Importance of Cord Blood Banking

What is cord blood?
Cord blood is the blood taken from the umbilical cord of the baby just after the birth of a baby. This blood is a rich source of stem cells, which are the precursors of all the blood cells of the body. Stem cells are being researched and studied all over the world and may be able to provide us with treatments and cures of several diseases.
Why is it important to bank cord blood?
These days we keep hearing about banking Cord Blood and its importance. More and more couples are opting for this option as they feel that by banking the cord blood of the umbilical cord, they are getting a kind of insurance against diseases. “Banking” means storing the cord blood of your baby in a bank, for future use by either yourselves, or for the general public. This depends on whether you opt for a private or public cord blood bank. In a public bank, the cord blood can be used by the general public if a match is found, and in a private bank the blood is stored for your use only.
Uses of cord blood:
This blood can is a source of stem cells and is being highly researched to cure diseases such as type 1 diabetes, brain damage, cancer, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and many more. Stem cells have successfully cured several types of blood cancers, and studies have also revealed that some improvements have been noted in children diagnosed with type I diabetes when treated by stem cells.
Future Cures:
Stem cells have the potential to cure diseases like AIDS, Heart damage, spinal cord injuries, blindness, deafness, neural birth defects, neurological diseases and many more. The future may hold potential cures for all these diseases through stem cells obtained from cord blood.