Cord blood is the blood that remains in your baby's umbilical cord and placenta after birth. It is rich in hematopoietic stem cells, or HSCs, the blood forming cells that build and maintain the blood and immune system.
Think of stem cells as the body's repair kit. They can renew themselves and grow into other cell types. Cord blood stem cells can form red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, which is why they matter in medicine.
Cord blood has been used in stem cell transplants for over 30 years. It is an established treatment for more than 80 conditions, where it can help rebuild a healthy blood and immune system. These include certain blood cancers, blood disorders, inherited immune deficiencies, bone marrow failure and some metabolic conditions.
Cord blood is also being studied in clinical trials that explore new uses in regenerative medicine. One example is close to home: KK Women's and Children's Hospital's trial using a child's own cord blood in children with autism, which we were proud to support. These uses are still being researched and are not yet proven.
Collection is safe and painless, and it does not change your birth plan. After your baby is born, your delivery team collects the blood left in the cord. See the Cord Blood Collection page for the full steps.
* Storing cord blood does not guarantee that a treatment will be available or will work. Whether stored cord blood can be used is decided by a doctor, based on the medical situation.
