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What Is Cord Blood?

If you’ve been pregnant in the last five to ten years or if you are interested in stem cell research you have probably heard of cord blood. Cord blood is something that has been getting more and more attention from researchers, expecting parents, and people suffering from chronic and debilitating diseases. Cord blood has been at the center of many scientific and moral debates, yet many expectant parents are all for collecting it and preserving it for their future use.

Cord blood is just that, the blood from the umbilical cord at birth. While there really may not be all that much, the cord blood has the capability now and in the future to provide healing, and even the undoing of certain conditions. Cord blood is collected in a special way and then frozen at a very low temperature to preserve the integrity of the blood. It’s a relatively new idea, but more and more parents are seeing the value in saving the cord blood for later use.

Cord blood is not just blood; it’s blood that contains very healthy stem cells. We’ve all heard of stem cells in recent years, as many scientists believe that implanting healthy stem cells into the bodies of people with Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, heart disease, and diabetes will allow their bodies to reproduce healthy cells, stamping out the cells that have been mutated or damaged by the disease. Saving the cord blood of a newborn child is equivalent to having a miracle cure just waiting in the wings should something happen later on in life.

There are a few companies that specialize in collecting and storing your child’s cord blood for you, as it has to be kept very cold in order to keep the stem cells at their best. If your child develops a disease or condition, which may easily be treated with stem cells, there isn’t a better supply than his or her own young and healthy stem cells that have been preserved since birth.

Those who have had it collected and stored do not use cord blood all that often. Statistics say that only one in 2,700 people who have their own cord blood stored will ever use it. This may not seem like enough to go through the time and expense of having your child’s cord blood collected and stored, but your child could be the one. The one in 2,700 that needs stem cells to overcome a condition or injury really appreciates having it stored.

Cord blood is often referred to as “just blood” but it’s really so much more than that. Cord blood holds a lot of hope for the future, so why not allow your children to go into life prepared, with a back up method of cord blood?

Each pregnancy, expectant mother, and unborn child is different. Your pregnancy may not progress the same as the information found here. The information here is based on the average pregnancy. It's not meant to be a replacement for any advice your may receive from your doctor. If you have any concerns about your pregnancy, we advise you to contact your doctor.