood and immune cells. There is ongoing research into the possibility of treating other potentially fatal diseases and conditions. That includes conditions such as brain injuries and childhood diabetes. These are only a few of the medical treatments, and your medical practitioner will be able to provide you with more detailed information.

As with many new and innovative medical treatments, there are many misconceptions. To get the accurate facts you should discuss your options with your medical practitioner or other professionals. Read all the information leaflets you are given by medical health care professionals and do not be afraid to ask questions. Use only reputable website sources if you want to find out more.

This type of stem cell research is an ongoing and developing area. On a daily basis, new information and links to treatments for life threatening diseases are being explored. Although stem cell research has been going on for years, it appears to be attracting more attention today than ever before.

Having your baby's stem cells harvested and frozen can be a difficult decision at what is already a very emotional time. Parents may face a conflict with their cultural or religious beliefs and then there is the cost involved. It is only by raising public awareness, and being transparent about the ethics and standards of this procedure that the medical profession can encourage parents to consider this type of stem cell banking.




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