Umbilical Cord Care For Newborn Babies - All You Need Know

Diabetes may soon be curable, since scientists have managed to stall the condition in mice for 6 months with the help of insulin producing cells that have been generated through human stem cells, says an article published in The Times of India in January 2016.

If you are expecting a baby or even if you are planning to start a family, then you would probably take many important decisions for your unborn child and naming the child doesn’t even make it to the list. Some of the things that you must decide upon are the doctor to consult, the hospital where the delivery would occur and much more.

If you are yet to consider cord blood banking, then you must do so before it is too late. Cord blood banking refers to the cryopreservation of stem cells present in the cord blood. It is stored because of its ability to differentiate and form any type of specialised cells and tissues (bone, skin, muscles). Therefore, they can be used to treat many types of diseases during the lifetime of your child. When you opt for this procedure, you opt for biological insurance for your little one.

Positives of Cord Blood Banking

• One of the Safest Ways to Extract Stem Cells – There are three main sources of extracting stem cells: cord blood, bone marrow and embryo. The process of extracting stem cells from the embryo is considered to be unethical as the embryo has to be destroyed to do so. On the other hand, extracting the stem cells from one’s bone marrow is a lengthy and invasive procedure. Cord blood is extracted from the umbilical cord and placenta, which would otherwise go waste. The procedure is carried out after the birth of the baby and before the placenta is detached.
  
• Has Been Successfully Used in the Treatment of Many Diseases – These cells have been successfully used for the treatment of many blood and immune disorders, as well as cancers. Stem cell therapy is used as an adjunct to chemotherapy. It is also being used for the treatment of some genetic diseases. Moreover,it is also being researched for the treatment of heart ailments, diabetes, cornea regeneration and degenerative diseases.
  
• A 100% Match to Your Child and Partial Match to Other Relatives – Stem cells from the cord blood can not only be used to treat the donor child but it is also a partial match to siblings, parents and grandparents.
  
• Can Be Stored For More Than Two Decades – Once cryoperserved, cord blood can stay viable for treatment of various diseases for more than two decades.
  

You must take the decision to preserve your to-be-born’s umbilical cord blood early on so that you can choose a bank in time. Also, make sure that the hospital you have chosen for childbirth permits the procedure.