Mothers-to-be should be aware that they possess the ability to donate life saving stem cells that can be extracted from umbilical cord blood, as well as placental blood, after the birth of their baby.
There has been much controversy about stem cells and stem cell research over the past 10 to 15 years. Umbilical cord stem cells and placental stem cells are not the same as embryonic stem cells. Cord and placental stem cells are extracted from the umbilical cord blood and placenta after a baby is born, and at no time is the mother's or her baby's life in danger. Previously, the umbilical cord and placenta were treated as waste following delivery.
Why are cord and placental stem cells so important? As with embryonic stem cells because of their non-specificity and undifferentiation as to tissue type, these stem cells may be used to treat blood dyscrasias, genetic diseases such as Sickle Cell Anemia, as well as an alternative treatment for bone marrow transplants.
As with blood banks, it is important to have reserve banks for cord and placental stem cells from a diverse population to meet the needs of a community which is diverse. For example, there are a higher number of African Americans born with Sickle Cell Anemia. This genetic disease in its acute stages requires frequent blood transfusions. Patients receiving blood or any other type of tissue from the same donor base will quickly develop an antigen-antibody response and their body will reject the tissue.
The process for cord and placental blood for stem cell donation is easy. It can begin with a mother-to-be talking with her obstetrician, mid-wife, birthing center staff or the nearest Puget Sound Blood Center, all of whom can provide information about the Cord Blood Program. Mothers-to-be can tour medical facilities which take part in the donation program: Swedish Hospital First Hill Campus, Swedish Hospital Ballard Campus and the University of Washington Medical Center.
Typing for umbilical cord and placental blood for stem cells is done the same way as typing for blood, blood samples are taken from the mother-to-be and tested for compatibility.
Mothers-to-be should also know that donation of stem cells from umbilical cord and placental blood can only be done with her written permission and under strict national guidelines which are regularly reviewed by hospital review boards.
So, be a hero, save a life. The life you save may be yours, someone you love, even your own child's.
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