Take a Look at Cord Blood Banking for Twins
Take a Look at Cord Blood Banking for Twins
Even though they provide nutrition to babies in the womb, the umbilical cord and placenta get little attention once they emerge into the world. But medical advances have given many couples a reason to give these often overshadowed tissues a second look.
Cord blood banking is a process of collecting potentially life-saving stem cells from the umbilical cord and placenta and storing them for future use. Stem cells are immature cells that can assume the form of other cells. They can be used to treat several diseases, including leukemia, lymphoma, anemia, and some immune system disorders.
If you choose to bank cord blood cells, you'll need to make arrangements ahead of time -- usually about two months before your delivery. Soon after your twins' birth, a nurse or doctor will collect the cord blood and a segment of the cord make sure it goes to the facility where it will be processed, frozen, and stored.
You may consider cord blood banking for any number of reasons. If your family has a history of disease that can be treated with cord blood, you may consider this option in case one of your twins or another family member develops the condition. Or you may choose to bank cord blood just in case one of your twins becomes ill, even if you have no family history. You may also choose to donate cord blood to a public bank to help other families.
The primary drawback of cord banking is that it is only beneficial in very rare situations. The likelihood of a child having an illness that would benefit from properly matched banked cord blood is 1 in 2,700, though some experts think it is even less useful than that.
Stem cells from cord blood can be used to treat some, but not all diseases. If one of your twins is born with a genetic disorder or develops a childhood leukemia, the cord blood likely contains the same code that caused the problem in the first place. It cannot be used to treat either twin or any other person.
What Is Cord Blood Banking?
Cord blood banking is a process of collecting potentially life-saving stem cells from the umbilical cord and placenta and storing them for future use. Stem cells are immature cells that can assume the form of other cells. They can be used to treat several diseases, including leukemia, lymphoma, anemia, and some immune system disorders.
If you choose to bank cord blood cells, you'll need to make arrangements ahead of time -- usually about two months before your delivery. Soon after your twins' birth, a nurse or doctor will collect the cord blood and a segment of the cord make sure it goes to the facility where it will be processed, frozen, and stored.
Why You May Choose Cord Blood Banking
You may consider cord blood banking for any number of reasons. If your family has a history of disease that can be treated with cord blood, you may consider this option in case one of your twins or another family member develops the condition. Or you may choose to bank cord blood just in case one of your twins becomes ill, even if you have no family history. You may also choose to donate cord blood to a public bank to help other families.
Limits of Cord Blood Banking
The primary drawback of cord banking is that it is only beneficial in very rare situations. The likelihood of a child having an illness that would benefit from properly matched banked cord blood is 1 in 2,700, though some experts think it is even less useful than that.
Stem cells from cord blood can be used to treat some, but not all diseases. If one of your twins is born with a genetic disorder or develops a childhood leukemia, the cord blood likely contains the same code that caused the problem in the first place. It cannot be used to treat either twin or any other person.
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