Cord What? Someone Please Explain! #awarebecauseicare

Cord What? Someone Please Explain! #awarebecauseicare

This post was sponsored by ViaCord

Cord blood. It’s a noun that you don’t hear used in everyday conversation, understandably. And until now, you may have never even heard the two words used in combination. Well, today I’m going to change that and do my part to help spread awareness about cord blood and the powerful stem cells contained within. Why? Because July is Cord Blood Awareness Month and if you are pregnant you are probably hearing a lot about Cord Blood Banking and likely have many questions about what it really is and what it can be used for now and in the future!

Let’s start with the basics.

Stem cells are the “master cells” of our bodies and they have a special ability to heal damaged cells, tissues, organs, blood and the immune system. These powerful cells can “become” other cells, like heart cells, pancreatic cells, and other organ cells. Some medical treatments can actually use stem cells to help repair the condition since they have the ability to correct and/or replace the damaged cells.

Stem cells used in the treatment of disease and in tissue regeneration largely come from one of two sources: cord blood and bone marrow.

Why are cord blood stem cells are so special?

Cord blood stem cells are found in the blood of the umbilical cord. Over the past twenty-five years, cord blood has become a well-known source of stem cells by transplant physicians. And since 2002, the use of cord blood in transplants involving children has doubled and is now used in nearly 50% of all pediatric transplants. 1
Umbilical cord stem cells share a special property that sets them apart from adult bone marrow stem cells: flexibility. This special property enables them to more easily adapt to a patient’s body during transplant. As a result, a patient’s body is less likely to reject the cells, increasing the chances for a successful outcome.
Another benefit of cord blood stem cells is their easy accessibility. Collecting umbilical cord blood stem cells is a straightforward, quick, and painless procedure for both mom and baby. Collecting bone marrow stem cells, on the other hand, involves a more complex surgical procedure that can put the bone marrow donor at risk for medical complications.

Looking ahead

online casino font-size: medium;”>As a parent you never want to think about your child having to need a stem cell treatment – ever. But as a parent it’s important to know about options available to you and your family, especially when it comes to your family’s health. When I was pregnant with my first I remember there being so much I needed to learn about and everything was overwhelming as I desperately wanted to make the right decision for our family. When it came to cord blood banking I found it particularly emotional and difficult to understand what it really was and who I could trust to bank with. So this Cord Blood Awareness Month, I want to take some of the mystery out of cord blood banking for you and encourage you to take a few minutes to learn about cord blood, the power of the stem cells contained within, and the potential benefits of saving them after your baby’s birth. That way, whatever you decide to do, you know you are making the right choice for you and your new family.

Start here by checking out ViaCord’s infographic, ‘Why Is Cord Blood Awesome’ and visit viacord.comfor more information.

REFERENCES:
National Marrow Donor Program®. Number of Unrelated Transplants, Pediatric Recipients, by Cell Source. [directory title] Transplants by Cell Source – Pediatric Recipients (younger than 18 years) [chart title] https://bethematchclinical.org/Resources-and-Education/HCT-Presentation-Slides/#/ Accessed August 20, 2014.