Pregnancy Questions

Cord tissue contains blood vessels supported by tissue called Wharton’s jelly, which is a rich source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The surrounding tissue is also a rich source of other cell types, e.g., endothelial cells, which have different potential uses. MSCs collected from cord tissue are multi-potent, meaning they have the ability to regenerate and differentiate into many different types of cells including cartilage, bone, fat and muscle. This important characteristic means that they could potentially be used to treat more conditions than cord blood alone can treat.

Cord blood stem cells are more potent than adult stem cells and haven’t had exposure to environmental pollutants, viruses and chemicals that happen over time. There is greater flexibility in genetic matching where only a partial match between the donor and patient may be required. There is also a reduced risk of graft vs host disease and lower incidence of viral transmissions.

Worldwide, cord blood has been used in over 40,000 transplants in the treatment of over 80 conditions.  It is used for blood cancers, metabolic disorders and immune disorders. These include conditions such as Sickle cell disease, Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma and aplastic anaemia.

Your baby’s umbilical cord stem cells are a perfect match for your child, and are more likely to be a match for siblings. The closer the match, the greater the likelihood of the body accepting the cells.

A number of Cells for Life customers elect to delay clamping of the cord for 30 to 60 seconds prior to collection of their cord blood.

In the first 60 seconds after birth, up to 80% of blood volume is transferred from the placenta to the baby*. This means that up to 60 seconds of delayed cord clamping allows for your baby to receive the majority of cord blood at birth and still achieve sufficient cord blood for long term banking.

Delayed cord clamping does not affect the collection of cord tissue. This is something to consider when selecting your storage options. Over 60% of Cells for Life clients elect to store both cord blood and tissue for their differing cell types and therapeutic applications.