Donating blood can help save the lives of others and at certain times of the year there are calls for people to donate blood. There is another form of blood donation that is starting to gain momemtum. This is the blood found in the umbilical cord of new born babies. This blood is still very much at a primitive stage in the baby's life, but it holds valuable cells that could be the cure for many diseases.
The placenta and umbilical cord have different meanings to different cultures. To some, it is revered and should be handled in special ways. To others, it is rubbish and treated as rubbish. In the western world, we pretty much treat it as hospital waste. However, as mentioned, this could be a huge waste given the value now placed on the blood held in these organs.
Umbilical cord blood contain a type of cell known as a stem cell. Stem cells are the building blocks for our bodies. Every single component in our body, from the skin and hair on the outside to the bones on the inside start life as stem cells. Science is hopeful of oneday growing organs such as hearts, kidneys and livers amongst others from stem cells.
Doctors are already using stem cells in their fight against cancers, particularly childhood cancers such as leukemia. Bone marrow transplants are difficult at the best of times, particularly when trying to find a perfect match. Stem cells are easier to inject and don't need to be as closely matched as bone marrow. Stem cells are also being trialled in those with spinal cord injuries in the hope that severed nerves can be reattached.
Because of the stem cells found in cord blood and their ability to cure certain childhood cancers, a huge industry has arisen that encourages parents to store their baby's cord blood for future use - at a price of course. Many parents are using these facilities to store that cord blood as an insurance policy against illness.
Other parents see a greater good and donate their baby's cord blood to a public cord blood bank. They see this as an investment in the future of all of us. Public cord blood banks release small quantities to researches so they can research other areas where stem cells may be beneficial. This is the investment that many talk about. Curing cancer, diabetes and many other diseases.
Parents have a choice. Allow the umbilical cord along with its valuable blood to be thrown away. They can elect to pay to have it stored for possible future use by their child, or they can donate the umbilical cord blood to a public cord blood bank. Like all investments, it may pay of big and produce cures we have only ever dreamed. It could also be a total waste of time and money. Like all investments, if we don't invest, we will never know. Many in society question the value of this investment. Do you?
Author Resource:-
For more information on umbilical cord blood banking and stem cells check out my site at just4families.com. We regularly publish articles on issues related to parenting.
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://article2008.com/images/feed-icon.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://article2008.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites