Pregnancy and Cord Blood Banking
The third trimester of pregnancy is the time to learn about cord blood banking. The blood that remains in the umbilical cord after birth is rich in newborn stem cells, and additional stem cells can be found in the tissue of the umbilical cord and placenta. Once the baby is born, and even if cord clamping is delayed, it is possible to collect these cells and bank them in cryogenic storage. Parents have a choice between donating cord blood to a public bank for free, or paying a private bank to store it for their family.
Pregnancy Weeks 25 - 30
Education: Newborn stem cells
Since 1988, cord blood transplants have been used to treat over 80 diseases in hospitals around the world. Inherited blood disorders such as thalassemia and sickle cell disease can be cured by cord blood transplant. Over the past decade, clinical trials are developing therapies with cord blood and cord tissue for disorders that affect brain development in early childhood, such as cerebral palsy and autism.
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Pregnancy Weeks 31 - 36
Trust: Benefits of banking
The stem cells in the after-birth are not embryonic. Most of the stem cells in cord blood are blood-forming or hematopoietic stem cells. Most of the stem cells in cord tissue and the placenta are mesenchymal stem cells. Parents who wish to donate their baby’s cord blood to a public bank to help cancer patients must register well in advance of their due date. Search our list of public banks in your country.
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Pregnancy Weeks 37 - 40
Desire: How to bank
Parents who wish to store cord blood and/or cord tissue for the family can search our list of family banks in your country and compare their services. Family banks usually offer payment plans to lower the cost of cord blood banking, and they may offer insurance plans to cover the cost of cord blood therapy. Parents that already have a child in need of therapy qualify for free or discounted banking.
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Shai's Story
Shai was a feisty little girl whose mother used her scientific background to search for the best approach to cure her cancer. Shai narrowly escaped death many times, including a recovery that even her doctors considered a miracle, yet she died at dawn on the day that she would have begun kindergarten. Her mother went on to found this website and charity in her memory. Read more...
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