When I was pregnant with my youngest baby, I started attending parenting events. One of it was Parentin TV’s First Talk Series. It was during the event that I learned about cord blood banking and the company CordLife. I can’t remember why I did not pushed through cord banking with my youngest.. must be the price or my lack of knowledge of the importance of it.
Now, I am more than curious about Cord Blood Banking and is always on the look out for information that I can share to you, my dear readers. When I was invited to attend an event sponsored by CordLife, I did not hesitate to attend.
So let’s start this with the most simple question:
1. What is CORD BLOOD?
Cord Blood is the blood that remains in the umbilical cord, the part where it is still attached to the placenta.
2. What is Umbilical Cord?
Umbilical cord is the connecting cord of the baby to the placenta. Placenta is the organ that encloses the fetus (baby) during pregnancy. Through the umbilical cord, food, air is given tot he developing fetus and through this, waste of the baby is discharge.
3. Where and when is cord Blood taken?
Cord blood is taken from the umbilical cord (the part where the placenta and umbilical cord meets). It is taken after child birth, after the placenta is extracted from the mother’s womb.
4. Why is Cord Blood Important?
Cord blood contains stem cells that are used in treating diseases (including caners) such as leukemia, lymphoma, neuroblastoma, blood disorder such as thalassaemia as well as immune deficiencies and metabolic disorders. Cord blood can also be used by other family members and not just the baby where the cord blood is collected.
5. How does Cord Blood is collected and how it is stored?
Cord Blood is collected after child birth. It not as simple as that though. Prior to the child birth, the mother undergoes test that will provide the condition of her blood and if it is safe for collecting and storing. During child birth, representative from Cord Banks will be present and will collect the blood. It will be transported to a cord blood processing and cryopreservation facility for specialized handling. Stem cells will be extracted from cord blood using the world’s first and only fully automated cord blood processing system, Sepax ®, followed by a step to gradually freeze down the stem cells before they are finally stored in a liquid nitrogen tank at -196°C permanently.
6. How much is Cord Blood Banking and where can I avail this?
Cord Blood Banking is the process of storing stem cells. There’s public cord blood banking and there’s private cord blood banking. Private cord blood banking is storing the baby’s cord blood for his or her own future use or use by a family member should the need arise. Alternatively, public cord blood banking involves donating a baby’s cord blood for potential use by a patient at large in need. When a family donates their child’s cord blood, they are relinquishing all their rights to own these cells. CordLife provides cord blood banking and it is the only cord blood bank that has a facility here in the country.
7. How much is Cord Blood Banking in the Philippines?
Cord Blood Banking Philippines price starts at 48,ooo PhP and yearly payment of 8ooo PhP for storage. From what was discussed during the event, CordLife offers different paying schemes.
Now, you might want to know how is the process of using the stem cell for treatment.. because honestly, I can’t imagine it. Let us first define stem cells.These are cells that can divide and grow into a specialized cell type. In our body, stem cells can be found in bone marrow, adipose tissue and in our blood.
In terms of using the stem cells (from the stored cord blood), the process goes like, the bone marrow will be cleansed of stem cells through radiation then a new set of stem cells will be introduced.
For more information on CordLife and cord blood banking, visit www.cordlife.com/ph or call 710-9195.E-mail address: info@ph.cordlife.com
About CordLife:
CordLife was established to provide a full suite of cord blood and tissue banking services, which include the collection, processing and cryopreservation storage of cord blood stem cells and umbilical cord tissue. Since its inception in 2001, CordLife has grown rapidly from a fledging start-up company to the largest network of cord blood banks in the Asia-Pacific region. Our in-depth knowledge of cord blood banking practices and standards has developed strong capabilities to attain certifications from quality standard organizations such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and country regulators. The prestigious “Technology Pioneer” title awarded by the World Economic Forum ascertained our outstanding performance in the industry.
Today, the CordLife group of companies (CordLife Limited) is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX:CBB),which owns and operates cord blood processing and tissue storage facilities situated in Indonesia, India, and the Philippines.
