This is a collaborative post with Cells4Life.
Each year in the UK, countless babies are born, and parents face a multitude of decisions regarding what’s best for their newborns. From feeding methods to parenting styles, the choices seem endless. Yet, there are decisions made for parents, often overlooked, such as the fate of umbilical cord blood. But what exactly is it, and why should parents be well-informed about it?
Umbilical cord blood, the blood left in the umbilical cord and placenta post-birth and cord-cutting, harbours an abundance of stem cells, making it an invaluable resource for your baby. It serves as a perfect match for your child and has a 75% chance of being a partial match and a 25% chance of being a perfect match for siblings.
Stem cells are the fundamental building blocks of our bodies, possessing the remarkable ability to develop into specialised cells, aiding in the repair and replacement of damaged tissues. Stem cell therapy is already an approved treatment for over 80 illnesses, with ongoing clinical trials exploring additional therapeutic avenues, including cancer, autoimmune diseases, and blood disorders.
Traditionally, cord blood is discarded as biological waste at birth. However, it can be preserved for future use. Companies like Cells4Life offer cord blood sample storage, providing families with complete control over their baby’s cord blood sample. This ensures a readily available perfect match for potential medical needs, including access to clinical trials and emerging therapies.
Cord blood banking is a non-invasive and entirely safe procedure for both mother and baby. It’s compatible with various birth choices, including Caesarean birth, delayed cord clamping, home birth, multiple births, and hospital births, both in NHS and private settings.
The misconception that delayed cord clamping and cord blood banking are incompatible is debunked by Cells4Life’s cutting-edge Toticyte processing technology, yielding up to three times more stem cells. This enhanced collection opens doors to more treatment options and therapies.
While no parent wishes to imagine their baby falling ill, however, awareness of cord blood banking as an option is crucial to making a decision which can positively impact your family’s long-term health. It serves as a form of insurance, offering peace of mind knowing that if the need arises, stem cell therapy is accessible. Ultimately, parents deserve the opportunity to make informed decisions regarding their baby’s cord blood, as the chance to store it only arises once – at birth.
Arranging cord blood banking is straightforward; visit Cells4Life.com for more information.
