After you give birth and the umbilical cord is cut, blood remains in the umbilical cord. This is referred to as cord blood. This blood has been used to nourish the baby during pregnancy. The umbilical cord is the lifeline between you and your baby during pregnancy.
Once the baby has been delivered, the blood that remains in the cord is no longer needed by the baby. Historically the umbilical cord was then discarded or thrown away which was normal practice following the birth of a baby.
Yet just as it had been a lifeline during your pregnancy, the umbilical cord is rich in all the normal elements of blood – red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma. More excitingly researchers have found that it is also a rich resource of stem cells. Why is that important to you?Because these stem cells can be used for future medical treatments. Simply put, stem cell can save lives. The cord that was routinely discarded after birth now can be stored for potential future medical use. Banking your cord blood gives your family a valuable resource for future medical treatments.