The function of the umbilical cord is essential throughout pregnancy, as it serves as the connection between the baby and the mother. Therefore, oxygen and nutrients are transmitted to the fetus through the umbilical cord.
Once labor occurs, the umbilical cord used to be discarded, as its function was considered complete. However, this situation has radically changed in Spain, as it is increasingly common to choose to preserve umbilical cord cells in authorized banks.
The umbilical cord contains a large number of stem cells, which have significant healing properties. However, further studies and research are still required to advance in this area.
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What is umbilical cord blood?
The umbilical cord is a structure that connects the fetus and the placenta during pregnancy. When labor occurs, the umbilical cord is cut, leaving only a small portion that will fall off on its own within approximately 5–15 days.
All the blood remaining in the umbilical cord can be collected for two purposes. On one hand, various tests can be carried out to confirm the baby’s state of health. Some of the umbilical cord blood tests include:
- Measurement of blood gases to verify pH.
- Checking bilirubin levels.
- Performing a blood culture.
- Carrying out a complete blood count.
On the other hand, umbilical cord blood can be stored in cord blood banks in case it is needed for therapeutic use. This blood contains stem cells, which can develop into different types of cells. For this reason, umbilical cord stem cells are used to treat leukemia, Hodgkin’s disease, and even immune system disorders.
Umbilical cord stem cells
Hematopoietic stem cells or stem cells (HSC) from the umbilical cord are responsible for forming all the cells that circulate in the blood (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets). In addition to this type of stem cell, the umbilical cord also contains mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), which have the potential to differentiate into almost any type of tissue.
Umbilical cord stem cells can be very beneficial for treating various hematological diseases such as tumors (especially lymphomas and leukemias), in heart attack therapies, and in treatments requiring bone marrow transplants, among others.
However, the use of stem cells does not always work. If a child develops a congenital disease in the early years of life, they cannot be treated with their own stem cells, as these would also have the mutation that causes the disease. In such cases, the ideal scenario would be to have healthy cells from a compatible sibling.
Cryopreserving umbilical cord stem cells
Parents who decide to cryopreserve umbilical cord blood must notify the hospital in advance. If they choose to donate it to a public bank, they should check whether their hospital is associated with the national umbilical cord blood bank. Currently, there are 7 cord blood banks in Spain, and these samples can only be used in a directed manner, that is, when there is a justified cause.
If they hire the services of a private bank, the company will send them a collection and storage kit for the cord blood.
It is advisable to collect the cord blood while the baby is still connected to the placenta. This procedure is simple and poses no risk to the mother or baby. Once the blood is collected, it is stored in special containers that keep it at very low temperatures until it reaches its final position in the bank.
Advantages and disadvantages
As mentioned, umbilical cord blood contains a large number of stem cells capable of differentiating. This is the main advantage of cryopreserving the umbilical cord, as it can be very useful in curing certain diseases.
Other benefits of storing umbilical cord stem cells include:
- Easy collection, with no danger to the mother or baby.
- These cells are generally preferred for blood and marrow transplants.
- No immune rejection in the patient, as they are genetically identical cells.
- Immediate availability, no need to wait for a donor to appear.
- Easy to replicate in the laboratory.
- Lower possibility of rejection among blood relatives.
Although preserving umbilical cord blood has many advantages, there are also some drawbacks to using umbilical cord stem cells. It is still a fairly new technique, and the cells can only be collected and used once.
In any case, taking into account the pros and cons, the most common recommendation is to freeze umbilical cord stem cells after birth, although the final decision is up to the parents.
Umbilical cord blood banks
An Umbilical Cord Blood Bank (UCBB) is a specialized center for storing stem cells from the blood of newborns' umbilical cords. These banks can be public, private (for exclusive use by the child and their relatives), or hybrid (private with global availability).
The number of private stem cell banks is growing. The advantage of these centers is that, if their services are contracted, they can be used in any hospital. The company sends a collection kit and also handles transportation to the bank itself.
The cost of freezing umbilical cord blood ranges from 1,500 to 3,000 euros for collection, plus an annual maintenance fee of around 100–200€, although this may vary depending on the chosen bank and the services included in the plan.
The other option, apart from discarding it, is to donate the umbilical cord stem cells to a public bank. This option is not available in all hospitals, as the center must be affiliated with a bank—there are currently 7 in Spain, distributed across various provinces.
FAQs from users
How many umbilical cord banks are there in Spain?
At present, in Spain there are different cord blood units that store their samples in 7 cord blood banks located in Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, Galicia, Basque Country, Tenerife and Valencia.
Are there any risks involved in cord blood banking?
No. Cord blood banking is safe and does not endanger the health of the mother or the baby.
Only a blood test will be performed on the mother to verify that the cord blood can be used.
What types of stem cells does the umbilical cord contain?
The most abundant cell type in the umbilical cord are hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), followed by mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and finally very small embryonic-like stem cells known as VSELs.
Hematopoietic stem cells are capable of transforming into different types of blood cells. MSCs, on the other hand, transform into different tissues.
Recommended readings
If you’d like to know all the information about childbirth, we recommend reading this article: Childbirth Preparation Classes: Preparing for Delivery.
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References
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Carla Dessels, Marco Alessandrini, Michael Sean Pepper. Factors Influencing the Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cell Industry: An Evolving Treatment Landscape. Stem Cells Transl Med. 2018 Sep;7(9):643-650. doi: 10.1002/sctm.17-0244 (View)
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Jessica Laue, Johanna Ambühl, Daniel Surbek. Hybrid umbilical cord blood banking: literature review. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2024 Jan;309(1):93-104. doi: 10.1007/s00404-023-07003-x (View)
Merlin G Butler, Jay E Menitove. Umbilical cord blood banking: an update. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2011 Aug;28(8):669-76. doi: 10.1007/s10815-011-9577-x (View)
Pauline Damien, David S Allan. Regenerative Therapy and Immune Modulation Using Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived Cells. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2015 Sep;21(9):1545-54 (View)
Tayla R Penny, Graham Jenkin, Suzanne L Miller, Courtney A McDonald. Umbilical cord blood derived cell expansion: a potential neuroprotective therapy. Stem Cell Res Ther. 2024 Jul 29;15(1):234. doi: 10.1186/s13287-024-03830-0 (View)
FAQs from users: 'How many umbilical cord banks are there in Spain?', 'Are there any risks involved in cord blood banking?' and 'What types of stem cells does the umbilical cord contain?'.
