{"id":21359,"date":"2022-09-19T16:48:36","date_gmt":"2022-09-19T14:48:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/?p=21359"},"modified":"2022-09-19T16:48:52","modified_gmt":"2022-09-19T14:48:52","slug":"postpartum-prep-what-is-cord-blood-storage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/postpartum-prep-what-is-cord-blood-storage\/","title":{"rendered":"Postpartum Prep: What is Cord Blood Storage?"},"content":{"rendered":"

As you move towards the end of your pregnancy you start to prep for labor and birth, exploring topics like what to pack in your birth bag<\/a> and whether you should hire a doula<\/a>. You\u2019re also probably exploring what your options are when it comes to the physical support of you and your baby. For some people that might mean getting an epidural, while for others it could mean having a water birth<\/a>. One birth topic that is starting to pop up on more and more people\u2019s radars\u2019 is cord blood storage. If this is totally new to you, no worries, we\u2019re here to shed some light on this fairly new innovation in postpartum technology and its future uses.<\/p>\n

What is Cord Blood?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Before we explain cord blood, let\u2019s do a quick refresher on pregnancy anatomy. Your growing baby lives inside the amniotic sac in your uterus. Your baby\u2019s umbilical cord attaches to what will be their belly button, and on the other side \u2013 the placenta. The other side of the placenta then attaches to the uterus. The placenta<\/a> is what supplies your baby with vital nutrients and oxygen, along with a few other important roles. It also helps with blood circulation in both the pregnant person and the fetus.<\/p>\n

The blood that\u2019s found in the placenta and umbilical cord after birth is what we call cord blood. In this cord blood, you\u2019ll find hematopoietic stem cells. These are specialized stem cells that can mature into other types of blood cells. You can also find these cells in the bone marrow and blood of people of all ages. You might be starting to get an idea of just why people practice cord blood storage.<\/p>\n

Why Do People Practice Cord Blood Storage?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Cord blood is typically discarded along with the placenta and umbilical cord after birth. It can be collected whether someone has a vaginal or cesarean birth. Your provider typically uses a kit provided from a cord blood storage bank and uses a needle to draw out the blood from the cut umbilical cord. This is collected in a bag before being sent to the storage bank. More and more commonly, people are choosing to store or donate this cord blood for medical applications. Cord blood storage, also known as \u201dCord blood banking\u201d, has the potential for many incredible medical advancements. While other kinds of cells can replicate themselves, they\u2019re typically limited to what they already know. For example, skin cells can only make more skin cells.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s what makes hematopoietic cells so special. Their ability to mature into different types of cells throughout the body. Thanks to hematopoietic\u2019s versatile possibilities, these blood cells can be used to treat more than 70 types of diseases.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>What Are The Benefits of Cord Blood Storage?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

These are just a handful of the diseases that cord blood may be able to be used to treat:<\/p>\n