Did you know that your baby’s umbilical cord contains three types of lifesaving stem cells?
Cord Blood
Cord blood is a rich source of Haematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs) which are responsible for replenishing blood and regenerating the immune system. HSCs are known as ‘precursor cells’ as they have the unique ability to differentiate into the different types of cells found in the body, namely:
- Red Blood Cells – transports oxygen
- White Blood Cells – produces antibodies and fight infections
- Platelets – assists in blood clotting
Cord Lining
Cord Lining refers to the outermost layer of the umbilical cord. It contains a high concentration of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) and Cord Lining Epithelial Stem Cells (CLEpSCs) which can only be harvested and expanded using a patented CellOptimaTM technology.
These regenerative stem cells are the “infrastructure-forming” building blocks in the human body and have shown immense potential in aiding the repair of injured tissues and organs, as well as for the treatment of various diseases.
The Benefits of Cord Blood & Cord Lining
- Treatment of over 80 major illnesses
Cord blood can be used to treat over 80 diseases1 such as leukaemia, lymphoma and thalassemia, just to name a few. Not only that, cord blood has been used for regenerative medicine applications such as Autism, cerebral palsy, Alzheimer’s disease and many more2. Clinical trials are one of the key driving forces in medical breakthroughs and it represents hope for families with conditions that have no known cure.
- Guaranteed match for autologous transplants (where the donor and recipient are the same individual)
As cord blood stem cells are more primitive and naïve in nature, they do not require stringent matching and have a greater ability to convert themselves into other types of cells that the body requires. Therefore, your baby’s cord blood stem cells are a 100% match for him/her. In addition, stored cord blood from siblings also offers protection for the family as there’s up to a 75% chance of genetic match for siblings
- Readily Available Supply of Stored HSCs
Should a stem cell transplant be required, having your baby’s cord blood stored with a family cord blood bank will benefit the family as it guarantees a readily available supply of lifesaving stem cells for your exclusive use, as compared to having to do a national or international search which is both costly and time-consuming
- Lower Risk of Graft vs. Host Disease (GvHD)
Using stem cells from cord blood also minimises the risk of Graft vs Host Disease (GvHD) for autologous transplants (where the donor and recipient are the same individual) as compared to unrelated donor transplants. GvHD is a condition where the transplanted tissue cells (the graft) sees the patient’s own tissue (the host) as foreign and attacks them
- Less Stringent Match for the Family
The immune-modulating characteristics of cord lining stem cells allows for less stringent matching between donor and patient. Thus, making them situable for both your baby and other members of the family. Cord lining stem cells can be used to support multiple medical treatments whenever needed as the original source of stem cells will be stored
Collection of your baby’s umbilical cord stem cells
The collection of your baby’s umbilical cord stem cells will be administered by your OBGYN doctor. This process does not affect your birthing process in any way!
Would like to learn more about the lifesaving benefits of storing your baby’s umbilical cord stem cells? Download our free comprehensive information pack today or simply get in-touch with our friendly consultants who can answer any of your burning questions!
References:
1 For the full list of treatable diseases and references, please refer to https://www.cordlife.com/sg/treatable-diseases.
2 Diseases and Disorders that have been in Clinical Trials with Cord Blood or Cord Tissue Cells page. Parent’s Guide to Cord Blood Foundation website. https://parentsguidecordblood.org/en/diseases. Accessed July 28, 2021.