Every year, patients in large numbers across the world need a lifesaving stem cell transplant. Most of them rely on searching for an unrelated donor and rely on their generosity. A pregnant woman and her tiny human can become heroes by donating cord blood to a designated public cord blood collection hospital. Collecting cord blood is a simple process done after the delivery. However, you have to get registered for the same much before your pregnancy tenure. Review the below-mentioned frequently asked questions as they will assist you in making the right decision.

1) What do you understand by cord blood?

Cord blood is the blood that remains in the placenta and umbilical cord after the birth of a baby. The placenta is the organ that takes the child’s nourishment inside the mother’s body while the umbilical cord connects the baby to the mother. Cord blood is a rich source of life-saving stem cells that can cure more than 80 diseases and disorders.

2) What are stem cells?

Stem cells are present in the bone marrow and umbilical cord. Blood stem cells are not embryonic and are capable of developing into any type of cell present in the bloodstream.

3) What are public cord blood collection centers?

These are centers where cord banking costs are affordable. Expectant mothers can donate their cord blood at these designated centers. They send a team to the hospital, where the donor delivers the baby and collects the cord blood soon after. The procedure is painless for both the baby and the mother. Stem cells from the donated cord blood are used for needy patients’ treatment.

4) What is a private cord blood bank?

Private cord blood banks collect and store your baby’s cord blood to be used only by your family members in the future. If at any stage in the future the baby or any other family member is diagnosed with a disorder that only stem cells can treat, you can contact the bank for the same. Unlike the public cord blood banks, where they will donate your baby’s stem cells to any needy patient, a private bank will keep it preserved for your family.

Private blood banks charge a fee to extract stem cells from the baby’s cord blood and preserve it for the future. These banks are too expensive. However, you can search for some affordable cord blood banks at $19.99/month.

5) How are cord blood stem cells unique?

Compared to bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cells, cord blood stem cells have some unique benefits that justify the cord banking costs. Some of these are:

• These cells are collected in advance, stored, and ready to get used immediately. It significantly reduces the wait time for the patient.

• Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is a common and serious immune-mediated side effect of transplantation. But the risk of getting GvHD is highly reduced with cord blood transplants.

• The patient need not find an exactly matching cord blood. It is super helpful for those who cannot find a match with the stem cell registry.

• The risk of transmission of viral infections like cytomegalovirus (CMV) gets reduced via transplanting cord blood stem cells that can otherwise be lethal for transplant recipients.

6) Who is eligible to donate cord blood?

The following expectant mothers can donate cord blood:

• A healthy mother and baby have no medical issues.

• You must be 18 years old or above and must sign a consent.

• Delivering twins, triplets, or more.

• The delivery should not be before 34 weeks of pregnancy.

• The mother should not have any infections such as AIDS or hepatitis.

• Free of any inherited diseases that may pass to the patient after transplant.

• You must be willing to donate your cord blood.

7) Is there any risk to the mother and the baby?

The process is super easy and quick. The process poses no risk to the baby and the mother. Whether you deliver normally or via C-section, it does not add any complications to the process. After delivery, the doctor cut the umbilical cord and delivered the placenta to the collection team.