Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cells

Cord Blood: Collection, Storage and Future

Cord blood is a rich source of stem cells that are collected right after the birth of your baby. If you are worried about potential discomfort to your baby during the collection of umbilical cord blood stem cells; the procedure is painless and completely safe. There are low chances of any complications arising during this simple procedure. Here is a step by step look at the collection process.

How is Umbilical Cord Blood Collected?

• After delivery, whether through via c-section or vaginally, the umbilical cord will be severed. Umbilical cord contains stem cells, the bold inside it has blood forming stem cells and the cord lining has organ forming and skin forming stem cells( Mesenchymal and Epithelial stem cells).
• The part of the cord that is still attached to the placenta of will be injected with a needle. You will not feel any pain as the needle does not go anywhere near you. The blood is taken out and drained into a collection bag for storage. This entire procedure usually takes less than 15 minutes. Then a portion of the cord is also collected in a sterile container.
• The specimen is then sent for testing, processing and preserving at a cord blood banking facility. Umbilical cord blood and umbilical cord tissue stem cells are also verified and tested in a laboratory. All these studies and tests are usually conducted at a proper bio-hazard facility to reduce the threat of contamination.
• All components of the umbilical cord are removed, except the cord lining, which is further segmented into small pieces. A cryoprotectant solution is added, which makes the cord lining segments freeze. To preserve the viability of these cells, they are stored in a control rate freezer, where the temperature is maintained at below-150oCelsius.

Future Uses of Stored Cord Blood

Apart from being readily available during emergencies for your baby and family members, the umbilical cord blood stem cells have the potential to cure a number of disease and disabilities in infants, adults and even animals. Here is what the future of cord blood looks like:

• Infants: Studies show that babies suffering from cerebral palsy and autism can be treated with their own cord blood. The blood can further be helpful for infants suffering from several types of congenital heart defects that would otherwise need surgery. Other disorders that are still being researched for stem cell therapy include traumatic brain injury,hydrocephalus (fluid in the brain), type 1 (juvenile) diabetes and oxygen deprivation at birth.
• Adults: Research shows that cancer patients stand to drastically benefit from their own umbilical cord blood stem cells. For treating adults, stem cells from a donor’s bone marrow are usually required to treat a number of conditions. However, with the availability of cord blood cells, the treatment has become simpler. Other conditions that can be treated in adults include spinal cord injuries, stroke, diabetes, heart failure and several neurological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis.

Getting your newborn’s umbilical cord blood stem cells stored at a leading blood bank is sure to safeguard you and your child from the threat of future diseases.

Cord Blood Banking in Delhi

How to Baby-Proof Your Home before Child Birth

Fixing household hazards and baby-proofing your home is essential for parents who are expecting their first child. In about six months, your baby will start crawling and will be able to reach corners you didn’t even know existed!And toddlers are infamous for their curiosity. So, don’t let their urge to explore their environment become a cause for concern. By safeguarding your home and taking necessary safety measure, you can give your little bundle of joy the freedom to explore and learn. Another way to protect your precious one is to insure his/her health by preserving stem cells at birth in a facility for stem cell banking or cord blood banking in Delhi.

Ways to Baby-Proof Your Home

Here is a room by room guide to create a less hazardous environment for your baby. Do not forget to research in advance about stem cell banking or cord blood banking in Delhi, so that you are all ready to preserve the umbilical cord at birth. 

Living Area

·         Replace all electrical sockets with childproof ones.

·         Keep the floor clean at all times by making sure there are no nails, coins, pins or buttons.

·         Long electrical cords can be either taped down or tied up.

·         Pointed objects like knives, scissors, pens and pencils shouldn’t be left lying around within easy reach.

·         Install a safety gate at the top and bottom of the stairs.

Nursery

·         As your baby grows older, remove hanging toys from the crib.

·         Do not stuff the crib with unnecessary blankets and excess stuffed toys.

·         Do not place the crib near a window, drapes or door.

·         Avoid using hand-me-down cribs that are not up to the safety standards.

Kitchen

·         Keep all chemical cleaning supplies away from your baby’s reach. You can put them at a height or locked in a cabinet. 

·         Do not leave mousetraps, insect traps or rat poison lying around the house. 

·         Always keep the oven door locked and secure.

·         Avoid putting magnets on the refrigerator because they tend to fall off and land into the hands of a passing baby.

·         Try to use the back burners for cooking, whenever possible.

·         Keep the handles of pans and pots towards the back of the stove so that your baby does not feel like reaching out for them.

Bathroom

·         Do not leave your tub half filled or a bucket of water lying in the bathroom. Your baby can drown in very little water.

·         Get toilet lid locks and maintain proper hygiene in the bathroom.

·         All cosmetics, medications and supplements must be kept away from the baby’s reach.

By installing such basic safety measure and keeping an eye on your child without restricting them too much, you can make sure that he/she is not in harm’s way. Make sure that you gather information about stem cell banking or cord blood banking in Delhi to safeguard your newborn’s future too.