The Plains Indians (as well as other tribes) had a tradition of keeping the dried umbilical cord in a small pouch. It carried power and was considered very important spiritually. It was medicine.
Today's top list of things to do for expecting mothers includes banking umbilical cord blood. MotherPie's top ten Must-Do list had the item at #9. Some new parents are confused whether to go with a public facility or private cord blook banks and doctors have not been out front with recommendations or education on the issue so the message has not been clear for new parents and many are overlooking this new medical technology. In addition, controversy regarding the issue of stem cells has clouded the issue. Cord-blood stem cells can divide and create other stem cells or specialized cells (such as a brain cells or muscle cells).
Cord-blood banks freeze blood from a placenta and umbilical cord to use in case of a baby's (or family member's) future illness charge $1,000 - $2,000 or more for the initial collection and then $100 - $200/year or so for storage costs.
Umbilical blood storage banks are realizing that the message hasn't been communicated well and are upping the communications and ad budgets, according to an AdAge article, Umbilical Cord Stem Cell Banks Ramp Up Marketing Efforts, which notes that only 3% of mothers opt to store the infants' stem-cells in private banks. Private cord-bank storage versus public cord-bank donation means a greater liklihood of a match should the need arise (odds are 1:2,700 that a child would need the supply and 1:1,400 thta a family member might). Cord blood banks are in their infancy; cryogenically frozen cord blood has undetermined long-term viability.
Here is more information: Parents' Guide to Cord Blood Banks, cord-blood.org, and resources from Wikipedia's Cord Blood Bank which includes general information and private and public cord storage institutions.
With more parents becoming aware of the benefits, more parents will be opting to take this formerly "trashed" birthing residue and store it for insurance against future illnesses (the cells can be used to fight lymphoma, brain tumors and leukemia).
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