Cord blood banking is a relatively new process where new parents agree to have their child’s cord blood saved to be used in the future, if needed. Today many parents are asked before childbirth whether saving the cord blood is their wish and is stored in a cord blood bank for free.
This blood would normally be simply thrown out, which is a shame since tests have shown that this umbilical cord blood treats leukaemia, sickle cell and other metabolic disorders. The way it works is based on the fact that families no longer need to find matching donors from family or be placed on a waiting list and hope for a match.
While the movement may be gaining ground in countries like the United States, is cord blood banking available in Ireland? Currently the umbilical cords are being wasted in Irish maternity wards. There are proposals to create a non-profit cord blood bank in Ireland that could save nearly 40 Irish patients every year. However, not everyone agrees with the stem cell aspects of preserving cord blood and using it. At the moment, cord blood banking may be a great idea and save lives, but it is not available in Ireland.
This blood would normally be simply thrown out, which is a shame since tests have shown that this umbilical cord blood treats leukaemia, sickle cell and other metabolic disorders. The way it works is based on the fact that families no longer need to find matching donors from family or be placed on a waiting list and hope for a match.
While the movement may be gaining ground in countries like the United States, is cord blood banking available in Ireland? Currently the umbilical cords are being wasted in Irish maternity wards. There are proposals to create a non-profit cord blood bank in Ireland that could save nearly 40 Irish patients every year. However, not everyone agrees with the stem cell aspects of preserving cord blood and using it. At the moment, cord blood banking may be a great idea and save lives, but it is not available in Ireland.
