It wasn't until the 1970's when scientists discovered that blood from within the umbilical cord was packed full of stem cells. From that point on, the practice of collecting and preserving umbilical cord blood began.
Now collecting cord blood has turned into a fairly normal procedure during child delivery.
Cord blood has been used successfully to treat a growing number of genetic diseases and cancers. Several different types of leukemias and lymphomas have been treated with cord blood as well as aplastic anemia and inherited immune system disorders. The list of diseases treatable with cord blood is only expected in increase in the future with new research.
If you choose to store your babies cord blood, you can decide between a public or private cord blood bank. Public cord blood banks store the cord blood for the public and match donors to stored blood through the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP). Private cord blood banks store the blood for your (and your family's) exclusive use (for your child or the child's relatives).
Umbilical cord blood is full of stem cells. Stem cells are highly valuable and powerful cells. Stem cells from cord blood are incredibly powerful to the medical community because they can grow into other types of blood forming cells. This puts cord blood stem cells at the center of body regeneration and repair.
Cord blood contains hematopoietic stem cells, which are cells that can transform into red and white blood cells and platelets. Since cord blood stem cells cannot form into any type of human cell (embryonic stem cells), the diseases that can be treated are limited to those of the blood and immune system.
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