TOGETHER
Cord Blood
by HM
What is cord blood?
The term “cord blood” is used to describe the blood that remains in the umbilical cord and the placenta after the birth of a baby. Up until recently this afterbirth was discarded as medical waste. Cord blood contains stem cells that may be cryopreserved for later use in medical therapies, such as stem cell transplants or clinical trials of new stem cell therapies.
What are cord blood stem cells?
The umbilical cord and placenta are rich sources of stem cells. These are different from both the embryonic stem cells in a fertilized egg and the stem cells obtained from a child or an adult. The stem cells in cord blood can grow into blood and immune system cells, as well as other types of cells.
Cord Blood Banking Choices – Why should I store my baby’s cord blood?