Cord blood is a rich and valuable resource that is packed with young stem cells, and these can be used to treat a variety of potentially life-threatening diseases and conditions. Many parents are beginning to realize the unique opportunity that is offered to them following their baby’s birth. A simple procedure that does not affect mother or baby is used to drain the stem-cell-rich blood from the umbilical cord and placenta after birth. This cord blood can then be banked and could prove vital in years to come.

Cord blood is an invaluable resource that enables us to protect the future of our family’s and our own health with little to no effort on our part. The stem cells contained in the cord blood could help to save the life of another person, and could dramatically increase the chances of survival if your baby or another family member is afflicted with one of a number of life-threatening diseases in future years.

Sadly, this commodity is all too often discarded along with the umbilical cord and placenta following a baby’s birth. However, the collection and storage of cord blood is so simple that it makes sense for all parents to seriously consider the benefits of banking their baby’s cord blood. These benefits include the chance to help save someone’s life, and perhaps most important of all the chance of increasing the likelihood of recovery should your child or another family member be diagnosed with one of a number of potentially fatal conditions.

The collection of cord blood following the birth of your baby is fast and simple. It takes just a few minutes and the procedure has no effect upon mother or baby. The cord blood is collected by the midwife or another medical professional present at the birth of the baby. The cord blood is then sent via courier to the cord blood bank of your choice.

The stem cells from the cord blood need to be frozen for preservation. The blood bank quickly deals with the cord blood upon arrival, and isolates the stem cells, which are then frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen.  The cord blood stem cells then remain at the bank until required for medical treatment. Research is still being conducted in to the life of stored cord blood stem cells, but studies so far have shown that the cells can be used even after ten years of storage.