Did you know you can protect your newborn from serious illnesses like cancer, thalassemia, autoimmune disorders, and more? Yes, with stem cell preservation, it is possible.
Bringing a new life into the world comes with a silent promise: to shield them from harm and give them the best possible future. While many medical conditions today are treatable, others still lack definitive cures. But thanks to stem cell preservation – an advanced scientific technology that involves collecting and storing powerful stem cells from your baby’s umbilical cord – there is now new hope for treating a wide range of life-threatening diseases.
In this blog, we will dive deeper into stem cell preservation, its benefits, how to store stem cells, and why it is the best decision to safeguard your baby’s future health.
What is Stem Cell Preservation?
Stem cell preservation is the process of collecting and storing stem cells through cryo-preservation for a long period. These stem cells are found in the umbilical cord and tissue of a newborn baby at the time of birth. These stem cells are young, potent and capable of developing into different types of cells of the body. Stem cell therapy is ideal for treating numerous diseases such as immune deficiencies, blood disorders, and even certain cancers like leukaemia.
Why Are Stem Cells So Valuable?
Stem cells, collected from the umbilical cord of a newborn baby, have a unique ability to regenerate, repair and replace damaged tissues and cells. These can be used for the same child when he grows up and needs some medical treatment.
The stem cells collected from a newborn child can protect it from 90+ medical conditions. The same cells can also treat 80+ serious illnesses in parents, siblings, and both maternal and paternal grandparents.
While adults also have stem cells, the ones collected from a newborn baby are more adaptable and potent as they have not been exposed to environmental damage or ageing. Therefore, cord blood stem cells preserved at birth offer a medical advantage. They are collected and stored in their purest, most versatile stage and ready for use when a medical emergency arises.
Benefits of Stem Cell Preservation
1. Lifelong Access to Regenerative Treatment
One of the biggest benefits of stem cell preservation is that the child gets access to personalised treatment options throughout their life. Stem cell therapy is now being used for conditions like cerebral palsy, autism and Type 1 diabetes.
2. A Perfect Genetic Match
Cord blood stem cells are a unique genetic match for your baby, as they are collected from the umbilical cord at birth. While the chances of your child needing their own stem cells are relatively low, storing them ensures a readily available, unique source for potential future treatments. These cells also have a high likelihood of being a partial match for your baby’s siblings and other family members. Successful transplants are possible in future for anyone in the family, in case a health crisis arises.
3. Treatment for Over 80 Conditions
Stem cell preservation can benefit the baby in the treatment of over 90 diseases and the family of over 80 diseases, including:
- Leukemia
- Thalassemia
- Sickle cell anaemia
- Certain autoimmune and metabolic disorders
Further research is being carried out in this area, and hopefully, shortly, this list of diseases will grow, unlocking more possibilities of stem cell treatments.
4. Painless and Safe Collection
The process of collection and stem cell storage is completely safe and pain-free for both the mother and the baby. It takes only a few minutes and does not interfere with the delivery procedures.
Cord Blood Banking: How It Works
The process involves three simple steps:
- Enrollment: You sign up with a stem cell bank before your due date.
- Collection at Birth: After the baby is born and the umbilical cord is clamped and cut, a trained medical professional collects the remaining cord blood using a sterile needle and transfers it into a specialised collection bag provided by the stem cell bank.
- Storage: The sample is tested, processed, and stored at ultra-low temperatures in a secure stem cell bank for future use.
Both public and private umbilical cord blood banking options are available. Public banks give the option of community sharing, making stem cells available for anyone in need. Private banks store them exclusively for your family.
Is Stem Cell Preservation Worth It?
Stem cell preservation is worth every penny as it promises to safeguard your child’s future health. While some parents may question the investment and wonder if they may never need it. But the answer lies in preparedness. Nobody knows what the future holds for them. It is always better to be prepared than sorry later.
Hopefully, the need may never arise, but if it does, you will always thank your choices. Having your baby’s stem cells available with you when he/she has met with a health crisis after many years, could mean that you could potentially treat your child back to health. These cells can promise to be a life-saving treatment option for your child or your family in the future.
Think of stem cells as an insurance policy for your child’s health, especially as the field of regenerative medicine continues to evolve rapidly.
The Future of Stem Cell Therapy
Scientists across the globe are studying stem cells further and trying to use them for the treatment of various other medical conditions, including:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Heart disease
- Alzheimer’s
- Multiple sclerosis
In the next decade, stem cell therapy will take centre stage in mainstream medicine. Stem cell preservation today is a smart step towards embracing future treatments.
Final Thoughts
Choosing to preserve your baby’s stem cells at birth today may seem like a small decision now, but some might even overlook this decision, thinking they won’t need it. But a small choice made today can impact your family’s entire life. From treating various serious illnesses to unlocking future medical treatments, stem cell preservation offers a priceless promise of protection.
As parents, we cannot predict what challenges the future may bring, but we can prepare ourselves for the worst. Investing in umbilical cord blood banking may be the best investment you can make for your family!
