Hello, I jumped on someone else's thread who was asking about storing their child's stem cells. But thought I would create a new thread to answer any questions and post a little information.
My field is stem cells research and stem cell banking.
Lots of people aren't sure if you can delay the cord clamping and collect CB&T.
You can but you can only delay the cord clamping for a minute or so, after this the amount of cord blood might not be enough for a viable sample.
I would always say to follow your own birth plan.
I see such huge benefit from banking cord blood and tissue. I am not lucky enough to have had children as of yet but when I do I will absolutely bank the cord blood and tissue.
I think the place where most people get a little lost with banking cord blood & tissue; is the difference between donating the CB&T to a trust or charity and banking it privately. It does get a little complicated.
If donate your CB&T to a trust or charity (say a blood cancer charity), a small sample gets taken to be researched on and the vast majority is banked to be used by someone else that has a (HLA or human leukocyte antigen) match to your child's stem cells. Obviously you then don't have access to the stem cells anymore but if your child needed treatment for blood cancer and if they are available then you could potentially use them.
If you bank your stem cells privately, at some banks a tiny portion is used for research but 99.9% gets stored for your child, their siblings and even you and your partner. These are then available for you anytime you need.
The amount of cord blood usually collected could be used for one treatment, possibly two, dependant on the size. Cord blood contains an abundance of HSC's or haematopoietic stem cells which can become red and white blood cells and platelets and then used to treat blood diseases and conditions.
Cord tissue on the other hand, I/we see as the future. It can be cultured up (grown) to provide lots more than 1 or 2 treatments and contains a lot more MSC's or mesenchymal stem cells, which can become bone, tissue, muscle, fat, cartilage.
So it is really important if you bank your child's stem cells to bank the cord blood and tissue (some companies only bank cord blood).
There is more to go into but if you do want to bank your stem cells there are 1 or 2 companies in the UK that I would avoid, for a number of reasons. I'm happy to let anyone know who they are privately.
I hope that covers most things, happy to answer any other questions when I get a chance.
Hope this helps.
Dan