Tips and Advice on Cord Blood Storage
August 20, 2008
Cord Blood Storage is often described as a good investment or a type of insurance for your child in case he or she may need some type of cord blood transplantation in the future. For many parents, the fees associated with Cord Blood Storage are considered reasonable for the potential good this service may provide.
Similarly, many expecting parents see placental and cord blood storage, the storing of the blood forming stem cells from the placenta and the child’s umbilical cord blood, as a biological option that could one day save the lives of their children.
Stem cells are unique in that they can also turn into other cell types including bone, heart, muscle, nerve, and liver cells. Cord blood stem cells have successfully been used to treat more than 8,000 patients with some 80 known diseases, including leukemia, lymphoma, and other cancers.
Research has not conclusively determined that using one’s own cells is better than using another’s from donation. Most doctors recommend only banking the blood if there is a history of disease. But, some are concerned the blood may already be tainted, and transplanting would not benefit the patient.
Finally, it is important to note that at this time, there is no clear cut proof to show that using Cord Blood Registry for a kind of biological insurance is right for everyone. However, the latest scientific data regarding stem cell research is showing great promise.
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