Many pregnant women have heard from doctors, read in women’s magazines or have seen an advertisement that every woman who is expecting a child has the opportunity to preserve the umbilical cord blood. Why do it? What for should one store the umbilical cord blood stem cells? Who may need this service? Are there any limitations for those who wish to undergo this procedure? Is it connected with any difficulties? We will give answers to the questions of concern to future mothers on this topic.
Why do doctors recommend to preserve cord blood?
The organism of every person contains the so-called stem cells. They are also called “immature” or undifferentiated. This means that they can, at the right time, differentiate (“transform”) into the cells of any organ or tissue of our body in order to repair its damaged cells. Damage may occur during injury (for example, as a result of a burn), in the course of illness (for example, in tumors, blood malignancies, diabetes mellitus, damage of the heart muscle), and also as a result of the natural aging process. An adult human organism contains such cells, but in very small quantities. At the same time, hundreds of scientific studies and dozens of clinical trials have already been carried out, which prove that the administration of a stem cell preparation can cure many serious diseases. Cord blood contains the largest number of stem cells. If at the time of birth blood is collected from the umbilical cord, stem cells can be isolated from it and stored in the Cryobank for an unlimited period of time. If the cells are needed by the child, from whose umbilical cord they were collected, his siblings or parents, the biological material will be transferred to the clinic where the treatment will be carried out. From the cord blood stem cells the laboratory will make a drug that will help in the restoration of the damaged organ. Experts recommend the preservation of cord blood in order to provide a newborn an opportunity to receive the most modern and effective treatment in the future if it is needed.
Cord blood collection: is it safe?
There is nothing dangerous in collecting cord blood. The procedure is performed by a physician taking delivery. It does not harm the child (after all, the umbilical cord in any case is cut) or the woman in labor. If desired, you can also collect and preserve the umbilical cord and placenta. Different types of stem cells can also be isolated from them in the laboratory. About what they are, you can read here. It should be remembered that the collection of umbilical cord blood is carried out only in the hospital. At home birth this procedure is not possible. The doctor will take the biological material that is stipulated by the agreement with the Cryobank. Such a contract must be signed before labor. Collection of the cord blood, umbilical cord and placenta has no danger for health.
How long and where is cord blood stored?
Cryobank in Kiev preserves the stem cells isolated from the umbilical cord blood, umbilical cord and placenta. Before being deposited, biological products are cryo-frozen. They can be stored for an unlimited period of time if the storage technology is followed appropriately. Our cryobank guarantees this. Cord blood stem cells will be available to its owners as much as the family will pay for the storage of cord blood, placenta extract and other isolated cells.
Is it true that umbilical cord blood and the placenta can be collected only at natural childbirth?
This is not true. The collection of all biological materials – umbilical cord blood, umbilical cord, placenta – is carried out both during natural childbirth and during childbirth by caesarean section. The mode of delivery does not affect the number of stem cells that can be isolated in the laboratory.
If a woman has twins or triplets, is it impossible to collect cord blood?
Collection of cord blood and other biological materials is possible in any case, no matter how many children should be born. However, the collection procedure at birth of twins or triplets differs in cost compared to one child.
Cord blood: is collection and storage expensive?
It is not cheap. Cryobank in Kiev provides various services that are necessarily prescribed in the contract. Cost depends on it. It is cheaper to collect and preserve only umbilical cord blood than to collect additionally the placenta, as well as the umbilical cord. The cost depends on which cells will be isolated and from which biological material. A handy calculator will help you calculate the cost of cord blood storage. Cord blood, collection and storage of the placenta, storage of the umbilical cord, the number of children born, the period of storage of the preparations received – all these factors are taken into account when setting the price for the services of the umbilical cord blood bank. If the price seems rather high, consider that the child, whose cord blood and placenta will be collected, will receive a unique individual completely safe treatment for dozens of serious illnesses!
Pros and Cons of Cord Blood Collection
| ADVANTAGES | DISADVANTAGES | ATTENTION! |
| Individual drug against numerous severe diseases for the baby for all life long | Rather high cost of the collection and storage of the biomaterial and obtained drugs | A contract for all services should be settled in advance before labor begins |
| Opportunity to get a biopreparation for siblings and parents | Stem cells may be used in relatives in the case of immune compatibility | |
| “A drug against aging”, which a baby born now can use after decades | ||
| Complete safety of the umbilical cord blood and other biomaterial collection | ||
| Opportunity of the unlimited period of storage | ||
| Cryobank from Kiev will deliver the stem cells to any clinic, where their use is planned upon the first request of the client | ||
| If treatment abroad is necessary, the transportation of stem cells abroad is possible | To be discussed, transportation abroad may be carried out for extra fee |
The umbilical cord blood may be collected in almost any maternity hospital in Ukraine, and the collected and processed biological material will be stored in the Cryobank in Kiev. Do not forget: umbilical cord blood, the cost of storage of which today seems high, in the future can save the life of your child!
