Delayed cord clamping and stem cell banking

As more and more research highlights the benefits of delayed cord clamping, it’s understandable that umbilical cord blood stem cell banking raises many questions for parents-to-be. Here we explain how delayed cord clamping works alongside cord blood stem cell banking to help protect your baby’s health.

Delayed cord clamping (also known as optimal cord clamping) is the process of clamping or cutting the umbilical cord after blood pulsations have stopped, or after the placenta has been delivered. It provides your baby with a healthy blood volume as he/she transitions out of the womb, including a full count of red blood cells, stem cells and immune cells.

The latest guidance from The Royal College of Midwives recommends clamping the umbilical cord between 1-5 minutes after birth.

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Delayed cord clamping with cord blood stem cell banking

It is a common myth that collecting cord blood prevents babies from reaping the benefits of cord clamping. In fact, sometimes as little as 15ml of blood is all that is required to bank cord blood stem cells – a fraction of the approximate 200ml of blood in the umbilical cord and placenta.

With cord blood collection, your baby will still receive the required amount of essential oxygen and nutrients. The fraction of blood that is banked can then be cryogenically frozen and used to help treat potential diseases years into the future. Current treatments include Leukaemia, Anaemia, bone marrow cancers and inherited immunity disorders.

Even with a small amount of umbilical cord blood, Future Health Biobank achieves up to 99% cell recovery rate pre-freeze. This leaves the most stem cells possible and gives your child the best chance of treatment in the future. Visit our website to find out more about storing your umbilical cord blood stem cells.