Following the birth of a baby, the umbilical cord and placenta are generally discarded. However, both of these are packed with valuable cord blood stem cells, which can be used in the treatment of a wide variety of diseases. In short, saving cord blood stem cells could help to save lives.

Traditionally, bone marrow transplantation has been used to treat many of the conditions that can also be treated with cord blood stem cells. However, with bone marrow it is necessary to find a perfect match between the donor and the recipient. This makes it far harder to find a suitable match and increases the chances of rejection. Cord blood stem cells, however, are very young and adaptable cells, and these have a far greater chance of being accepted, as they do not have to be a perfect match.

The other problem with bone marrow use is that before a transplant can be considered, a suitable donor has to be found. As this donor has to provide a perfect match, it can be a very difficult and time-consuming affair to find the right person. In many cases, a transplant is required immediately, and by the time a suitable donor is found it is often too late for the patient. Cord blood stem calls, however, can be banked and will therefore be readily available when required. The accessibility of cord blood stem cells, coupled with the increased chances of acceptance, means that these cells could save many lives that would otherwise be lost.

GVHD (Graft VS Host Disease) is a condition where the recipient’s is rejected by the transplanted stem cells or bone marrow. This is a common occurrence and sadly proves fatal for many. Cord blood stem cells, however, do not have to be a perfect match and therefore the risk of this rejection is dramatically reduced.

Saving the cord blood stem cells after your baby’s birth could not only help others, but could also prove vital to your own family in years to come. By banking these cord blood stem cells, you have the peace of mind that should any member of the family be involved in a serious accident or contract a condition that requires a stem cell transplant, there are resources available that will not involve the time-consuming and often heart-wrenching search for a suitable donor.