What are cord blood stem cells? How are they used in medicine?


In recent years you might have heard about the use of stem cells in medicine. Despite the news coverage, it can be a bit difficult to understand how stem cell therapy works and when it can be used. We’re here to help.

What are stem cells?

Unlike any other cell in the body, stem cells have a unique ability to develop into different cell types. They are able to repair or replace damaged or diseased cells, making them a valuable resource for medical treatments and research.

How do I access stem cells?

Stem cells used in today’s medical treatments come from one of three sources: umbilical cord blood, bone marrow and peripheral blood. The best time to collect stem cells is right at the moment of birth. However, you’ll need to make arrangements for collection and stem cell banking well before you go into labor. You can request an information kit from Americord by tapping here.

How does stem cell therapy work?

To over simplify, when healthy stem cells are transplanted into a patient’s body, they hone into the damaged or diseases cells and replace them – often improving the patient’s health and, in many cases, saving the patient’s life.

What diseases can be treated with stem cell therapy?

Today a number of life-threatening diseases, including certain cancers, blood disorders, metabolic disorders, immune deficiencies and bone marrow failure syndromes use stem cell therapy as part of the treatment protocol. And researchers are exploring the possibility of cord blood stem cell therapies for conditions like cerebral palsy, type 1 diabetes, and autism which have no treatment options today.

What does this mean for me?

Stem cells collected from your baby may be able to treat diseases affecting you, your partner, or their siblings. As an expecting parent you have the opportunity to save your newborn’s umbilical cord blood stem cells; securing your family a medical resource that would otherwise be discarded.

By choosing an advanced collection service, like Americord’s Cord Blood 2.0, you’ll secure more stem cells and by doing so increase the number of treatment options available to your family.

Only a doctor can decide when stem cells can be used. Sometimes having options can make all the difference when it comes to health care for your family.

If you decide to bank your baby’s stem cells with Americord, you can take $250 off any of their services using the offer code OVIA250


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