Health

What Is Cord Blood Really All About?

Stem cells and Cord Blood have become important twins in matters of health and treatment of diseases. The CORD BLOOD mystery is revealed in this important article to give you a good understanding and knowledge of this important source of stem cells. At the birth of every child, there is a new Cord Blood. Cord blood is also commonly referred to as umbilical cord blood or placenta blood.

When a new baby is born, the umbilical cord connecting the baby and the mother is cut. When this is done, some of the blood is left in or remains in the placenta and the portion of the umbilical cord attached. The newborn baby no longer needs this extra blood in the umbilical cord which is a very important blood referred to as cord blood.

What does Cord Blood Contain?

This blood according to proven research contains stem cells and can therefore be useful in the treatment of both hematopoietic and genetic disorders in humans. Stem cells found in the umbilical cord can be differentiated to produce more cells of the same kind scientifically. Cord Blood is just like any health blood in humans. It contains all the essential components such as platelets, plasma, red blood cells, and white blood cells.

In addition to that, it has high levels of hematopoietic which are blood-forming stem cells which can also be found in the bone marrow. This means that the role stem cells play can also be performed by the bone marrow when it comes to transplantation.

What diseases can cord blood treat?

Patients with blood and immune-related diseases, genetic or metabolic diseases benefit from cord blood transplants. Research has helped use genetic or metabolic diseases genetic or metabolic diseases. Research has helped to treat over 80 diseases with cord blood.

According to a publication by the BBC more and more parents are investing thousands of dollars to help freeze the umbilical cord o their newborn babies as a precaution against the future if the child ever gets sick and needs cord blood to get it treated. Many are therefore storing these important pieces containing life-saving cord blood with private firms specialized in the provision of such freezing services. Below are the diseases that Cord Blood is helping to treat across the world.

Cord Blood Banking and Storage

According to statistics, 16,965 units of cord blood and tissues were banked in private companies. In 2018, the figure almost doubled to 27,028. A mother paid £2,700 to bank her son’s blood cord and also pays additional.

A child can use his or her own cord blood to treat his or her disease but in certain instances, the cord blood may be from a sibling or a donor. Many are buying into the need to store the cord blood with private companies as a way for guarding against unforced future occurrences.

On-Going Research on Umbilical Cord Blood

If scientists are able to achieve another break in research, stem cells may be used to replace cells of other tissues found in the body including nerve or heart cells.

Cord blood can easily be donated with no health implications for the mother and the baby. The fact that its transplant does not require the donor and the recipient to be perfectly matched is another benefit. Treatment is important and research is ongoing to unravel more benefits.

Sadly the benefits of Cord blood are not known to many across the world. In some parts of the world, these are disposed off, buried in the ground or the umbilical cord containing the stem cells are buried and fruit trees such as coconut and plantain are planted on them. Ghana and Nigeria are countries in Africa where this is practiced. In some instances, mothers collect them, from the midwives are giving birth and take them home for many reasons.

Until this knowledge becomes common and the cost of storing it across the world falls, many will continue to use primitive ways of disposing off this life-saving stem cells.