Stem Cell Preservation- Ensure Your Baby's Healthy Future

Popularity stem cell preservation has increased significantly in the last few years. Doctors across the globe have started realizing the power of these cells. They are recommending family banking to their patients.

Cell Preservation- A Harmless Procedure:

The procedure of collecting blood from the placenta is harmless for the baby and the mother. It is either done within 10-15 minutes after delivery of the placenta or during the third stage of labor. A needle is used to sterilely puncture one of the umbilical veins. The cord blood is then drained into a sterile bag that contains an anticoagulant to prevent clotting.

Once the blood is collected from the placenta, some red blood cells are removed and volume of the collection is reduced. Cells obtained from this blood are kept for long term storage. Specialized freezing procedures are used to store the cells in special freezers with liquid nitrogen. Cells are preserved cryogenically for medical use in the future. They are said to be effective in treatment of approximately 80 diseases.

Benefits of Preservation:

A growing number of expectant parents are choosing to preserve their baby’s stem cells at a private umbilical cord blood bank. This concept has gained tremendous popularity in Western countries and the market is now gaining momentum even in India. Parents are being encouraged to safeguard and invest in their family’s future health by opting cell preservation.

Medical use of these cells is expanding. Several treatments and transplants, involving cord blood stem cells are being performed across the globe. They are being used to treat conditions like inherited metabolic disorders and certain cancers such as, leukemia and lymphoma. Researchers are optimistic about the future use of these cells in the treatment of cerebral palsy, diabetes and Alzheimer’s.

Stem Cell Tourism Turning into a Thriving Industry:

Most of the stem cell treatments have not been proven till now. As they are not readily available at a reputed local medical institution, people travel to another country for such treatments. Many patients from Australia, travel to countries like India, China, Panama and the United States for ill-defined treatments, involving the use of these cells.

Some doctors are positive about the use of the cells in repairing the nervous system. According to them, a patient with spinal injury has a good chance of getting the nervous system repaired with cell cultivation in the future.

The cells might also become useful for transplantation in neurodegenerative diseases, repair of brain and spinal cord injuries and gene delivery to the central nervous system.

Key Benefits of Cord Blood Cells:

These cells might be used in regenerative medicine in the near future. They have shown the potential to cure various medical conditions by regenerating damaged tissues. They help restore the lost function of the tissues after an illness or injury. They are also being used in transplant medicine for replacement of a patient’s blood and immune system after damage caused by diseases such as sickle cell anemia and leukemia.

Summary:

A growing number of expectant parents are choosing a private umbilical cord blood bank as they have started realizing the importance of stem cell preservation.

Avni Shergill is a blogger, and loves to write about the various benefits of umbilical cord blood banking. Currently I am doing research on the growing popularity of stem cell preservation.