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An old cliché of “knowledge is power,” in addition to keeping people informed can potentially change lives in some cases. But without that knowledge, the power to make a potentially life changing decision is lost.
Many families who visit hospitals or their local physicians likely noticed pamphlets or flyers describing Cord Blood Awareness Month, which is an international event throughout July. The campaign is both promotional and informative as physicians, hospitals, and cord blood programs educate families about cord blood and the simple steps of cord blood banking.
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Cord blood is the blood left over in the placenta and the umbilical cord following the birth of a new baby. For years the umbilical cord was considered afterbirth that was thrown away, but clinical research discovered that the blood within the cord was actually a rich source of hematopoietic stem cells.
These cord blood stem cells over time, can develop into a variety of blood cell types, including oxygen carrying red blood cells as well as disease fighting immune cells. Physicians continued to study cord blood, and found that cord blood stem cells are a potential source of medical therapy for a variety of diseases. As research continued to uncover new potential benefits, physicians were even more inclined to inform the public about the benefits of cord blood banking.
The cord blood banking process is fairly straightforward as the collection itself requires only 5 minutes, and poses no medical risk to either the mother or the newborn baby. Physicians clamp and cut the umbilical cord as with any birth, but instead of discarding the cord, they will disinfect a small area to insert a needle and collect a sample.
Families can speak with their personal doctors or visit local hospitals to learn more about cord blood. The cord blood awareness campaign concludes at the end of July, but the cord blood banking process can occur at any time of the year.
Your family may never require your baby’s cord blood, but the unexpected can easily occur without warning. If an unexpected medical tragedy does strike your family, your decision to bank cord blood could potentially provide a therapeutic solution to change your loved one’s life.
