Every July, Cord Blood Awareness Month brings attention to a powerful, life-saving resource that many parents may not even realize they have access to: cord blood. This observance promotes education about what cord blood is, its potential uses in medicine, and the importance of banking or donating it for future treatment options. While often discarded after birth, cord blood contains stem cells with the power to treat over 80 life-threatening diseases, making it an invaluable asset in modern medicine.
What Is Cord Blood?
Cord blood is the blood remaining in the umbilical cord and placenta after childbirth. This blood is rich in hematopoietic stem cells, the same type of cells found in bone marrow. These stem cells have the ability to develop into various types of blood and immune system cells, which is why they are often used in stem cell transplants for treating blood-related conditions.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), cord blood is a valuable source of stem cells that can be collected, frozen, and stored (cryopreserved) for future use in medical treatments (FDA, 2023).
Why Cord Blood Is Important
1. Treating Life-Threatening Diseases
Cord blood stem cells have been used to treat more than 80 different conditions, including:
- Leukemia
- Lymphoma
- Sickle cell anemia
- Aplastic anemia
- Certain metabolic and immune disorders
According to Be The Match, a national marrow donor program, cord blood transplants are especially valuable for patients who cannot find a bone marrow match, as cord blood stem cells do not need to match as closely (Be The Match, 2023).
2. Easier Collection and Availability
Cord blood is collected painlessly after birth, posing no risk to the mother or baby. Unlike bone marrow donation, it’s a non-invasive process. The collected blood can be processed and stored in public or private banks for future transplantation needs.
Public banking makes cord blood available to anyone who may need a transplant and is matched, while private banking stores it exclusively for the donor family’s potential future use.
3. Expanding Access and Diversity
Minority populations often struggle to find bone marrow matches due to genetic diversity. Cord blood, however, requires less stringent matching, making it a crucial option for patients of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds (Health Resources & Services Administration, HRSA, 2023).
4. Potential in Regenerative Medicine
Ongoing research is exploring the use of cord blood in regenerative therapies for conditions like cerebral palsy, autism, Type 1 diabetes, and spinal cord injuries. While many of these uses are still in clinical trials, early results are promising, pointing toward new frontiers in stem cell therapy (Duke University School of Medicine, 2023).
Challenges and Awareness Gaps
Despite its benefits, many families remain unaware of cord blood banking or mistakenly believe it is complicated or expensive. According to a study published in the Journal of Perinatal Education, fewer than half of expectant parents received adequate information about cord blood banking during prenatal care (JPE, 2019). This gap underscores the importance of public education during Cord Blood Awareness Month.
How to Get Involved
- Learn and share information about cord blood and its uses.
- Talk to your OB/GYN or midwife about cord blood collection options.
- Consider donating to a public bank if private banking isn’t an option.
- Support organizations advancing cord blood research and education.
Organizations like Cord Blood Registry, Be The Match, and the National Marrow Donor Program provide valuable resources for parents and healthcare professionals.
Cord Blood Awareness Month is an opportunity to highlight a medical resource with life-changing potential. Whether used today to treat serious illnesses or stored for future regenerative therapies, cord blood stem cells are a vital part of the future of medicine. By increasing awareness and encouraging donation or storage, we can expand access to lifesaving treatments and contribute to cutting-edge medical discoveries.
Citations
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (2023). Cord Blood Banking. https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/cellular-gene-therapy-products/cord-blood-banking
- Be The Match. (2023). Cord Blood Transplants. https://bethematch.org/transplant-basics/how-a-transplant-works/cellular-therapy/cord-blood-transplant/
- Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA). (2023). Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation Program. https://bloodstemcell.hrsa.gov/about/umbilical-cord-blood
- Duke University School of Medicine. (2023). Cord Blood Research for Neurological Disorders. https://pediatrics.duke.edu/divisions/neonatology/cord-blood-program
- Journal of Perinatal Education (JPE). (2019). Expectant Parents’ Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Cord Blood Banking. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6663609/
- Cord Blood Registry. (2024). Benefits of Cord Blood. https://www.cordblood.com/stem-cells/benefits-of-cord-blood
Dr. Cary S. Kaufman teaches the "Essentials of Oncoplastic Surgery" course through the National Consortium of Breast Centers, providing breast surgeons around the world with advanced techniques for optimal breast surgery outcomes.
Dr. Jill Waggoner is offering her patients a more personalized and intimate healthcare experience through concierge medicine.