What New Parents Should Know About The Many Ways Cord Blood Can Be Used

New parents have a lot to think about and plan for as they await the arrival of their little bundle of joy. You’ve probably received all kinds of new parent advice from friends and family who are very excited to welcome your baby to the world. In the hustle and bustle of baby showers, doctor appointments and Lamaze classes, you may feel overwhelmed and inundated with information. 

It’s ok--breathe! If we’re being honest, it’s nearly impossible to fully prepare to be a new parent, and that’s fine! You’ll learn and grow alongside your little miracle. The journey is the most exciting part. As you do your best to prepare for your baby, take a moment to consider the future and what you can do to protect the precious resources that your baby will provide. 

When your baby enters the world, they’ll bring joy and excitement with them, but that’s not all! Your baby’s umbilical cord contains cord blood stem cells which are an incredible resource that can be used to protect you and your family from future medical conditions.

What can cord blood be used for?

Cord blood contains a special kind of stem cell that can be used in the treatment of blood, immune and metabolic disorders, as well as cancers such as leukemia and sickle cell disease. During intensive medical treatments like chemotherapy, healthy blood cells are destroyed. Blood-forming stem cells (such as those found in cord blood) can be transplanted to help regrow blood cells that have been damaged or destroyed by medical therapies. 

Cord blood has been FDA-approved to treat more than 80 diseases and conditions, and the list of therapies continues to grow. Additionally, more than 5,200 clinical trials have been initiated to explore the use of cord blood stem cells in treating conditions like autism and cerebral palsy and many others. For children born with genetic diseases, cells from a close donor match (such as a sibling) can be used in stem cell therapies and transplants. Parents who intend to have multiple children should consider banking each child’s cord blood in the event a sibling needs life-saving treatment.

The advantage of cord blood stem cells for transplants

There are several advantages to storing stem cells from your baby's cord blood. Not only is the collection of cord blood simple and painless, but the collection process is significantly less costly and invasive than other methods like bone marrow collection. Stem cell transplants from cord blood also have a lower risk of carrying infectious blood diseases, and less risk for fatal immune responses such as those found in graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD).  When you bank your child’s cord blood you’re also increasing the likelihood of a successful transplant if it is ever needed for you, your child, or a sibling.

Cord blood is a valuable and limited resource 

Cord blood is a unique and precious resource that cannot be replicated or recreated. Cord blood is composed of red and white blood cells, plasma, platelets, and a special kind of stem cell called hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). HSCs play a critical role in developing and maintaining a healthy immune system. They have the incredible ability to replace and repair tissue that has been damaged by diseases or medical conditions.

Due to the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to collect your baby’s cord blood stem cells, opting to bank your baby’s cord blood is a practical choice that offers peace of mind in knowing that your child’s unique cord blood stem cells are accessible and available to your family in a moment's notice. The collection process is quick and painless for both mother and baby. Immediately following the birth of your baby, cord blood is collected from the umbilical cord and safely transported to our laboratory for testing and processing.

Cord blood banking from MiracleCord

MiracleCord has earned a distinction as a leading private cord blood bank because of our exceptional service and affordable storage plans. We’ve worked diligently to make cord blood banking accessible because we believe every family deserves peace of mind. View our cord blood banking cost comparison chart to see how MiracleCord compares other private cord blood banks.

We stand behind our industry-leading cord blood collection, processing and storage technologies. Our comprehensive cord blood banking service is backed by a $100,000 Quality Guarantee. If your child’s cord blood unit is used in a stem cell transplant and the cells fail to engraft, we’ll pay up to $100,000 towards the cost of finding an alternative stem cell source. 

Banking your baby’s cord blood is an investment in your family’s future, and we’ll be with you every step of the way to ensure you receive caring, reliable service for a lifetime. We understand new parents have a lot to think about, and we’re here to help you make sense of your options and evaluate what’s right for your little one and your family.

Ready to get started? Enroll today, or download our free info kit for more information.

DISCLAIMER: THE INFORMATION ON THIS WEBSITE IS NOT INTENDED TO BE USED AS MEDICAL ADVICE.The materials and information contained on the MiracleCord website is provided for educational and informational purposes only, and is not intended to, and does not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis, and should not be used as such. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. If you are seeking personal medical advice, you should consult with a licensed physician. Always consult with a qualified health care provider regarding a medical condition.