Donating Cord Blood

If you or know anyone who’s expecting, chances are, you probably have received at least one flyer or brochure asking for cord blood donation. What exactly does donating cord blood entail and why should this be donated? This article gives the basics about donating cord blood.

What is cord blood?

Before looking into donating cord blood, it is important to understand what cord blood is. It is actually the blood in the umbilical cord which attaches the fetus to the mother. Once the child is born, the umbilical cord is cut off and put in the bank to be used for a later purpose. Originally, the umbilical cord was thrown away as part of the waste materials in the child birthing process, but scientists are now discovering the possible benefits cord blood can give not only to people, but also to the realm of science as well.

Why donate cord blood?

There are several reasons why you should consider donating cord blood. First of all, the blood in the umbilical cord is made of stem cells, the cells that can transform into various tissues and organs. As you may be aware of, stem cell research has always been a touchy subject even among scientists. Donating cord blood will not bring up any of the ethical concerns that will inevitably arise when the subject of embryonic stem cell research is brought up, but it can also bring the health benefits that the research will bring. For example, studies have shown that stem cells can be used to treat a variety of serious ailments, including cancer, sickle cell disease, tumors, osteoporosis, blindness, heart disease, cerebral palsy, brain injury, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes. Donating cord blood will thus give someone a chance at having a new life, by providing a way for that individual’s ailment to be treated through the stem cells in the cord blood.

While the possibility of helping other people is enough reason for some individuals in donating cord blood, you may find yourself thinking, “What’s in it for me?” The answer is simple: the cord blood can actually be used to treat the illness of the baby’s sibling, or saved for a later purpose when the baby will need stem cells to recover from his or her own illness. In this instance, this won’t be donating as it is putting it in a private bank, but the principle remains the same: to preserve the cord blood to be used for a later purpose. What’s more, the stem cells in cord blood has a higher possibility of compatibility among family members compared to bone marrow, so you are almost certainly guaranteed of being able to use the stem cells in the umbilical cord should you need it.

Finally, donating cord blood won’t cost you anything. As mentioned earlier, it is actually thrown away once it is cut off, so you won’t actually lose anything should you choose to donate the cord blood to science or have it placed at a private bank.

Donating cord blood can help save a lot of people from serious illnesses. If you’re interested in donating, do consult with a health professional to find out how to go about it.

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