Banking cord blood and tissue is a form of “insurance.” In case of a health emergency, it is undoubtedly good to have, right? So, why bank cord tissue? If you’re saving stem cells from cord blood, why would you need cord tissue? Well, let’s start with figuring out exactly what it is.Cord tissue comes from actual umbilical cord which connects mommy to baby. Here are the most important functions of the umbilical cord:
Delivers nutrients
Delivers oxygen
Discards waste
Your baby’s umbilical cord tissue, called Wharton’s Jelly is an abundant source of valuable stem cells that are different from the stem cells found in cord blood. Cord blood stem cells are hematopoietic, meaning they evolve into blood cells. There are more than 80 diseases, mostly blood related, that have FDA approved treatments with cord blood stem cells. The cord tissue stem cells are called mesenchymal or MSCs. These stem cells have shown the ability, in studies, to evolve into tissue cells. Currently, MSCs are not used for medical therapies. Research has shown that MSCs may one day be used to treat conditions such as:
Heart disease
Type 1 diabetes
Lung cancer
Parkinson’s Disease
Injuries to bones and cartilage
Ultimately, banking cord tissue is a parent’s way of taking one more step towards assuring a healthy life for their new baby. All in all, cord tissue will be used to treat conditions that cord blood cannot. Nevertheless, science and medicine is forever changing. Be a step ahead of technology; preserve your baby’s cord tissue today.Disclaimer: AlphaCord does not endorse or make recommendations with respect to research, medications, or treatment. All information provided is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice.
