Cord blood is the blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta post-delivery. It was traditionally considered medical waste. However, in recent years there has been an increase in awareness about the tremendous potential of cord blood.

The cord blood is a reservoir of life-saving stem cells. Stem cells are hematopoietic cells that can morph into any cells in the body. It is also referred to as regenerative medication that can cure numerous ailments.

As a parent, storing the cord blood of your child is a crucial decision. Let us discuss all the reasons why you should opt for cord blood storage for your child.

1. The convenient process of collection and storage

The collection, processing, and cryogenically freezing of your child’s stem cell is a detailed process that requires precision and caution. However, you do not have to worry about any of these things.

As soon as you convey to your stem cell bank about your decision to store your child’s cord blood, they take care of the rest. The process is non-invasive and does not interfere with pregnancy or childbirth in any way.

The cord blood will be collected from the placenta through a needle after the health care professional clamps the umbilical cord. The placenta is no longer attached to the baby, and you do not have to worry about any pain or discomfort to your newborn.

2. Capable of treating numerous diseases

Cord blood contains stem cells that can transform into any blood cells in the body. A stem cell transfusion can be extremely useful in medical treatments as it can help in the growth of healthy blood, brain, heart, and bone cells.

The regenerative properties of stem cells have immense clinical potential. As of today, they and can aid in the treatment of eighty rare diseases. Some of these ailments include leukemia, sickle cell anemia, many types of cancer, metabolic disorder, etc.

The treatments like chemotherapy and radiation can have side effects, like a weakened immune system. A stem cell transfusion can aid your body’s immune system by generating new and healthy cells and accelerating the recovery process.

3. Treatment and aftercare

When you store your newborn’s stem cells with a private stem cell bank, it is the bank’s responsibility to make the cells available at the time of transfusion. The cells need to be stored and transported in optimum conditions to ensure their viability for transfusion.

With growing awareness on dosing and aftercare of stem cells, the success rate of stem cell transfusion has improved drastically in the last decade. The success of transfusion also depends on the quality of matches. When you store your child’s cord blood in a private bank, you ensure that their stem cell will be available if they need it in case of medical emergencies.

4. The future potential

Scientists and researchers believe that stem cells can cure many incurable diseases in the future. Numerous studies are being conducted across the globe to understand the clinical application of stem cells.

Researchers are finding ways to understand the usage of these cells in the treatment of cerebral palsy, autism, and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

5. Family history of rare diseases

The above reasons provide insights into the clinical usage of stem cells and how they can be helpful for any child. However, if you have a family history of rare diseases like cancer, it increases your child’s chances of developing these ailments in the future.

In such a case, it is advisable to get your baby’s stem cells preserved by a private stem cell bank. Also, if you have a family member or another child who can benefit from stem cells transfusion, you should choose a private stem cell bank.

Choosing a private bank ensures that stem cells will remain available as and when needed by your family. However, you can also choose to store it with a public stem cell bank where it can save someone’s life or help in medical research.