What is Cord Blood?
Cord blood is the blood left over in the umbilical cord and the placenta following the birth of a baby. Cord blood is a rich source of hematopoietic stem cells, which can develop into oxygen carrying immune cells and other blood cells over time.
Cord blood stem cells are used as potential therapy for a variety of diseases including leukaemia, Type 1 Diabetes, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, and dozens of others. Families are encouraged to utilize a cord blood bank to store their baby’s cord blood sample following the birth.
What is The Cord Blood Banking Process?
The cord blood banking process is a very quick and simple process. The collection itself last only 5 minutes, and occurs almost immediately after the birth of the baby. The attending physician will cut and clamp the umbilical cord, and then collect a sample of the cord blood. The sample is labelled and packaged onsite, and is then sent off to a hospital that is partnered with a cord blood banking program.
What is Cord Blood Awareness Month?
Cord Blood Awareness Month is an international promotional campaign that occurs every July. The campaign is an informative event that is encourages families around the world to learn more about cord blood banking, and the benefits of cord blood stem cells.
The campaign is promoted by hospitals, who are partners with cord blood programs like Insception Lifebank. Families can speak with physicians at participating hospitals to collect brochures describing the cord blood banking process, and also ask any questions about the procedure or payments.
Cord Blood Awareness Month ends on July 31, but physicians encourage families to stay informed year round about any new breakthroughs in clinical research that could open the doors to new potential benefits stemming from umbilical cord blood.
To learn more about the cord blood banking process, visit Insception Lifebank.