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By
Diane Forrest, RN
When a baby is born, the umbilical cord is still
attached. The cord is then tied off, and
the father or family member is given the opportunity to "cut the
cord". Following this rite of
passage, the cord along with the placenta is normally discarded as medical
waste. Researchers and scientists have
been testing the blood from the umbilical cord and have found it to be rich
with stem cells. These stem cells can be
used to treat blood and immune disorders such as leukemia, lymphoma and sickle
cell anemia. Medical research continues to investigate ground-breaking
therapies using a child’s own cord blood stem cells as a possible treatment for
diseases which currently have no cures like Type I diabetes, traumatic brain
injury, and cerebral palsy.
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Mothers have the option to either store the stem cells
for their child or other family members at a stem cell storage facility
plant. They may also donate the stem
cells for either research or to help another family in need, much like donating
blood.
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There is absolutely no risk at all to either the mother
or the newborn infant. The cells are
extracted after the cord has been detached from the infant, and after the
placenta has been expelled by the mother.
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This month is Cord Blood Awareness Month. If you, or someone you know is expecting, let
them know about the options they have about storing or donating their cord
blood for present or future needs.
For more information visit this site: http://parentsguidecordblood.org/
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