Nature
is beautiful, nature is a mystery. Whenever I try to understand nature, I
become speechless about how well planned and well-developed nature is! The
universe does not have a single thing that is purposeless. Thanks to
technologies that bring us close to nature. Let us discuss today a mysterious
thing from nature's beauty that is "Cord Blood". Umbilical
cord blood is one of the purest and richest forms of stem cells.
Cord
blood is also known as Umbilical cord blood. It is the blood that is found in
the umbilical cord and placenta when
the cord is cut after the birth of a baby.
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Placenta
Mother
is always a symbol of scarification. Whenever she gets anything to eat, she
wants to share it with her children first. You know what she is habitual to
share her food with her children from the period of pregnancy. For this
purpose, an organ named the "Placenta" develops in her body during
her pregnancy.
The placenta is an organ that develops in the uterus of the pregnant lady. It is
the organ that provides food and oxygen to the body and takes waste products of
the baby in it.
Umbilical
Cord
It
is a long rope structured like a tube that works as a passage to transfer food
from mother to baby and waste products from baby's body to mother's body. It is
the connection between the mother and the baby. It is an approximately 22
inches long tube that starts to grow from the 4th week of the pregnancy of a
mother.
When
the baby is finally born the umbilical cord is cut. After the cutting of the
cord, a small piece remains that heals after and this makes the belly button of
the baby.
How Does It Collect?
It
is a safe procedure to collect cord blood from an umbilical cord. It is a 10
minutes process. The blood is collected after the baby is born and the cord is
cut. The blood that is left in the umbilical cord, after cutting the cord, is
screened, frozen, and stored.
The
blood is drawn from the umbilical cord tube by a sterile needle and the blood
is collected in the collection bag.
Things
What Should Be Care About While Collecting the Cord Blood
It
is a must to take the consent of the mother before collecting the cord blood. A
family's history should be taken before collection.
Mother's
blood should be tested too.
Uses
of Cord Blood
Cord
blood contains a very special type of cell named "Hematopoietic
Stem Cell". Hematopoietic cells cannot copy their type of cells but
they can make different types of blood cells in the body. These cells can be
used to treat 70 types of diseases including genetic disorders, Immune system.
It can also be used to treat leukemia and lymphoma.
Advantages
to Use Cord Blood in the Treatment of Diseases
Cord
blood is easy to collect.
It
can be used to make the immune system strong.
It
can get matched easily
The
baby himself can get treatment of his stored cord blood without getting any
harm if he would need it after. Genetic diseases and leukemia are exceptions.
It
faces less rejection from the body.
Baby's
siblings can get treated from it too as it is a good match for them.
It
has 10 times more stem cells than inborn marrow.
A disadvantage to Use Cord Blood in the Treatment of Diseases
There
is a disadvantage to using cord blood in transplantation. It does not have enough
stem cells in one donor's cord blood collection. Several donor's cord blood
requires combining for treatment and it creates complications. If unable to get
enough stem cells. Transplantation is impossible.
Bottom
Line
The human being is the most beautiful and complex creature of the Lord. It is a
science that enables us to know those minute things about it. There must be
many things to discover yet. With technology, we may learn ways to help others
too. That is the reason humans are here on earth “to help each other”.
Wait
a while and think that your baby's donated cord blood can be helpful for the
treatment of the life of someone's child. How would you feel? Certainly. The
feeling is amazing so why not include it in our plans to donate our children's
cord blood to others. Let's make this world a better place to live.
This article is written by Resham Kashif, one of the contributors at the School of Literature.
