Make out of the best charities to donate to even though they are not in your list because what is important is you help them. Even with having been researched for more than three decades and in practical use for over twenty years, a lot of new mothers to be have still not even heard of umbilical cord blood banking. With new developments continuing to add to both its potential and established uses for helping with and curing a variety of medical conditions, it is more imperative than ever to get the word out so that this precious resource can ultimately be collected from every birth.
Umbilical cord blood is the blood that remains in both the umbilical cord and placenta following birth. This blood contains a large amount of stem cells that are used to care for a variety of genetic disorders and diseases. When the collection is done properly, it’s a virtually risk-free process with lots of potential medical benefits.
During a standard delivery, cord blood is normally collected prior to the placenta being delivered but after the cord has been cut. Cord blood is collected either by extraction with a needle, or by means of a draining technique into a special collection receptacle. Either way, as both the placenta and umbilical cord are separated from both mother and newborn, the procedure is absolutely painless.
Stem cells taken from cord blood collection have been used already to help treat or cure many diseases; including various types of Anemia, Leukemia, Lymphoma, Osteoporosis, as well as several other severe illnesses. Ongoing exploration continues to discover different uses for stem cells derived from cord blood, as well as methods for growing the number of stem cells from the blood collected.
While there are an increasing number of commercial cord blood banking facilities opening around the globe, many families are opting to donate their umbilical cord blood to public banking facilities. These cord blood banks keep taken blood for public use, and normally don’t charge donors for any storage or collection equipment. Hospital staff typically don’t charge fees for collection following a delivery as well. Medical practitioners may access these public banks and withdraw donated cord blood for those needing treatment when there is a suitable match.
With a growing number of medical treatment options being developed in addition to the many proven procedures that already are available, there is no real reason not to participate in cord blood banking, whether through a public or private banking facility. Many families are only aware of private banking options which can be somewhat expensive, through donating, growing the very stem cell reserves which they might need to utilize at a later time helps us all.