Are you aware of cord blood banking?

If you are a mother-to-be or someone who is expecting a new addition to the family, this story will be very important to you. Today we are going to talk about something that many people don't talk about much, but is very important, after the baby is born. That is, collecting and storing cord blood.

What is cord blood?

Think about it, when a baby is in the womb, the mother and baby are connected by the umbilical cord, right? This umbilical cord is connected to the placenta. The placenta is an amazing organ that develops inside the mother's womb. This is where the baby gets the oxygen and nutrients it needs, and it is also where the waste products produced in the baby's body are removed. So, it is through the blood vessels inside this umbilical cord that the blood filled with nutrients and oxygen goes to the baby, and the blood with waste products is removed from the baby. That's what we call the blood in the umbilical cord and the placenta. This is actually the blood that remains in the umbilical cord after the baby is born.

Why is umbilical cord blood so valuable?

Now, let's see why this cord blood is so valuable, and why there is so much interest in collecting and preserving it. Simply put, this blood contains a high concentration of a special type of cell called 'stem cells'. These stem cells are a very special type of cell. They can develop into the different types of blood cells in our body. For example:

• Red blood cells - These are the ones that carry oxygen.
• White blood cells - These are what protect us from disease.
• Platelets - These are what help blood clot.

So, these stem cells are a very important thing that is used to treat a lot of serious diseases like cancer, various blood disorders, some genetic diseases, and metabolic diseases. In fact, just like bone marrow transplants are done to treat some diseases, these umbilical cord stem cells are also used. For many patients, these are a valuable opportunity to save their lives.

How do you collect this blood?

This is also a very simple procedure. Usually, the umbilical cord and placenta are removed after the baby is born. However, if a mother wants to collect blood from her baby's umbilical cord, doctors and nurses do it after the baby is born. This means that neither the baby nor the mother will experience any discomfort or pain. They use a sterile needle to collect this precious blood from the blood vessels in the umbilical cord into a special collection bag. This only takes a few minutes. Then, this blood is carefully packaged and sent to a specialized cord blood bank where it can be stored for a long time.

How is collected blood stored?

To sum it up, there are two main ways to store cord blood. That is, there are two types of 'blood banks'.

1. Public Banks

These banks collect cord blood donations and store them for public use, either for use by someone else in need or for research. After a donation, the family that donated the blood has very little chance of getting it back. It's like donating blood. There is no charge for storing the blood, but the hospital may charge a small fee for collecting the blood. Many mothers donate their babies' cord blood to public banks like this as a way to help other people. This gives someone in need of matching stem cells somewhere in the world a chance to save their life.

2. Private Banks

These banks store cord blood for the personal use of a family member. This means that your baby's blood can be used by you or your family members in the future if they need it. However, the cost of storing blood for this long can be very high. There is usually an initial fee and then an annual maintenance fee.

Is this something that suits me? How do I decide?

So, if you're thinking about banking your newborn's cord blood, talk to your doctor first. He or she can explain the pros and cons of both public and private banking options, and how it might be relevant to your family's medical history.

Think about things like this:

• Family history: If someone in your family, or you, already has a disease that can be treated with stem cells (for example, some types of leukemia, thalassemia), it may be helpful to have your baby's blood stored in a private bank, as the likelihood of stem cell compatibility between family members is higher.
• The likelihood of the baby needing it: However, it is said that the chance of a baby developing a disease that can be treated with their own stem cells is very low. That is, it is very rare for their own blood to be used. In some genetic diseases, it may not be possible to use the baby's own stem cells, because those cells may also have the same genetic defect.
• The value of donating to a public bank: On the other hand, donating your baby's blood to a public cord blood bank can help save the life of another patient in need. Maybe that person is someone you've never met, but isn't that a great gift? Also, since the blood samples donated in this way are also used for research purposes, it can also help find ways to cure other diseases in the future.

There are other places that can help you make a decision about this. For example, you can search for organizations like these online:

• The National Marrow Donor Program (Be The Match)
• The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
• Save the Cord Foundation

There is a lot of information about this on the websites of such institutions. However, in Sri Lanka, it is best to ask your doctor to find out exactly where these facilities are available.

What if you decide to donate?

Many doctors and researchers support the collection and storage of cord blood, especially for donation to public banks. True, most of us may not have much use for these stem cells at the moment. However, research continues to be conducted to see if they can be used to cure various diseases. There is great hope for the future. Just imagine, even if we don't know it today, in a few years we will discover many diseases that can be cured with these stem cells.

So, if you are interested in donating your baby's cord blood, talk to your doctor, the hospital where you are going to give birth, or the birth center right away. The best thing to do is to research this early in your pregnancy, or perhaps before the 28th week of pregnancy, to understand the details, and start taking the necessary steps. Then you can do everything without panicking. It may involve filling out the necessary paperwork and getting some tests done.

So, let's look at some of the things we need to remember from what we've talked about.

Simply put, cord blood is a very valuable resource. The stem cells it contains can help save lives.

• Make an informed decision: Whether you keep this private or donate it to a public bank is your decision. But before making that decision, do your research, talk to a doctor, and consider all the options.
• Private Banks: The cost is higher, but if someone in the family has a special medical condition, you can consider it.
• Public Banks: You can donate at no cost (often). This could save the life of someone you don't know. This is a great act of kindness and a service to society.
• Plan ahead: If you're interested in this, research it early in your pregnancy and make the necessary arrangements. Don't wait until the last minute. You want everything to be ready by the time your baby is born.
• Not everyone has this opportunity: Some hospitals may not have this facility, or not everyone may be able to donate cord blood due to certain medical reasons. So it's important to call ahead and find out.

This can be a great service to your baby, as well as to society as a whole. So it's worth thinking about. If you have any more questions about this, don't be afraid to ask your doctor.

` Cord Blood, Stem Cells, Cord Blood Banking, Stem Cells, Pregnancy, Childbirth, Blood Banks