What are the benefits and pitfalls of storing cord blood?
Increasingly in UK hospitals, blood is taken from the umbilical cord immediately after childbirth and stored for later use. The blood contains stem stells which can be used to treat leukaemia and a range of other conditions. Some blood is donated by mothers and placed in public blood banks for anyone to use. However there are also private cord blood banks operating in this country, which take stem cells from women on the understanding that this blood may provide a kind of 'health insurance' for their baby in the future.
How does the technology and the treatment work? Is it safe for the baby and for the mother? And how likely is privately donated blood to benefit these children in later life?
Jenni looks at the potential benefits and pitfalls of storing cord blood.
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