During pregnancy; the placenta and blood within it serve as the lifeline of nourishment from mother to baby through the umbilical cord.
Following the birth of a baby, the umbilical cord is clamped and part of it is usually discarded along with the placenta. However, it's now known that blood retrieved from the umbilical cord is a rich source of stem cells, primarily hematopoietic stem cells. These unspecialized stem cellsgive rise to other cells, including red and white blood cells, and blood-clotting platelets.
Stem cells are extremely important for medical research. Studying stem cells will help us in many ways; understanding how diseases take place and helping us develop new treatments. It is possible that stem cells from cord blood could be used to generate new heart cells, kidney cells, or pancreatic cells. The potential for curing diseases by transplanting cells that have been derived from cord blood stem cells is currently being explored.
We will collect blood from the umbilical cord and placenta following birth of your child. It does not matter whether you are having a cesarian section or delivering naturally.
After the baby is born, the umbilical cord along with the placenta is clamped, cut, and separated from the baby. While waiting for the placenta to deliver, a member of the delivery room staff will collect the umbilical cord blood.
The entire procedure is noninvasive, painless, and does not interfere with the birthing process. There is no loss of blood for the baby or you. If at any time your physician or midwife becomes concerned with your health or that of your baby, the cord blood collection will not take place.