This collaboration was made with a video from Smart Cells and Netmums.
You may be pregnant, or are thinking about getting pregnant soon, and there’s something you might not have considered before. It could save your child’s life, or help with a serious illness. I’m talking about the collection and storage your stem cells.
Storing stem cells is something you should plan before your child is born. Stem cells are taken from umbilical cord blood and tissue at birth before being stored.
If stem cells or stem cell storage are new to you, keep reading for more information and ways it can benefit your child’s future health.
What are stem cells?
Stem cells, which are biological cells that can be found in the body, help organs and tissues maintain their functions.
Stem cells are able to replace themselves, and can also replace damaged or worn-out cells.
Stem cells from the umbilical cord
There are many types of stem cells. The umbilical chord stem cells can be found in blood that is found in both the umbilical and placenta.
The umbilical cord blood contains a specific type of stem cell called Hematopoietic Stim Cells (HSC). These can be transformed into blood-related cells.
Cord tissue is another source of stem cells. These cells are known as Mesenchymal Stim Cells (MSC). They can grow into many types of cells including bone, cartilage, and muscle cells.
How are umbilical cord stem cell collection done?
After you register with Smart Cells, a collection pack is sent to your address. This collection kit is taken to the hospital with you when you are having a baby.
After safe delivery, a phlebotomist will take a sample of cord blood and tissue. The sample will then be sent to a laboratory for processing and storage. This video will explain more.
What is stem cell use?
Rare inherited diseases and illnesses can be treated with cord blood stem cells.
- Leukemia
- Cerebral Palsy
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Hodgkin Lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Spinal Cord Injuries
Cord blood stem cells can also be used to treat many other disorders and diseases.
Currently, stem cell treatment for certain conditions is experimental. However, in the future stem cells may be used to treat MS (Multiple Sclerosis), strokes and diabetes.
Stem cells storage seems like a simple decision. This is possible today, and it’s a great thing that we have this option. I wish my mom had this access when she was sick. It may have saved her life (she was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma), but it wasn’t meant for her.
This topic can be read on Netmums.
You might consider storing umbilical cord stem cell samples for your child’s security and future. I know that I would.
